Wylie Xerxes "Jack" King

Jack KingWylie Xerxes "Jack" King

Jack was born to Jim and Lou King in Franklin County TX on 24 Jul 1885.  On 13 Dec 1903 Jack married Cora Bessie Chaffin.  Bessie, the oldest child of John and Lily Chaffin, was born in Magnolia AK.  Four children:
+ Ione "Bob" King born 27 Nov 1904
+ Dennis David "Son" King born 18 Nov 1906
+ John Milton King born 9 Jan 1910
+ Hix Habern King born 13 Dec 1914

After renting farms for a few years, Jack bought sixty acres of land that joined the Pleasant Hill grounds.  In 1918, with the help of one relatives, friends, and one hired carpenter, Jack built a new home.  He was a hard worker, and he and Bessie created an ideal farm on which to raise their family.

Jack was a faithful church member.  Since he lived near Pleasant Hill Church, it was his job to ring the bell when someone died and again before the funeral and for meetings, regular or emergency.  Jack organized burial details, entertained preachers, built fires in winter, and lighted the lamps for night services.  The spring, now a nostalgic part of the Pleasant Hill heritage, was on Jack's land, and he maintained it.  During camp meetings, Jack and his family moved to the campground, even though they lived nearby.

Jack was a good neighbor.  He would loan a ham, a rick of wood, or a bale of cotton, or he would leave his own work to help a sick friend or a widow.  Being so near the church, Jack and Bessie's house was "home base" for the large, scattered family.

In 1942 Jack and Bessie moved to Tyler.  Jack helped his son Hix in his construction business until 1947, when he went to work as custodian at an Douglas Elementary School.  Known at the school as "Papa King," he was a friend to all the children.

Jack's last years were spent taking care of Bessie, who was chronically ill for most of the years they spent in Tyler.  She died 12 Apr 1972 and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery beside her grandson Mike.  Jack died of a stroke 1 Mar 1975, and is buried beside his wife and two grandsons.  He died as he had lived, a free spirit.

+ Ione "Bob" King was born to Jack and Bessie King near Purley TX on 27 Nov 1904.  She acquired her nickname at birth when her father saw her for the first time and exclaimed, "Why, she's no bigger than a whittle bob!"  Bob married Carlton Aubrey Brakebill on 2 Nov 1924.  Three children:
++Aubrey Jean Brakebill born 24 Feb 1928
++Ganelle Brakebill born 20 Oct 1933
++Phil Max Brakebill born 7 Jun 1937
Carl died on his sixty-first birthday, 11 Sep 1960.  Bob died 26 Jan 1982.  They are buried in Tyler TX.

++Aubrey Jean Brakebill was born to Bob and Carl Brakebill on 24 Feb 1928 at the home of his grandparents Jack and Bessie King at Pleasant Hill in Franklin County TX.  He and Grace Marie Wyatt were married 13 May 1950.  No children.
++Ganelle Brakebill was born to Bob and Carl Brakebill on 20 Oct 1933 at the home of her grandparents Jack and Bessie King at Pleasant Hill in Franklin County TX.  She and Joe Bryan Watterson (born 28 Nov 1931 in Austin TX) were married in Tyler TX on 9 Jun 1956.  Three children:
+++Gwenda Jo Watterson born 23 Jul 1964
+++Candace Lynne Watterson born 10 Sep 1968
+++LaDonna Sue Watterson born 27 Sep 1969 at Elgin in Bastrop County TX
+++Gwenda Jo Watterson was born to Nell and Joe Watterson on 23 Jul 1964 at Elgin in Bastrop County TX.  She and Donald Beavers were married 25 Jun 1988 in Giddings TX.  By a previous marriage Donald had a son Thomas Claude Beavers III born 18 Feb 1985.  Gwenda and Donald had two children:
++++Lillian Elizabeth Beavers born 14 Feb 1994
++++William Carlton Beavers born 4 Nov 1999
+++Candace Lynne Watterson was born to Nell and Joe Watterson on 10 Sep 1968 at Elgin in Bastrop County TX.  She and Daniel Edward Couture were married 18 Mar 1995.  One child:
++++Sterling Ryan Couture born 3 Aug 1997 at Fort Campbell KY
++Phil Max Brakebill was born to Bob and Carl Brakebill in Tyler TX on 7 Jun 1937.  He and Judith McAlpin were married in Tyler on 22 Apr 1960.  Three children:
+++Donna Christina Brakebill born 16 Jan 1962 with multiple birth defects; died 10 Jan 1975, buried in Tyler TX
+++Phillip Wesley Brakebill born 16 Apr 1964
+++David Bruce Brakebill born 10 Aug 1968
+++Phillip Wesley Brakebill was born to Phil and Judy Brakebill 16 Apr 1964.  He and Brenda Tuley were married 22 Apr 1989.  One child:
++++Philip Austin Brakebill born 17 Feb 1994 in California

