Lois Ray Robertson
December 12, 1914 - March 11, 2003
Lois Ray Hollabaugh Robertson died March 11, 2003, 9:30 am at Renfro Healthcare Center in Waxahachie, Texas after a valiant eight year battle with Parkinson's disease.
Lois was born December 12, 1914 in the Mountain Peak community of Ellis County to John and Isabel McBrayer Hollabaugh, the youngest of six children. Her family traveled by covered wagon to Vera, Texas in Knox County in 1917 when she was almost age three. She grew up working on the family farm with her four sisters and one brother. She graduated from Vera High School in 1932 with six other classmates. If I heard someone call her Lois Ray, I knew they had known her in Vera. She became Aunt Lois starting at age nine to Elmer, Irene, Margie, Wallace, Mary Ruth, Kathleen, Ola, and Nancy Actkinson; Doris, Peggy, Leon and Jewel Hobbs; Frances, Eugene, Charlotte, Dorothy and Junior Taylor; Noel and Holly Irby and Charles, JoAnn and Patsy Hollabaugh. They were a close family.
Lois met Alvin Robertson at a Community Church Singing in 1940 at the Methodist Church in Vera. Alvin approached Lois during a break at the singing. He told his sister, Ruth, that he had been talking to the lady he was going to marry, after she ask. Alvin then sought the assistance of Wilma Bratcher to get the dating started. Lois and Alvin were married the following year on January 11, 1941 by Rev. E.P. Swindall at the Methodist church parsonage in Vera. Lois wore a navy blue dress. I feel sure she had the traditional penny in her shoe for good luck as that was family tradition. Alvin wore his suit. Witnesses were Morris Robertson, Faye Welch, Earnest Junior Beck and Wilma Lee Bratcher. Wilma also worked as the County Clerk in Benjamin when Alvin got the marriage license. Aunt Faye shared how she thought they were just going to the picture show, and felt embarrssed she was wearing her anklets.
Vera was a thriving little town in 1941. Lois and Alvin ran a small cafe plus he had a welding shop in Vera for a few months. Alvin also drove the school bus. They were living in Arlington, Texas before 1941 ended while Alvin attended a welding school under the WPA program. After completion of welding school, they moved to Houston, Texas about April, 1942. Alvin worked in the San Jacinta Shipyards as a mechanic and welder. Their daughter, Judy, was born January 2, 1943 in Houston. Alvin's four sisters Gussie, Eudora, Mary and Ruth were living with them by that time at 1914 Ridgewood. They came from the farm in Vera to find work. Alvin was drafted into the Navy serving from November, 1943 to May, 1944 before receiving a medical discharge. Mother told me she and I boarded the bus with Daddy in Seymour when he had to report first to enter the Navy at Benjamin, Texas, the Knox County seat. We rode the bus with him until we reached her parent's farm in Vera which was located on Hwy 82 that carried Daddy to Bemjamin. We waved good bye until the bus was out of sight. From Benjamin, a bus carried him further on Hwy 82 to Lubbock for his physical, and then he traveled by bus to San Diego, California. She and I lived in an efficiency apartment in Seymour during that time to be close to the Hollabaugh and Robertson families who lived on farms in Vera. After Daddy's discharge, we returned to Houston living again on Ridgewood sharing the same house with my aunts. Grandmother Robertson joined us after Grandpa Robertson died in October, 1944. Mother, Daddy and I moved a few months later to Alvin, Texas, and lived on Robertson Street. Daddy and another man jointly owned a welding company (Phillips Pet Co.) in Alvin. My brother, Robby, was born on November 25, 1946 in Houston while we lived in Alvin. Our family of four moved back home settling in Red Springs 1947 - 1948. Daddy was an instructor for eighteen months during 1948- 1951 at Baylor County Vocational School in Seymour, which was wood working classes for veterans. He built several pieces of furniture for us during that time. Lois cherished their bedroom suit he built. I think it represented the two of them to her. I would say the bedroom suit was her most prized earthly possession. Alvin was hired as the head carpenter for Red Springs Baptist Church in December 1948. The first service in the new building was held August 1949. Lois and Alvin experienced this together as we rented a house located on adjoining property next to the church. Robby not being in school has good memories, also. That was a special time for all of us as Alvin even built all the church pews, pulpit and other furniture needed. I have memories of seeing the newly painted baptistery mural when I arrived home from school. Red Springs Baptist Church was and still is today a beautiful little country church. After finishing the church, Alvin started building for others with cabinets being his specialty. He was gifted when it came to creating beautiful things with wood.
