John Dugan Barnett Family- Family Histories

     John Dugan, first born son of Dug and Sallie Barnett was born June 9, 1896 in Novice (see John Marion Barnett). He married Mary Lee Fonville of Seymour, on June 22, 1924. Mary Lee was the daughter of James Dill and Mary Jane (Winton) Fonville, born July 20, 1902, in Montague County, and came to Novice in 1923 to work for her brother, R. B. Fonville, who owned and operated a mercantile store. Dugan lived all his life in Novice, except for the time spent in the navy in World War I. He served several years on the Novice School Board, was a member of the Masonic Lodge, and was a member of the Novice Methodist Church. Dugan's hobby in his later years was training steers (oxen) to pull a covered wagon in which his first appearance was the Coleman Centennial Rodeo celebration in July, 1958. Mary Lee was a devoted wife and mother and was very active in the community. She was a member of the Novice Baptist Church. John died October 19, 1969, at his home in Novice, and Mary Lee December 30, 1980, in Abilene, both buried in Rough Creek Cemetery. Dugan and Mary Lee had five children. They gratefully donated the west portion of the Rough Creek Cemetery in loving memory of their beloved parents. They are:

     (1) John Dugan Jr., (J. D.), September 14, 1925, at Novice. In 1943, he entered the U. S. Navy and served in World War II. He was Honorably Discharged April 7, 1946. He married Edna Ruth Gandy, daughter of Jack and Sarah Gandy of Coleman, November of 1947. To that union was born six children, four living. Edna Ruth passed away in May of 1957, buried in Rough Creek. In July 1957, he married Letha Betha Tweedle of Abilene, daughter of Katie Jordan. J. D. worked in the oil fields, later for Union Texas Petroleum Company of Houston, then for American Quasar of Fort Worth. In 1977 he became manager of a gas plant in Piceance Creek out of Meeker, Colorado; they resided there at this time. Children born to John Dugan, Jr., are:

       (la) Johnny Max, February 8, 1949 in Coleman, graduated from Novice High in May of 1969. He joined the Marine Corps in November of 1969; has won many awards as a sharpshooter. He was Honorably Discharged in 1978 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He married Bonnie Jean Faulkner of Montgomery, Alabama, July 22, 1972. Two daughters, Tammy Jean, July 16, 1973, and Shannon Lee, April 22, 1976, they reside in Novice.

       (1b) Edward Dugan, July 30, 1951, in Levelland, attended schools at Novice and Rankin and Sulphur, Louisiana. Dugan works for Union Texas Petroleum of Houston and resides in Violet, Louisiana. He married Movita McMahon of Haughton, Louisiana, December 8, 1972. Three sons; Eddie, Chris, and Rodney.

       (1c) Jacquelyn Ann, March 30, 1953 in Levelland, attended schools at Novice and Rankin, Sulphur and Haughton, Louisiana. She married Thomas Steven Dunaway, Sr., December 5, 1970. Two children; Thomas Steven Jr., and Ruth Ann.

       (1d) Milton Lewis, August 22, 1954, at Coleman, attended schools at Novice, Rankin and Sulphur, and Haughton, Louisiana. He married Becky Elaine Woodard of Glendive, Montana, February 28, 1975. Milton now lives in Bakersfield, California, and works for the U. S. Navy at a gasoline plant as an operator. Two boys: Jerry Lewis, and Thomas Charles. John Dugan Jr. was an ordained minister and performed the marriage for all his children except Johnny Max.

     (2) Glen Marion, June 3, 1927, finished Novice High School in 1944, joining the Navy, and was honorably discharged in 1946. From 1946 to 1959, worked in oilfields in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming, Egypt, Venezuela, and Argentina. In April, 1953, he married Peggy Earline Bradley in Brownfield, four children were born: Denise, Kassandra, Derek and Bradley, all graduated from Water Valley High School. In 1959 we purchased a tract of land and live in Tom Green County.

     (3) Patsy Marie, February 19, 1931 in Novice, attended Novice High School and graduated in 1949. She attended Gail's Business College until 1950. She entered Scoggins Academy of Beauty in 1951. Patsy married Charlie Grohman (1932), they have two children, David and Mary Lou, and one grandson, Josh (son of David. They reside east of Winters and are active in farming and ranching.

     (4) Sarah Frances, November 14, 1933, began school in Novice in 1940 and graduated with the class of 1951, being the first class to graduate from the new Novice school building which is presently in use. Sarah went on to graduate from Scoggins Academy of Beauty College in Abilene. She married Curtis Edgar Davis in December, 1952. They made their home in Abilene, and have resided there since. Curtis is employed as Maintenance supervisor of the Omar Burleson Federal Building - U. S. Postal Service, where he has been employed since 1955. Three children:

       (4a) Tony Curtis (1954) graduated from Abilene High School in 1972 married Marla Jayne Meadows, June 16, 1979.

       (4b) Sonja Francene (1955) graduated from Abilene High in 1973, married Clyde Lester Pursley, January 1, 1979. Two daughters, Lyndee Rose and Lacy ReNae.

       (4c) Lana Elizabeth (1960) graduated from Abilene High in 1979, married Dougless Flynn Gideon, February 16, 1979. One daughter, Callie Mashae. Curtis and Sarah plan to retire in Novice on the land inherited from the Barnett estate. All now live in Abilene except Tony, who lives in Salem, Virginia.

     (5) Nena Sue, November 25, 1937, in Novice on Thanksgiving Day, attended Novice High School and graduated in 1956. She married Jerald Clarence Wilson, son of Jerry and Leona (Ward) Wilson, on July 8, 1956, in the Novice United Methodist Church. (See Jerry William Wilson). Jerald and Nena made their home in Sweetwater until 1970, and in Monahans until 1973. They moved back to Coleman County when they purchased the Jim Brown place from Jerald's Aunt Lorena and Sandy Anderson. In 1974, they moved to Midland, then back to Novice in 1979. Both are self-employed at the Novice Grocery Store and Cafe; also very active in farming and ranching. Jerald spent many years previously in the gas production business. Their children:

   (5a) Anita Joe (1957) graduated from Midland High School in 1975 and Texas Tech University in 1980 with a B. S. in Secondary Education, married Bobby Joe Corder (1957) from Silver Valley, June 11, 1983, they reside in Silver Valley.

       (5b) Virgil Wayne (1959), named for his paternal grandfather, graduated from Midland High School in 1977, presently employed as an automobile mechanic in Albany.

       (5c) Letitia Ann (1962) graduated from Novice High School in 1980, married Donald Eugene Steffey (1961) in the Novice United Methodist Church on July 31, 1981. They have one son, Wesley Nathan Steffey, born November 11, 1981. They reside in Coleman.

       (5d) Frances Marie (1964) named for both of her mother's sisters, graduated from Novice High School in 1983.

       (5e) Emma Lee (1966) named for her great grandmothers, Emma Ward and Mary Lee Barnett, will graduate from Novice High School in 1984.

pictures to be added

Mary Lee and John Dugan Barnett with oxen

Sarah, Patsy, Dugan, Glen, Mary Lee, J. D., Jr., and Nena Barnett