Margie 'Wood' Israel
2007
When I was a little girl, living in Texas, we lived
about seven miles out north of Athens, in Henderson County. I had
a Mom and Dad, three brothers and one sister. We lived on a farm,
where we had cows and hogs and horses and chickens and, and, and.
We grew most all of our own food. We had peach orchards and berry
fields and beans and peas and corn and cotton and - well, you
name it, and, back then, we raised it. I am now eighty years of
age and, looking back, I thought life was hard. But, now, when I
think of those times, I see it as being years of hard work but
times of fun filled days.
On the farm where we lived, for a good many years, there were two
lakes, a small one and a bigger one. The small lake was up near
to the barns where my Dad stored feed for the animals, and where
he milked the cows and fed the animals. And, in some part of the
barns, there was a place where Dad stored peanuts, peanuts still
on the vine, and we kids would go out, on cold winter days, and
nestle down in the peanut vines and play with our dolls - and
sing so that we were likely heard throughout the countryside!
In the winter time, the two lakes would freeze over. There were
nights when, after Mom and Dad were in bed sleeping, we kids
would get out of bed and put on our coats on over our sleeping
clothes and sneak down to one of the lakes and slide around on
the ice. I can't recall that any of us ever broke the ice and
fell through into the water. I, also, do not recall that our Mom
or Dad ever caught us sneaking out of the house at night. It
could have happened and I just do not remember it.
Those childhood days were such fun. Yes, we worked our fields,
and we helped neighbors work their fields. Back in those days,
neighbor helped neighbor, helping to get the crops in before the
hard, cold, months of winter set in. And, back then, we had some
really hard winters. But, there, too, it seems that we had a lot
of fun, even when we had to work on the frozen ground.
I have so many childhood memories, I could go on writing for a
very long time. Memories of climbing trees and memories of going
down the hill to visit with Mrs. Pope and memories of the Old
Fiddler's Contest held annually at Athens and memories of so much
more. Eighty years is a long time for filling the head with
memories - and, such memories they are!
My Dad was Henry Houston Wood. His parents were Elbert Malachiah
and Anna Cora 'Houston' Wood. Henry was born in Rusk County,
Texas in 1896. My Mom was Minnie Lizzie 'Williams' Wood. Her
parents were William Arthur and Eurah 'Harrelson' Williams. Mom
was born in Burrelson County, Texas in 1898.
Mom and Dad raised five offspring, three boys
and two girls. The boys were Victor Durwood 'Jack' Wood. Jack
married Grace Lenora Everett of Big Springs, Texas. Henry Eugene
'Piney' Wood. Piney married Joy Fay Stockard of the Bethel area
out north of Athens. Fletcher Gordon 'Dick' Wood. Dick married
Addie Lou Crabtree, also living in the Bethel area. Emily June
Wood, married John Carl Skinner, born and raised in the Athens
area. But, moved to Thornton, California in his adult years.
Margie Yvonne Wood married Burness Radferd Israel in Thornton,
California. Margie has four offspring, six grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren.
Margie has been a Country/Western song writer and
publisher. Her songs are played on worldwide radio. She has
written for several California publications and is now retired
from all work, except her writing.
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