Lois and Alvin purchased the Bud Lyon's farm in February, 1950 located southwest of Red Springs on the Brazos River. This had been their dream when they moved back home from the Houston area. Life was good at that time. Sadly though, Alvin was diagnosed at age 33 on August 12, 1950 with a melanoma cancer on his left ear. This news was very devastating, with a prognosis of only six months to live, even with surgery. Surgery was his only option available in 1950. This was done at Wichita General Hospital in Wichita Falls on September 6, 1950 with a left radical dissection and removal of his left ear. He chose to have the surgery as he made the choice to fight cancer with everything he had inside him. He refused to give up. He had a wife who loved him very much, and two small children ages 3 and 7 who adored him. I really believe his fighting spirit to live is the reason he lived six years instead of six months. Mother shared a story of them being stopped at a red light in Wichita Falls, when a man with no legs crossed the street. He was sitting on a dolly using his arms to push himself as he rolled across the street. The man looked up at Daddy and smiled. Daddy said, "if that man can smile and face the world without any legs, I can smile and face the world without an ear." That is just what he did during the years he lived with cancer. Also, he was not one to complain. I can truthfully say Mother made the same choice. She shared with me years later how she promised the Lord she would never even ask for a new dress if Daddy could just live. She had a very strong faith, and believed in miracles. She continued to believe anything is possible with God until she died. Additional surgeries had been done due to recurrent melanomas occurring by the time my parent's sold their farm in March, 1952. The farm house was moved to Plainview Rd. In Seymour, and did provide us with a home to live In. A new tumor, about the size of a chicken liver, appeared in January, 1952 beneath his scarred skin. He was told by his surgeon, there was nothing they could do to help him at that time. I do not know the specifics on this. Uncle Morris heard about Spears Chitopractic Clinic located in Denver, Colorado. They claimed to have a drawing salve that would draw tumors out. Daddy's three sisters paid for him to go there. He originally went by himself. This was the plan, as he would be there for an extended time. However, he did not feel comfortable with the situation, and soon ask Mother to come. I have memories of her feeling torn at leaving us, but she really needed to go. We were ages 9 and 5 in 1952. I stayed with Morris and Faye as I was in school. Robby stayed with our Hollabaugh grandparents. It was the hardest for Robby as he was very young at age five to be away from his parents so long. I spent the week-ends a few times with him at our grandparents. He was lonely for his family. The salve did draw the tumor out, and it was just hanging by a thread. The doctors were not supposed to cut on Daddy. However, they seized their opportunity when Mother went to lunch one day. Nurses held him down against his will, while the doctor cut the tumor off. Mother and Daddy left the hospital immediately. They arrived home in late May, 1952 having been gone about two months. On September 2, 1952, Daddy had a second radical surgery at Wichita General Hospital. A large mass was removed from the left side of his head along with a more radical procedure on the left side of his neck. This time, a skin graft was necessary. Cancer on his left ear had spread to adjacent parts of his left shoulder. All of his surgeries caused disfigurement of his left side of his face, left side of his head and his left neck leaving him with facial paralysis. He did smile and face the world. I realize today how hard that must have been. To my knowledge, this was the last surgery he had. He had gone through so much in two years. He did live four more years.
Lois got a job as a Practical Nurse at the Seymour Hospital. She also sometimes would work twelve hour shifts at the hospital sitting with patients. Alvin always worked when he was able. We were blessed with extended family and lots of friends. There was no such thing as food stamps or hospice in those years. I do not remember my parents arguing or disagreeing in front of us. Their love for each other just grew stronger. In 1955, Alvin was working as a night watchman for the Seymour Police Dept. Nodules appeared revealing recurrent melanoma August 21, 1955. Cobalt treatments had become available by then. There was a chance the deep x-ray therapy treatments could help his amalanotic melanoma tumor which occasionally responded to Cobalt. Daddy had Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance through the Seymour Police Dept. This was the only time he had insurance during the six years he had cancer. This provided a way for him to do a series of Cobalt treatments. The Maxwell Clinic Hospital located on Oak Lawn in Dallas was one of three treatment centers in 1955 that offered Cobalt 60 treatments in America. Mother and Daddy were in Dallas about two months for the series of treatments. This was mid October to mid December, 1955. Grandmother Robertson plus other family members stayed with Robby and I in Seymour during this time. Sadly though, Daddy's prognosis was a declining one. The last year and especially the last four months he lived were much harder than anyone could have imagined. Mother always believed the Cobalt treatments were the reason he still knew us when he died. I never saw my Mother cry as hard as she did right after Daddy died. It broke my heart. However, I then saw her pull herself together as she knew she had to go on as she had two children to raise. She shared many years later that once she realized Daddy could not get well, she released him. It was not long until God took him home. As hard as those years were, Mother needed them in order to be able to go on. Daddy was not ready to die, and wanted all the time God chose to give him. Sadly, he became bedridden the last four months. My brother and I were ages 9 and 13 when he died. We have never stopped talking about our Daddy. We have memories of him that we would not have had. We had to allow the good memories to become our strongest memories, and we have never forgotten how hard he fought to live. We would not be who we are today had he not have chosen to fight to live. Robby and I saw it all. We both had scars that could not be avoided. However, the real MIRACLE is Mother, Robby and I not only SURVIVED, but we THRIVED. Mother truly lived the Serenity Prayer. God helped her to Accept the Things in life she could not change, he gave her Courage to Change the things she could and the Wisdom to know the Difference.
