TESSIE MAE (HOLLABAUGH) ACTKINSON
Tessie Actkinson, a homemaker, died unexpectedly Wednesday morning, November 11, 1992, at an Arlington nursing home at age 91. Her funeral was Friday, November 13, 1992, at Moore Funeral Home, Arlington. Tessie was born in Mountain Peak, (Ellis) Texas October 9, 1901 to John Wilton and Pernicia Isabel McBrayer Hollabaugh. She had lived in Arlington since 1941. She was a member of First Methodist Church of Arlington. She had been active as a member of the Rebekah Lodge for many years. Her daughter, Irene, made her a beautiful long dress for her to wear when she received an honorary award from the lodge while in her late 80s. The Rebekah Lodge hall was reserved the Sat night before Christmas Eve for the Actkinson family members to celebrate Christmas. A person could order Stanley products from Tessie. She made homemade bread for her family every day. She kept a bowl full of delicious rolls on her table for anyone to partake of if hungry. That is a favorite memory I have of Aunt Tessie's house.

Tessie was the oldest of six children born to John and Isabel McBrayer Hollabaugh. She had four sisters and one brother - Bessie Leora (1904), Lillie Odessa (1907), Bertha "Juanita " (1909), Fred Warren (1910) and Lois Ray (1914). The family lived in Mountain Peak, Ellis County, Texas until 1917. Tessie was turning age 16 when the Hollabaugh family moved to Vera, Knox County, Texas. John and Isabel loved living in Mountain Peak where their parents plus lots of brothers and sisters lived; but they hungered to own their own farm. Oscar Hollabaugh, John's older brother, owned a 160 acre farm in Vera which had a nice house and barn on it. It also had a more sophisticated school system than Mountain Peak had. Oscar was Superintendent and the Principal of the Vera School system at that time which was first through the eleventh grade. Oscar's wife, Mona taught first and second grades at the school. They did not have children of their own. A high school education for his children was very important to John. Oscar offered to allow his brother and family to live on the land, and pay him for the farm with their crop money each year. This was a great opportunity for John and Isabel. The family moved from Mountain Peak to Vera in a caravan of three covered wagons. A cousin and his family were in one wagon. The Hollabaugh's were in the other two.

John (Papa) drove one covered wagon with Bessie helping him. Juanita and Fred were with them. Isabel (Mama) drove the other wagon with Tessie helping her. They brought an old mare with them. Tessie had to hold on to his halter as the traveled. Lillie and Lois were with them. It took them 14 days to arrive at Munday, Texas which was in Knox County. They still had 20 more miles to travel to reach the farm in Vera. They had to cross the Brazos River just outside of Munday. The Actkinson family farm adjoined the Hollabaugh farm. Tessie and Bessie were sent to ask the Actkinsons if they could buy some eggs from them after arriving at the farm in Vera. Tessie (16) met Oliver (17) Actkinson that day. The children worked hard on the farm. They were always late starting to school as they had to pick cotton to get their crop in; however, all six of the Hollabaugh children did graduate high school. John was adamant his children have a high school diploma. Bessie graduated Valedictorian of her class. Juanita attended college enough to get her teaching certificate. She completed her college later in her life. It was unusual at that time for farming families to have all of their children graduate high school. Tessie and Oliver dated while finishing high school at Vera.

On Christmas Eve, 1921 at a Church Social, Oliver proposed to Tessie She accepted a Ruby engagement ring that Oliver had purchased at a pawn shop for $5.00. Tessie wore the ring the 70 years they were married. Tessie and Oliver married July 15, 1922 at her parent's home. Tessie and Oliver were both the oldest children in their families, and the first to marry. It was a happy occasion. Tessie wore a dress her Mama made for her. Both sets of parents built a small four room house for them to live in located on the Hollabaugh farm a small distance away from the main house. Their parent's gave them $100 when they married. They used $50 to buy furniture, and $50 to buy groceries. The groceries had to last them until the early part of October when the crops came in. Elmer Lee was born the next year on June 12, 1923. He was the first grandchild on both sides of the family. Irene arrived one year later on July 9, 1924. They were both born in the small house in Vera. Lois recalled at ages 9 and 10 (she became Aunt Lois) hearing both babies cry when they were born.

