Originally, this memorial was only under the name of Gentry. It was known to be the mother of Fred Gentry, but no one seemed to know her name.

I have researched the Gentry family as this is my husband's ancestor, his mother having been a Gentry. Therefore, I know Fred Gentry's mother's name was Viola "Ola" (James) Gentry.

Also, the creator of this memorial stated that this grave was marked with only a rock. Another Gentry relative had told my husband that Viola Gentry's grave was marked with a piece of concrete with the name "Ola" barely visable on it. When Viola died, her husband was left with 5 small children to raise, and he probably did not have money to buy her a stone.

These two mentions of a rock for a marker, both stating it was in Mt. Tabor Cemetery, helped us decide that this is the location of Viola Gentry's grave.

In 2015 a volunteer added a photo of a plaque which is now at Viola's grave and gives her name and dates. Thank you to that volunteer.
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Viola "Ola" (James) Gentry was the daughter of Absalom B. James, Sr. (1834-1891) and Eliza Em (Townsend) James (1839-1919), both of whom were born in Ohio and died in Knox County, Missouri.

Viola had the following known siblings:

Mary James 1857-
William Emmerson James 1862-
Daniel E. James 1865-
Annie E. James 1867-
Uriah James 1872-
John M. James 1875-
Absalom James, Jr. 1877-
Linnie May James 1878-1934

This James family moved from Ohio to Missouri between 1857 and 1862 and settled on a farm in Knox County.

On March 13, 1892, at the age of 20, Viola married Joseph Pulaski "J.P." Gentry in Knox County, Missouri at her home, with Rev. A. Clark officiating. J.P. was approximately 17 years older than Viola. At the time of their marriage, J.P. was a widower with two young children, ages 7 and 3, by his first wife Josephine Catherine "Kate" Kelly who had died in 1890. Those children were:

Mary Anastasia (Gentry) Hulse 1885-1976
Rolla Bernard Gentry 1889-1957

Viola and J.P. had the following known children of their own:

Fredrick Gentry 1893-
Pearl James Gentry 1895-1926
Ella Mae (Gentry) Mangus 1898-1994
Walter Gentry 1900-1962
Irvin Gentry 1903-

In the 1900 census, Viola and J.P. and their three oldest children were living in Lewis County, Missouri. Their 4th child was born in the year of this census and their 5th child was born 3 years later. Viola died in 1905. In the 1930 census of Knox County, Missouri, J.P. is listed as a widower, living alone with his 4 youngest children.

On February 5, 1920, J.P. married Viola's younger sister, Linnie May James, who had been a spinster all her life and was now age 41. J.P. was now 65. The two youngest boys were the only children still in the home and were now teenagers. J.P. and Linnie had no children of their own.

J.P. outlived all three of his wives. Linnie died in 1934 and was buried at Locust Hill Cemetery in Knox County, Missouri. J.P. died in 1937 and was buried by Linnie.

- Written by Blytha (Dennis) Ellis, wife of Donald Ervin Ellis who is a nephew of J.P. Gentry.