Mother made the decision that we should move to Dallas a few months after Daddy died. There really were not job opportunities available for her in Seymour except working as a Practical Nurse at the hospital. Working shift work and caring for sick people was not what she needed for herself nor as a single Mother raising two young children. She also wanted to be able to be active in church. Daddy had encouraged Mother to attend keypunch school in Dallas during the time he did the Cobalt treatments in 1955. She did that as they both hoped it would help her to get a job in the future. Daddy's mother, Elizabeth, plus his four sisters, Gussie, Eudora and Mary Robertson and Ruth and Ted Joyce lived in Dallas. Uncle Ted hired Lois to collect insurance premiums under him for the insurance company he worked for. This gave her some income to supplement the small monthly social security check she was receiving while searching for a job as a key punch operator. The move took place during the Christmas holidays in 1956 -1957. Two of Alvin's good friends who were brothers, Jim and Red Parker, had a large cattle truck. They along with Alvin's three brothers, Loyd, Henry and Morris loaded all of our furniture on the truck. They were able to get everything on the truck except my old piano. Jim and Red hauled our furniture to Dallas to a duplex we had rented on Fernwood St.in South Oak Cliff. That was all truly a gift of love. Lois did find a job in 1957 as a keypunch operator with Republic Financial Services in Dallas at 2727 Turtle Creek Blvd. I can remember how thrilled she was at getting the job. I hurried to meet her after she got off the bus on Ramona Avenue to hear her good news. She worked there over 22 years as a keypunch operator from April 15, 1957 until she retired on December 31, 1979.
Our church home was Hillcrest Baptist Church, corners of Idaho and Elmore Streets in South Oak Cliff. Lois worked in the church nursery during church services for several years to help make ends meet. That included both morning and evening services on Sunday and Prayer Meetng on Wednesday nights. She was very involved in Sunday School, though. It meant so much to her when later she was able to attend church services and sing in the church choir. Mother would kneel by her bed to pray after reading her Bible before going to bed at night. I could see her from my bedroom. Raising two children as a single parent was not an easy job. Alvin's family continued to be a support system. I cannot say enough good things about his family. We never quit being part of the Robertson Family. I would often hear Mother say "I have so much to be thankful for." She made the choice not to be bitter. She had a kind gentle spirit, but could be strong and tough when she needed to be. She moved to the Cockrell Hill area of Oak Cliff in 1966 after Judy and Robby were finished with High School. She always made friends with her new neighbors wherever she lived, and the same at work and church. Her new church home was Cockrell Hill Baptist Church. She moved to Duncanville, Texas in 1979 where Judy lived when she retired. Her neighbors called her "Rolling Lois" as her little Maverick car was on the go quite often. She stayed very busy helping friends and family, working odd jobs and being active in her church. She joined First Baptist Church in Duncanville. She always found her church home wherever she lived. Lois was truly a devout Christian lady. She became Mama Lois in 1962 to Judy's son, James. She became Grandma Lois to Robby's two son's, John in 1975 and Michael in 1980. She loved all three of them. She was also a member of the order of the Eastern Star for over 50 years.