Tessie and Oliver later moved to Wichita Falls for Oliver to find work. Margie was born Nov 16, 1926 in Wichita Falls. They returned to Vera, and Wallace was born there on Oct 2, 1928. The family then moved to Muleshoe, Texas to find work. Mary Ruth was born there on Feb 17, 1932. Oliver broke his arm while they were living in Muleshoe, and couldn't work. The family moved back to Vera where Tessie and the older children picked cotton to support the family. Three more children were born in Vera. Kathleen was born on Jan 2, 1936. Ola was born two years later on Jan 6, 1938. Clyde Randall" Buddy" was born March 8, 1940. Buddy was a special needs baby, and required extra care. He died from pneumonia at age 8 months on Nov 17, 1940. Elmer and Irene both moved to Arlington after they graduated from Vera High School to find work. The rest of the Actkinson family moved to Arlington in 1941. Elmer had already purchased a house, and the family moved in with him at 904 South Pecan St. It became their home for many years. Elmer gave the house to them when he entered the service in 1943 during WW 11. Oliver got a job as a Gardner at Arlington State College when it was still a Junior College. He had a green thumb, and was very good with plants. Oliver had a big part in the pretty landscaping at the college. He worked at the college until he retired.

The Actkinson children were growing up, and starting lives of their own. However, God had an unexpected surprise for Tessie and Oliver in 1947. Tessie discovered she was expecting their ninth child. On May 6, 1948, Tessie gave birth to their daughter, Nancy. Tessie and Oliver were ages 47 and 48 when she was born. She was there late in life baby, and a joy to them in a different way. Nancy was also their only baby born in a hospital, and she was born with a heart condition. Doctors told them crying put extra strain on her heart. The older siblings still at home helped by holding and rocking her to keep her from crying. Tessie and Oliver had to make a decision if she should have a risky procedure done that would save her life. Oliver said they had no choice, they had to take the risk. She was the first baby in Fort Worth to have the necessary heart surgery needed to save her life, and the surgery was successful. Aunt Tessie held her up at the hospital window after her surgery so the older siblings standing outside could see her. Nancy also had a second surgery when she was about age 5. They were aware she would need the second surgery when she grew more. She became Aunt Nancy before her first birthday when Tim Nation was born as the first grandchild. Nancy and Tim were the beginning of a new chapter in Tessie and Oliver's lives. More grandchildren started to arrive. Tessie and Oliver lived to see Nancy get married, and have two daughters. They also saw the two granddaughters grow up. Donna, the oldest had married before Tessie and Oliver died.

Tessie and Oliver had to sell their home about 1968 on South Pecan St to UT Arlington as the college needed more land. They had grown from a junior college, Arlington State to a university. Tessie and Oliver moved to 1301 Sanford which was their home for about twenty years. Grandma Hollabaugh lived with them several years. She could no longer live alone. She could no longer live with Juanita as she had recurring cancer about 1968- 1969. Fortunately, several of Tessie's daughters were able to help with Grandma's care. They were blessings to Grandma. Tessie was growing older, herself; and had some health issues. Grandma died Feb 19, 1972. Oliver developed Parkinson's Disease a few years after Grandma died. He died Dec 9, 1990. Tessie and her children decided it would be wise to sell their home as she did not need to live alone. She lived in an Assisted Living facility for about a year. Lois spent the night with her a couple of times before she moved to a nursing home as she needed more care. She died two years after Oliver died.

My Mother, Lois, was the youngest Hollabaugh child. Tessie was the oldest child, and 13 years older than Lois. In 1987, Lillie died Nov 15th, and Bessie died Dec 6th. Lois was age 73, and Tessie was age 86. They were the only two left for five years. Mother was home alone when she received a call the morning of Nov 11, 1992 that Tessie had died. She later met my husband and I at the door when we arrived home. She said "Tessie died today," I felt and saw a sadness in my Mother I had never seen before. I understood more when about eleven years later, I experienced Mother's death. I felt so alone or like an orphan. There is something also sad when you come from a large family, and you are the last sibling left. My heart ached for her. The five sisters being close like they were was part of it. I remember the years of their letter writing. it was too expensive to call long distance. Mother would receive a letter from one sister that contained letters from another sister. She would pass that letter on to another sister, etc. I am thankful mother shared the news from the letters with me. It helped me to keep up with my my aunts and cousins. The sisters were very blessed to have had each other. Sisters usually share a special bond, and I saw that in them.

Tessie was preceded in death by her husband, Oliver Atkinson; her daughter Kathleen Durham; and her sons; Elmer Lee and Clyde Randal "Buddy." Actkinson. Survivors include one son, Wallace (Lee) Atkinson, Linden, Texas; five daughters, Irene (E.G.) Nation, Marjorie Watkins, Mary Ruth (Ray) Havins, all of Arlington, Ola (Jim) Neely of Godley, Texas and Nancy (Don) Kirk, of Shreveport, La.; one sister, Lois Robertson of Midlothian; son in law; Elbert " Speedy" Durham, daughter in law; Gertrude Actkinson and 18 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

Provided for Aunt Tessie by Judy Robertson Evans, # 49706236, Oct 20, 2023.