Lonzo McMann Barnett- Family Histories

     Lonzo McMann Barnett, was the seventh child of Newton L.C. and Edora Barnett. (see Newton L. C. Barnett). He was born June 26, 1889 in Eagle Lake and married November 21, 1910, Melissa Elizabeth "Bessie" Lawrence (born March 24, 1892 at Goliad), daughter of Randolph Little and Emily Hall Lawrence. They lived most of their lives in Coleman County. Lonzo worked as a truck farmer and blacksmith; Bessie was a housewife and worked alongside Lonzo with his farming.v They had seven children that lived, and raised a nephew, Cecil Beard, known to all as "Humpy." Grandma "Bessie" and Paw "Lonzo' were loved by all their children and grandchildren. Paw was a quiet sort of man, who never had much to say. Not knowing Paw, one would think he was solemn and harsh. As far back as I can remember, Paw had a bad neck; seemed to always be in pain. He played the guitar and banjo occasionally, but I mostly remember him playing the fiddle, almost as if it were a part of him. He died May 20, 1963, at his home in Coleman. Grandma Barnett was a soft, gentle woman, always laughing. She went to the Church of Christ all her life and read the Bible each night before going to bed. She loved gardening and always had a beautiful yard, with her favorite flowers. After Paw died, Grandma lived alone in their little house for many years before going to Leisure Lodge, where she lived several years before her death, June 28, 1981. Their children that lived were:

   (1) Claudie Lee "Claud" (see Claudie Barnett).

     (2) William Oscar "Dub" (See William Oscar "Dub" Barnett).

     (3) Alta Mae, born March 25, 1918, married February 20, 1940 to Cecil Lawrence Nickolson. She worked at the sewing factory and Safeway in Brownwood and Cecil worked for Lone Star Gas until retirement age. They still live in Brownwood. They have two daughters, Pricilla and Glenda Kay, who with their families, also live in Brownwood.

     (4) Randolph Little "Pete," August 25, 1921, in Burkett, served four years in the Fifth Cavalry. He spent 36 months in Japan. His outfit was the first in Tokyo. Shortly after returning from the service, Pete was killed in an automobile accident, May 9, 1951, on the Albany Highway. He never married.

     (5) Lola Rae, September 8, 1926, married September 23, 1944 to Albert Garland Daylong. Garland was an auto mechanic for 20 years and for the past 15 has worked as a service sales man. Lola is a housewife. They had four children: James Michael, born in Santa Anna, October 25, 1946, married Melissa Baker, graduated from Coleman High School in 1965, lives in Rockport; Patrick Lynn, born November 23, 1947 in Coleman, married Rosanne Arnett, have a child, Haley Michelle, lives in Corpus Christi; Timothy Curtis, born December 6, 1958, married Michelle Bacon, has one child, Sean Christopher, lives in Corpus Christi; and Mary Beth, born April 2, 1957, not married, lives with her parents in Austin.

     (6) Lonzo McMann, Jr. "Duke," December 16, 1928, in Willbarger County, lived in Coleman until he was 16 years old, at which time he joined the United States Marine Corps, retired after 21 years, as a First Sergeant. He returned to Coleman, later moved to Dallas, where he now lives. He has never married.

     (7) Mary Joyce, October 9, 1931 at Rockwood, married Oreal Dean Bishop, December 25, 1949, and lived at Santa Anna, where Oreal Dean worked as an auto mechanic for his father, James Media Bishop. In 1950, he began working for the Ed Watson Drilling Company in Coleman, later working in the oil fields in Illinois, New Mexico, Indiana, Junction, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, always returning to Coleman. He died in an auto accident, February 16, 1979 at Burkett, and Mary Joyce lives in Coleman. They had four children:

       (7a) Nickey Dean, September 10, 1950 in Coleman, married Melissa Fawn Leonard, June 17, 1978 in California; lives in Bastrop.

       (7b) James Gayland, October 21, 1951, in Coleman, married Etta Jane Timmons, December 21, 1968 in Borne. He has worked in the oil fields in Austin, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and is now self employed in Coleman. They have two daughters, Jamie Lee, born July 16, 1969 in Fredericksburg and Jeana Rena, December 21, 1972 in Austin.

       (7c) Melissa Elizabeth, May 8, 1953 in Coleman, married first, Michael Hohenberger, April 17, 1971. She married second, Gerron Carlyle Morgan, March 19, 1977 in Borne. Their children are: Tamara Rachelle, Letitia Marie, and Bishop Wayne. She is now divorced and living in Coleman.

       (7d) Henry Willis, born July 24, 1955 in Coleman, married Lavada Mae Monroe, July 6, 1977 in Brownwood. (See Samuel Milton Monroe). They have two daughters, Lora Mae, born February 10, 1979 and Ashleah Nickole, March 19, 1982, and live in Coleman.

     (8) Lorenza Jean, died young.

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Lonzo Barnett