A big move occurred for Lois in 1992 when she moved with Judy and Glen to Midlothian, Texas in Ellis County. It had been 75 years since she left Ellis County as a three year old child. By now, she had two great granddaughters who brought her a lot of joy. She got to be a big part of their lives. They brought out the child in her. I came to realize how lonely Mother had been without Daddy. She loved being part of our lives. We loved her, and she was never a burden. Her new church home was Oak Crest Baptist in Midlothian. We did move to Cleburne, Texas out of necessity for 18 months as Glen had to go on dialysis. During this time in Cleburne just as Mother was turning 80, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. We celebrated her 80th Birthday Party with family and friends at our house. Donna, my daughter-in-law, called her "Lovely Lois" on her invitations and that was put on her birthday cake. Lovely Lois truly described my Mother. She was Queen for a Day that Sunday. She requested a picture of her and Daddy be placed near her cake. I realized that was her way of saying Daddy was part of her birthday. Her birthday was December 12th, and his was December 13th. Mother was a pillar of strength during the time Glen was on dialysis, and during his death. She was a rock for us. I realized what a strong lady she still was. She faced Parkinson's Disease with God' help just like she had lived her life. She was not one to complain.
Mother and I moved to Waxahachie in December, 1995 after Glen's death had occurred in August, 1995. We lived near my son in Red Oak. We joined Farley Street Baptist Church. Mother was physically able to attend worship services for about one year, before she suffered her first stroke in 1997. Attending church services together was a special time for both of us. She suffered a second stroke in 1999. I cherish the last four years we had together at home. She was the one who told me it was time for her to go to a nursing home. This was so like her. I have realized this was all part of God's plan. We had nearly four more years to slowly say good bye. As hard as that time was, we both needed it. I tried very hard to be there for her as she had always been there for me. Circumstances in our lives just seemed to throw us together. We had always been close. The older I got, the smarter my Mother became. Mother needed to know that I was making it alone. She wanted Robby and I to love each other and be there for each other. She made our Daddy a promise on his death bed that she would make us mind. He tended to be very strict with us. She was the more gentle parent. She refused to die until she felt she had done everything humanly possible to fulfil her promise to Daddy. I tried to prepare myself for when she would not know me as her dementia became worse. However, she knew me until the end. Without my realizing it, we traded roles during this time. I had became her Mother. Her strength just seemed to pass over to me as she grew weaker. On the morning of March 11, 2003, God said "Lois, it is time to come home. Your job on this earth is finished." This time it was my time to cry. However, the tears were for me, and not for her. I realized after Mother died, she had joined our Daddy in heaven after almost 47 years. This was where she had wanted to be for a long time. It had been a long time for Lois, but a short time for Alvin. We were so blessed to have our wonderful Mother for so many years. Robby and I do not know how to give up today, because we had two great teachers who taught us well. Today, I believe it is our life tragedies that define our lives. They are the fence posts from which the rest of our lives hang. It is up to us then to choose what we hang on our fence posts.
Her childhood friend shared with me that Lois Ray was just a GOOD person. She wanted me to know that was true even when she had been a child and teenager. Thank you Agnes Branch Nesbitt.
Lois is preceded in death by her husband, Marion "Alvin" Robertson, Sr. in 1956; her parents, John Wilton Hollabaugh in 1958 and Pernicia "Isabel" McBrayer Hollabaugh in 1972; four sisters: Tessie Actkinson in 1992; Bessie Hobbs in 1987; Lillie Taylor in 1987; Juanita Irby in 1970 and one brother; Fred Hollabaugh in 1980; and her son-in-law, Glen Evans in 1995.
She is survived by her daughter, Judy Evans of Waxahachie, Texas; her son and his wife, Marion Alvin, Jr (Robby) and Johnnie Carole Robertson of Arlington, Texas; three grandsons; James and wife Donna Gann of Red Oak, Texas; Dr. John Marion and wife Julie Robertson of Dallas, Texas and Michael Robertson of Arlington, Texas; two great granddaughters, Shannon and Jamie Gann of Red Oak, Texas.
Other survivors include a brother-in-law, Alvin Irby of Wichita Falls, Texas; sisters and brothers-in-laws: Ruth and Ted Joyce of Duncanville, Texas, Morris and Faye Robertson of Vera, Texas and Paulyne Robertson of Corsicana, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
A viewing was held at Red Oak Funeral Home, Red Oak, Texas on Thursday, March 13th from 6- 8 P.M.
It was Lois' wishes to be buried next to Alvin in Henson Cemetery, Red Springs, Texas; and her funeral services be held at Red Springs Baptist Church. Her funeral was held at the church on Saturday, March 15, 2003 at 2 PM with her nephew, Rev. Bob Joyce of Denton, Texas officiating.
Burial immediately followed at Henson Cemetery in Red Springs where she was laid to rest next to Alvin.
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Prior to her funeral, food was prepared by the kind people of Red Springs for the family at the Community Center in Red Springs, Texas.
Arrangements were handles by Red Oak Funeral Home, 120 N TX Hwy 342, Red Oak, Texas. 75154.