++++Emily Rose Brakebill born 12 Feb 1997

+++David Bruce Brakebill was born to Phil and Judy Brakebill 10 Aug 1968.  He and Karen Phillips were married in May 1995.

+Dennis David "Son" King was born to Jack and Bessie King near Purley TX on 18 Nov 1906.  He and Lois Gentry were married in Oklahoma City on 21 Sep 1928.  One child:
++Mary Maxine King born 27 Mar 1930
Dennis and Lois were divorced in the early 1940s.  Dennis next married Henrietta Dabney.  They lived in Seattle WA, while Lois and Maxine moved to California.  After the war ended, Dennis moved back to Tyler.  He and Henrietta divorced in 1949.  In 1950 Dennis married Jessie Meeks.  Jessie died of cancer in the summer of 1952.  In the late 1950s Dennis married Faye Messer Hill.  On 1 Oct 1976 Dennis committed suicide, leaving a note that read, "Bury me at Pleasant Hill."

++Mary Maxine King was born to Dennis and Lois King on 27 Mar 1930.  She and George Shaver were married around 1950 in California.  Four children:
+++Bruce Allen Shaver born 17 Oct 1953
+++Kenneth Shaver born in February of 1955
+++Nancy Shaver born in December of 1957
+++Caroline Shaver born in December of 1959
Maxine and George divorced, and Maxine married Don Elliott.  Two children:
+++Mark Elliott [twin]
+++David Elliott [twin]
No further informarion about Maxine and her children is available.

+John Milton King was born to Jack and Bessie King at Purley TX on 9 Jan 1910.  He and Rubye Ruth "Mink" Emerson were married at Winfield TX on 19 May 1939.  Five children:
++Patsy Ruth King born 1 Apr 1940
++Kathy Jean King born 3 Feb 1942
++Jerry Mack King born 15 Nov 1943
++Judy Carol King born 14 Mar 1945
++Bill Jack King born 4 Mar 1952

Mink, born 14 Oct 1919, died at home in Troup TX on the morning of 10 Aug 1999.  She was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery in Troup on August 12.  Milton died shortly afterward, on 14 Nov 1999, and was buried beside Mink two days later.

