Bessie Leelan was the fifth of seven children born to William Leonard Mathis and Mary Jane Lindsey Mathis. She was born in Phalba, Vanzant Co, Texas in 1903. She married Elmer Wayne Barker in 1935. They had two daughters,divorced shortly after the birth of the second. She moved to Dallas in 1943 and worked for Southwestern Greyhound Lines untill her retirement in 1963. She was a hard worker and very dedicated to her children,seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was loved by many. She was my great aunt, my grandfathers sister. My fondest memories was I would get to stay on weekends with my cousins who were her grandchildren. She would cook full course meals for just us kids. I always looked forward to her meals which included fresh apple pies alamode. She was such a good cook. Always pleasant and fun. I never seen her mad. There was a time that my cousin and I at bed time could not stop giggleing and she came in there and tried to look so mean and acted as if she were going to spank us, and I guess the fear and shock on my face, made her just bust out laughing and so did we. She never spanked any of us ever. She was always happy. She is truly missed by all.
Bessie Leelan was the fifth of seven children born to William Leonard Mathis and Mary Jane Lindsey Mathis. She was born in Phalba, Vanzant Co, Texas in 1903. She married Elmer Wayne Barker in 1935. They had two daughters,divorced shortly after the birth of the second. She moved to Dallas in 1943 and worked for Southwestern Greyhound Lines untill her retirement in 1963. She was a hard worker and very dedicated to her children,seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was loved by many. She was my great aunt, my grandfathers sister. My fondest memories was I would get to stay on weekends with my cousins who were her grandchildren. She would cook full course meals for just us kids. I always looked forward to her meals which included fresh apple pies alamode. She was such a good cook. Always pleasant and fun. I never seen her mad. There was a time that my cousin and I at bed time could not stop giggleing and she came in there and tried to look so mean and acted as if she were going to spank us, and I guess the fear and shock on my face, made her just bust out laughing and so did we. She never spanked any of us ever. She was always happy. She is truly missed by all.