Judy Robertson Evans, daughter, # 49706236
Lois Ray Robertson
December 12, 1914 - March 11, 2003
Lois Ray Hollabaugh Robertson died March 11, 2003, 9:30 am at Renfro Healthcare Center in Waxahachie, Texas after a valiant eight year battle with Parkinson's disease.
Lois was born December 12, 1914 in the Mountain Peak community of Ellis County to John and Isabel McBrayer Hollabaugh, the youngest of six children. Her family traveled by covered wagon to Vera, Texas in Knox County in 1917 when she was almost age three. She grew up working on the family farm with her four sisters and one brother. She graduated from Vera High School in 1932 with six other classmates. If I heard someone call her Lois Ray, I knew they had known her in Vera. She became Aunt Lois starting at age nine to Elmer, Irene, Margie, Wallace, Mary Ruth, Kathleen, Ola, and Nancy Actkinson; Doris, Peggy, Leon and Jewel Hobbs; Frances, Eugene, Charlotte, Dorothy and Junior Taylor; Noel and Holly Irby and Charles, JoAnn and Patsy Hollabaugh. They were a close family.
Lois met Alvin Robertson at a Community Church Singing in 1940 at the Methodist Church in Vera. Alvin approached Lois during a break at the singing. He told his sister, Ruth, that he had been talking to the lady he was going to marry, after she ask. Alvin then sought the assistance of Wilma Bratcher to get the dating started. Lois and Alvin were married the following year on January 11, 1941 by Rev. E.P. Swindall at the Methodist church parsonage in Vera. Lois wore a navy blue dress. I feel sure she had the traditional penny in her shoe for good luck as that was family tradition. Alvin wore his suit. Witnesses were Morris Robertson, Faye Welch, Earnest Junior Beck and Wilma Lee Bratcher. Wilma also worked as the County Clerk in Benjamin when Alvin got the marriage license. Aunt Faye shared how she thought they were just going to the picture show, and felt embarrssed she was wearing her anklets.
Vera was a thriving little town in 1941. Lois and Alvin ran a small cafe plus he had a welding shop in Vera for a few months. Alvin also drove the school bus. They were living in Arlington, Texas before 1941 ended while Alvin attended a welding school under the WPA program. After completion of welding school, they moved to Houston, Texas about April, 1942. Alvin worked in the San Jacinta Shipyards as a mechanic and welder. Their daughter, Judy, was born January 2, 1943 in Houston. Alvin's four sisters Gussie, Eudora, Mary and Ruth were living with them by that time at 1914 Ridgewood. They came from the farm in Vera to find work. Alvin was drafted into the Navy serving from November, 1943 to May, 1944 before receiving a medical discharge. Mother told me she and I boarded the bus with Daddy in Seymour when he had to report first to enter the Navy at Benjamin, Texas, the Knox County seat. We rode the bus with him until we reached her parent's farm in Vera which was located on Hwy 82 that carried Daddy to Bemjamin. We waved good bye until the bus was out of sight. From Benjamin, a bus carried him further on Hwy 82 to Lubbock for his physical, and then he traveled by bus to San Diego, California. She and I lived in an efficiency apartment in Seymour during that time to be close to the Hollabaugh and Robertson families who lived on farms in Vera. After Daddy's discharge, we returned to Houston living again on Ridgewood sharing the same house with my aunts. Grandmother Robertson joined us after Grandpa Robertson died in October, 1944. Mother, Daddy and I moved a few months later to Alvin, Texas, and lived on Robertson Street. Daddy and another man jointly owned a welding company (Phillips Pet Co.) in Alvin. My brother, Robby, was born on November 25, 1946 in Houston while we lived in Alvin. Our family of four moved back home settling in Red Springs 1947 - 1948. Daddy was an instructor for eighteen months during 1948- 1951 at Baylor County Vocational School in Seymour, which was wood working classes for veterans. He built several pieces of furniture for us during that time. Lois cherished their bedroom suit he built. I think it represented the two of them to her. I would say the bedroom suit was her most prized earthly possession. Alvin was hired as the head carpenter for Red Springs Baptist Church in December 1948. The first service in the new building was held August 1949. Lois and Alvin experienced this together as we rented a house located on adjoining property next to the church. Robby not being in school has good memories, also. That was a special time for all of us as Alvin even built all the church pews, pulpit and other furniture needed. I have memories of seeing the newly painted baptistery mural when I arrived home from school. Red Springs Baptist Church was and still is today a beautiful little country church. After finishing the church, Alvin started building for others with cabinets being his specialty. He was gifted when it came to creating beautiful things with wood.
