Autry Family - Family Histories - Coleman County, Texas

     Roy Allen Autry, his wife, Cecil and their three children, Milton. Othrene, and Roy, Jr., moved to Coleman in 1928 from Cross Plains, where Roy, Sr. had been publisher of the Cross Plains Review. Roy and Cecil were born in East Texas near Kerns, and began their married life farming in that area. When they moved to Coleman. they operated a print shop located on South Concho Street. In 1933, they began publication of the Coleman County Chronicle, a weekly newspaper published each Thursday. In 1951, they bought the Coleman Democrat-Voice, and moved to the present location on West Pecan Street. They continued to publish the Chronicle on Thursdays. and changed the publication of the Democrat- Voice to Tuesdays. Cecil was active in the business for a number of years and is still a partner with her sons, Roy Allen, Jr. and Milton. The two sons joined their parents in the newspaper publishing and printing business after they returned from service in World War II. Roy Allen, May 3, 1892-September 30, 1965, married Cecil Hazel Parker, August 29, 1914, born October 19, 1895. Their three children and their families are:

     (1) Milton (born August 4, 1915) married Clementine Smith born October 4, 1922 in Miami, Florida, June 20. 1946. Milton and Clementine are active in the publication of the newspapers. Their children, all born in Coleman, are:

   (1a) Stephen, February 1, 1950, married Sherry Davis, January 2, 1972, Coleman. They have a son, Michael, born September 1, 1979, and a daughter, Paige, June 13, 1983. Stephen is an attorney, a member of the firm Johnson, Jones and Autry, Attorneys at Law, in Coleman.

   (1b) Ann, November 16, 1952, married Ambrose Taylor III, May 13, 1978 Austin, they own and operate a millwork shop there.

       (1c) Leslie, July 27, 1957, married Michael Sanchez, May 22, 1982, in Austin, where they now reside. Leslie is assistant to the director of the Texas Land Title Association, and Michael is with Southwestern Bell Teleohone company.

     (2) Othrene (born May 4, 1919) married Karl K. Steffens (born December 11. 1916) in Coleman, May 25. 1941. They are co-owners of Steftens Flowers in Brady. Their children are:

     (2a) Craig, December 20, 1944 in Fort Worth, married Tresha Appleton, August 12, 1967, in Brady. They have two daughters. Stacy. born September 21, 1971; and Kacy, July 22, 1975. They reside in Austin and Craig is landscape architect at the Texas Highway Department.

       (2b) Karlton, December 10, 1946 in Brady, married Sandra Brock, August 24, 1968, in Brady. They have one daughter, Kelly, born January 6, 1976. Karlton and Sandra are co-owners of Steffens Flowers in Brady.

   (3) Roy Allen, Jr., (born April 16, 1921) married Martha Harwell (born November 21, 1927) in Coleman, April 13, 1946. Both Roy and Martha are active in the publication of the newspapers. Their children are:

       (3a) Alana, February 27, 1950, married Stanley Brudney, August 29, 1969, Coleman, and they reside in Coleman where Stanley is with the Coleman newspapers and Alana is with First Coleman National Bank. Their children are: Brice. born February 6, 1973, and Beau, October 31, 1974.

       (3b) Brett, January 18, 1954, married Molly Love in Coleman, November 22. 1974, (see William F. Kegans); three children: Joshua, March 4, 1975-March 5, 1975; daughter, Leah, born February 7, 1979, and a son Evan Alan, born December 30, 1983. Brett is with the Coleman newspapers and Molly is with R. L. Barnett, Surveyors.

       (3c) Tracy, March 13, 1957, also resides in Coleman.