Tressa May Deeds

They were married April 4, 1886 in Sullivan County, Missouri, and were parents of seven children. Her husband died November, 1907, leaving her with a young family. The youngest child was born the following March.

This courageous little woman neither asked nor received help with her family, but carried on alone doing all kinds of hard work and keeping her family together. When her daughter Ethel died in 1912 leaving a baby son, she took him into her home and raised him as her own. She was a jolly, cheerful little person never complaining nor feeling sorry for herself.

In 1920 she married James Asbury McDaniel, son of Samuel McDaniel and Elmira Montgomery. James and Tessie continued to live in or near Pollock as she had done all her life. She was a member of the Church of Christ.

Her childred were Nettie who died in infancy and Vada who was born July 13, 1889, and died January 19, 1919. Vada married Oscar Leeper in 1904. Oscar was born March 25, 1881 and died February 24, 1968. Oscar, Vada and their daughter Beulah are buried in the old Pollock Cemetery. Beulah was born April 29, 1906 and died November 14, 1924.

Vada's second child, Pearl, was born October 2, 1909, married Arthur Frazier March 12, 1933. They had two children: Donna and Larry.

Vada's third child was Wilma, born on July 28, 1912. She married Kenneth Halliburton March 12, 1933. She and her sister Pearl had a double wedding. Kenneth passed away September 21, 1959. Wilma married Dr. Earl Pfeiffer, a chiropractor August 9, 1964.

Vada's youngest child and only son, Lee Oral was born November 14, 1914, and died July 6, 1971. He is buried in Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa. He married Doris Tidus of Des Moines and they had four children: Bonnie, Wilma Jean, Lanny Ray, and Lana Kay.

Tessie's oldest son Clyde, was a veteran of World War I. He was born May 22, 1890 and died May 2, 1967. He is buried in the Scobee Cemetery. On December 18, 1920 he married Esther Smith. Esther was born August 23, 1900. Clyde and Esther were the parents of three sons: Andrew, Finis, and Eldon.

Tessie's fourth child was Ethel Elizabeth. She was born in 1891 and died in 1912. She married Robert Sturgis Babbitt. Robert was born in 1891 and died in 1960. They had one son, Vernon A. Babbitt. Vernon married Mary Frances Camp and they had one son, Joseph Theron. Joe married Myrtle Lee Conner and they had four children: Susan Lynne, David Allen, Melanie, and Eric Nathan.

Tessie's fifth child was Lee Charles. He was born on February 26, 1896 and died January 20, 1977. He was married June 4, 1916 to Alta Marie Yardley. They had two sons, Derill Lee and Glenn Charles. Derill was born April 3, 1917 and died July 15, 1973. He was married to Mary Schnelle on November 15, 1936. Derill and Mary had four children: Gary, Donald, Karen Lee, and Debra Lynn.

Glenn was married to Avis M. Wortz on July 27, 1946. Glenn and Avis had two daughters, Sandra Kay and Shirley Ann.

Tessie's sixth child was Delka. She was born July 14, 1900. In February, 1917 she married Henry Yardley. Henry was born in 1895 and died in 1919. Henry and Delka had one daughter, Lorraine. She was married to Curtis Barkley on August 26, 1938. Curtis and Lorraine were the parents of two children: Bonnie Sue and William Curtis.

Tessie's seventh child was Golden. He was born March 20, 1908 and died April, 1970. He married Edna Smith in 1933. They had one child, Dale.

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