Lois and Alvin purchased the Bud Lyon's farm in February, 1950 located southwest of Red Springs on the Brazos River. This had been their dream when they moved back home from the Houston area. Life was good at that time. Sadly though, Alvin was diagnosed at age 33 on August 12, 1950 with a melanoma cancer on his left ear. This news was very devastating, with a prognosis of only six months to live, even with surgery. Surgery was his only option available in 1950. This was done at Wichita General Hospital in Wichita Falls on September 6, 1950 with a left radical dissection and removal of his left ear. He chose to have the surgery as he made the choice to fight cancer with everything he had inside him. He refused to give up. He had a wife who loved him very much, and two small children ages 3 and 7 who adored him. I really believe his fighting spirit to live is the reason he lived six years instead of six months. Mother shared a story of them being stopped at a red light in Wichita Falls, when a man with no legs crossed the street. He was sitting on a dolly using his arms to push himself as he rolled across the street. The man looked up at Daddy and smiled. Daddy said, "if that man can smile and face the world without any legs, I can smile and face the world without an ear." That is just what he did during the years he lived with cancer. Also, he was not one to complain. I can truthfully say Mother made the same choice. She shared with me years later how she promised the Lord she would never even ask for a new dress if Daddy could just live. She had a very strong faith, and believed in miracles. She continued to believe anything is possible with God until she died. Additional surgeries had been done due to recurrent melanomas occurring by the time my parent's sold their farm in March, 1952. The farm house was moved to Plainview Rd. In Seymour, and did provide us with a home to live In. A new tumor, about the size of a chicken liver, appeared in January, 1952 beneath his scarred skin. He was told by his surgeon, there was nothing they could do to help him at that time. I do not know the specifics on this. Uncle Morris heard about Spears Chitopractic Clinic located in Denver, Colorado. They claimed to have a drawing salve that would draw tumors out. Daddy's three sisters paid for him to go there. He originally went by himself. This was the plan, as he would be there for an extended time. However, he did not feel comfortable with the situation, and soon ask Mother to come. I have memories of her feeling torn at leaving us, but she really needed to go. We were ages 9 and 5 in 1952. I stayed with Morris and Faye as I was in school. Robby stayed with our Hollabaugh grandparents. It was the hardest for Robby as he was very young at age five to be away from his parents so long. I spent the week-ends a few times with him at our grandparents. He was lonely for his family. The salve did draw the tumor out, and it was just hanging by a thread. The doctors were not supposed to cut on Daddy. However, they seized their opportunity when Mother went to lunch one day. Nurses held him down against his will, while the doctor cut the tumor off. Mother and Daddy left the hospital immediately. They arrived home in late May, 1952 having been gone about two months. On September 2, 1952, Daddy had a second radical surgery at Wichita General Hospital. A large mass was removed from the left side of his head along with a more radical procedure on the left side of his neck. This time, a skin graft was necessary. Cancer on his left ear had spread to adjacent parts of his left shoulder. All of his surgeries caused disfigurement of his left side of his face, left side of his head and his left neck leaving him with facial paralysis. He did smile and face the world. I realize today how hard that must have been. To my knowledge, this was the last surgery he had. He had gone through so much in two years. He did live four more years.
Lois got a job as a Practical Nurse at the Seymour Hospital. She also sometimes would work twelve hour shifts at the hospital sitting with patients. Alvin always worked when he was able. We were blessed with extended family and lots of friends. There was no such thing as food stamps or hospice in those years. I do not remember my parents arguing or disagreeing in front of us. Their love for each other just grew stronger. In 1955, Alvin was working as a night watchman for the Seymour Police Dept. Nodules appeared revealing recurrent melanoma August 21, 1955. Cobalt treatments had become available by then. There was a chance the deep x-ray therapy treatments could help his amalanotic melanoma tumor which occasionally responded to Cobalt. Daddy had Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance through the Seymour Police Dept. This was the only time he had insurance during the six years he had cancer. This provided a way for him to do a series of Cobalt treatments. The Maxwell Clinic Hospital located on Oak Lawn in Dallas was one of three treatment centers in 1955 that offered Cobalt 60 treatments in America. Mother and Daddy were in Dallas about two months for the series of treatments. This was mid October to mid December, 1955. Grandmother Robertson plus other family members stayed with Robby and I in Seymour during this time. Sadly though, Daddy's prognosis was a declining one. The last year and especially the last four months he lived were much harder than anyone could have imagined. Mother always believed the Cobalt treatments were the reason he still knew us when he died. I never saw my Mother cry as hard as she did right after Daddy died. It broke my heart. However, I then saw her pull herself together as she knew she had to go on as she had two children to raise. She shared many years later that once she realized Daddy could not get well, she released him. It was not long until God took him home. As hard as those years were, Mother needed them in order to be able to go on. Daddy was not ready to die, and wanted all the time God chose to give him. Sadly, he became bedridden the last four months. My brother and I were ages 9 and 13 when he died. We have never stopped talking about our Daddy. We have memories of him that we would not have had. We had to allow the good memories to become our strongest memories, and we have never forgotten how hard he fought to live. We would not be who we are today had he not have chosen to fight to live. Robby and I saw it all. We both had scars that could not be avoided. However, the real MIRACLE is Mother, Robby and I not only SURVIVED, but we THRIVED. Mother truly lived the Serenity Prayer. God helped her to Accept the Things in life she could not change, he gave her Courage to Change the things she could and the Wisdom to know the Difference.
Mother made the decision that we should move to Dallas a few months after Daddy died. There really were not job opportunities available for her in Seymour except working as a Practical Nurse at the hospital. Working shift work and caring for sick people was not what she needed for herself nor as a single Mother raising two young children. She also wanted to be able to be active in church. Daddy had encouraged Mother to attend keypunch school in Dallas during the time he did the Cobalt treatments in 1955. She did that as they both hoped it would help her to get a job in the future. Daddy's mother, Elizabeth, plus his four sisters, Gussie, Eudora and Mary Robertson and Ruth and Ted Joyce lived in Dallas. Uncle Ted hired Lois to collect insurance premiums under him for the insurance company he worked for. This gave her some income to supplement the small monthly social security check she was receiving while searching for a job as a key punch operator. The move took place during the Christmas holidays in 1956 -1957. Two of Alvin's good friends who were brothers, Jim and Red Parker, had a large cattle truck. They along with Alvin's three brothers, Loyd, Henry and Morris loaded all of our furniture on the truck. They were able to get everything on the truck except my old piano. Jim and Red hauled our furniture to Dallas to a duplex we had rented on Fernwood St.in South Oak Cliff. That was all truly a gift of love. Lois did find a job in 1957 as a keypunch operator with Republic Financial Services in Dallas at 2727 Turtle Creek Blvd. I can remember how thrilled she was at getting the job. I hurried to meet her after she got off the bus on Ramona Avenue to hear her good news. She worked there over 22 years as a keypunch operator from April 15, 1957 until she retired on December 31, 1979.
Our church home was Hillcrest Baptist Church, corners of Idaho and Elmore Streets in South Oak Cliff. Lois worked in the church nursery during church services for several years to help make ends meet. That included both morning and evening services on Sunday and Prayer Meetng on Wednesday nights. She was very involved in Sunday School, though. It meant so much to her when later she was able to attend church services and sing in the church choir. Mother would kneel by her bed to pray after reading her Bible before going to bed at night. I could see her from my bedroom. Raising two children as a single parent was not an easy job. Alvin's family continued to be a support system. I cannot say enough good things about his family. We never quit being part of the Robertson Family. I would often hear Mother say "I have so much to be thankful for." She made the choice not to be bitter. She had a kind gentle spirit, but could be strong and tough when she needed to be. She moved to the Cockrell Hill area of Oak Cliff in 1966 after Judy and Robby were finished with High School. She always made friends with her new neighbors wherever she lived, and the same at work and church. Her new church home was Cockrell Hill Baptist Church. She moved to Duncanville, Texas in 1979 where Judy lived when she retired. Her neighbors called her "Rolling Lois" as her little Maverick car was on the go quite often. She stayed very busy helping friends and family, working odd jobs and being active in her church. She joined First Baptist Church in Duncanville. She always found her church home wherever she lived. Lois was truly a devout Christian lady. She became Mama Lois in 1962 to Judy's son, James. She became Grandma Lois to Robby's two son's, John in 1975 and Michael in 1980. She loved all three of them. She was also a member of the order of the Eastern Star for over 50 years.
A big move occurred for Lois in 1992 when she moved with Judy and Glen to Midlothian, Texas in Ellis County. It had been 75 years since she left Ellis County as a three year old child. By now, she had two great granddaughters who brought her a lot of joy. She got to be a big part of their lives. They brought out the child in her. I came to realize how lonely Mother had been without Daddy. She loved being part of our lives. We loved her, and she was never a burden. Her new church home was Oak Crest Baptist in Midlothian. We did move to Cleburne, Texas out of necessity for 18 months as Glen had to go on dialysis. During this time in Cleburne just as Mother was turning 80, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. We celebrated her 80th Birthday Party with family and friends at our house. Donna, my daughter-in-law, called her "Lovely Lois" on her invitations and that was put on her birthday cake. Lovely Lois truly described my Mother. She was Queen for a Day that Sunday. She requested a picture of her and Daddy be placed near her cake. I realized that was her way of saying Daddy was part of her birthday. Her birthday was December 12th, and his was December 13th. Mother was a pillar of strength during the time Glen was on dialysis, and during his death. She was a rock for us. I realized what a strong lady she still was. She faced Parkinson's Disease with God' help just like she had lived her life. She was not one to complain.
Mother and I moved to Waxahachie in December, 1995 after Glen's death had occurred in August, 1995. We lived near my son in Red Oak. We joined Farley Street Baptist Church. Mother was physically able to attend worship services for about one year, before she suffered her first stroke in 1997. Attending church services together was a special time for both of us. She suffered a second stroke in 1999. I cherish the last four years we had together at home. She was the one who told me it was time for her to go to a nursing home. This was so like her. I have realized this was all part of God's plan. We had nearly four more years to slowly say good bye. As hard as that time was, we both needed it. I tried very hard to be there for her as she had always been there for me. Circumstances in our lives just seemed to throw us together. We had always been close. The older I got, the smarter my Mother became. Mother needed to know that I was making it alone. She wanted Robby and I to love each other and be there for each other. She made our Daddy a promise on his death bed that she would make us mind. He tended to be very strict with us. She was the more gentle parent. She refused to die until she felt she had done everything humanly possible to fulfil her promise to Daddy. I tried to prepare myself for when she would not know me as her dementia became worse. However, she knew me until the end. Without my realizing it, we traded roles during this time. I had became her Mother. Her strength just seemed to pass over to me as she grew weaker. On the morning of March 11, 2003, God said "Lois, it is time to come home. Your job on this earth is finished." This time it was my time to cry. However, the tears were for me, and not for her. I realized after Mother died, she had joined our Daddy in heaven after almost 47 years. This was where she had wanted to be for a long time. It had been a long time for Lois, but a short time for Alvin. We were so blessed to have our wonderful Mother for so many years. Robby and I do not know how to give up today, because we had two great teachers who taught us well. Today, I believe it is our life tragedies that define our lives. They are the fence posts from which the rest of our lives hang. It is up to us then to choose what we hang on our fence posts.
Her childhood friend shared with me that Lois Ray was just a GOOD person. She wanted me to know that was true even when she had been a child and teenager. Thank you Agnes Branch Nesbitt.
Lois is preceded in death by her husband, Marion "Alvin" Robertson, Sr. in 1956; her parents, John Wilton Hollabaugh in 1958 and Pernicia "Isabel" McBrayer Hollabaugh in 1972; four sisters: Tessie Actkinson in 1992; Bessie Hobbs in 1987; Lillie Taylor in 1987; Juanita Irby in 1970 and one brother; Fred Hollabaugh in 1980; and her son-in-law, Glen Evans in 1995.
She is survived by her daughter, Judy Evans of Waxahachie, Texas; her son and his wife, Marion Alvin, Jr (Robby) and Johnnie Carole Robertson of Arlington, Texas; three grandsons; James and wife Donna Gann of Red Oak, Texas; Dr. John Marion and wife Julie Robertson of Dallas, Texas and Michael Robertson of Arlington, Texas; two great granddaughters, Shannon and Jamie Gann of Red Oak, Texas.
Other survivors include a brother-in-law, Alvin Irby of Wichita Falls, Texas; sisters and brothers-in-laws: Ruth and Ted Joyce of Duncanville, Texas, Morris and Faye Robertson of Vera, Texas and Paulyne Robertson of Corsicana, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
A viewing was held at Red Oak Funeral Home, Red Oak, Texas on Thursday, March 13th from 6- 8 P.M.
It was Lois' wishes to be buried next to Alvin in Henson Cemetery, Red Springs, Texas; and her funeral services be held at Red Springs Baptist Church. Her funeral was held at the church on Saturday, March 15, 2003 at 2 PM with her nephew, Rev. Bob Joyce of Denton, Texas officiating.
Burial immediately followed at Henson Cemetery in Red Springs where she was laid to rest next to Alvin.
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Prior to her funeral, food was prepared by the kind people of Red Springs for the family at the Community Center in Red Springs, Texas.
Arrangements were handles by Red Oak Funeral Home, 120 N TX Hwy 342, Red Oak, Texas. 75154.
Judy Robertson Evans, daughter, # 49706236
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