++Patsy Ruth King was born to Milton and Mink King in Sulphur Springs TX on 1 Apr 1940.  She and Bill C Green (born 23 Jun 1940) were married in 1961.  Two children:
+++Ricci Jo Green born 9 Nov 1962
+++Tracy Lynn Green born 1 Oct 1966 in Austin TX
Patsy and Bill divorced in 1979.
++Ricci Jo Green was born to Patsy and Bill Green on 9 Nov 1962 in Austin TX.  She married Andrew Sanchez on 4 May 1985.  One child:
+++Andrew David Sanchez born 7 Dec 1992
++Kathy Jean King was born to Milton and Mink King in Jefferson TX on 3 Feb 1942.  She married Jimmy Earl Hamilton (born 14 Jun 1943).  Two children:
+++James Keith Hamilton born 19 Oct 1962
+++John Kevin Hanifin born Hamilton on 18 Jun 1964, adopted by Mike Hanifin, died in Dallas in a car accident 15 Jun 1986
Kathy and Jimmy divorced, and Kathy married Michael John Hanifin (born 11 Dec 1939).  One child:
+++Kristy Lee Hanifin born 25 Dec 1966
Mike adopted Kathy's sons Keith and Kevin.  Kathy and Mike later divorced.
+++James Keith Hamilton was born to Kathy and Jimmy Hamilton on 19 Oct 1962 in Arlington TX.  He was adopted by his stepfather Mike Hanifin, but at age 21 had his name changed back to Hamilton.  He married Sonya J Powell (born 19 May 1962 in Tyler TX).  Two children:
++++Brooke Lee Hamilton born 28 Oct 1985 in Tyler TX
++++James Keith Hamilton Jr born 29 Sep 1993

+++Kristy Lee Hanifin was born to Kathy and Mike Hanifin on 25 Dec 1966 in Arlington TX.  She and Daryl Ross were married.  One child:
++++John Michael Ross born 10 Jul 1989

++Jerry Mack King was born to Milton and Mink King in Tyler TX on 15 Nov 1943.  He married Carolyn Jean Phillips (born 30 Mar 1944).  Two children:
+++Jeffrey Mack King born 13 May 1966
+++Jason Alan King born 10 Dec 1971

+++Jeffrey Mack King was born to Jerry and Carolyn King in Tyler TX on 13 Jun 1966.  He and Susan Annette Hendrix were married 1 Jun 1991 at Lake Palestine TX.  Two children:
++++Jacob Matthew King born 11 Jul 1995

++++Jordan Micah King born 29 Nov 2000

+++Jason Alan King was born to Jerry and Carolyn King in Austin TX on 10 Dec 1971.  He and Kathryn Lingle were married 20 Sep 1997 in Tyler TX.  Kathryn had a daughter, age four at the time, named Lauren.  Jason and Kathryn divorced. Jason and Codi Logan were married on 2 Aug 2003 in Ratliff TX. Two children:
++++Mollye Jean King born 3 May 2005

++++Noah Lain King born 14 Dec 2006

+Judy Carol King was born to Milton and Mink King in Troup TX on 14 Mar 1945.  In 1964 she married Kenneth Wayne Braswell (born 30 Dec 1941).  Four children:
+++Bryan Wayne Braswell born 9 May 1965
+++John Frederick Braswell born 30 Oct 1967
+++Terry Jack Braswell born 7 Jan 1970
+++Carol Braswell born 5 Sep 1973
Judy and Kenneth divorced in 1978.  In 1981 Judy married Ralph Byrd (born 21 Dec 1939).

+++Bryan Wayne Braswell was born to Judy and Kenneth Braswell on 9 May 1965.  He married Suzzette Gibbons (born 17 Jul 1964).  Two children:
++++Austin Wayne Braswell born 30 Mar 1990
++++Allyson Nicole Braswell born 9 Oct 1991

+++John Frederick Braswell was born to Judy and Kenneth Braswell on 30 Oct 1967.  He married Charlotte Parker on 20 Nov 1987.  Two children:
++++Kandiss Elizabeth Braswell born 13 May 1988
++++Kacie Nichole Braswell born 27 Mar 1990

+++Carol Braswell was born to Judy and Kenneth Braswell on 5 Sep 1973.  She married Matt Nelson.  Two children:
++++Joshua McQuade Nelson born 24 Jul 1994

++++Justin Matthew Nelson born 28 Jul 1999

++Bill Jack King was born to Milton and Mink King in Overton TX on 4 Mar 1952.  He married Shawn Reding in 1974.  Two children:
+++Megan Louise King born 9 Jul 1980
+++Anne Emerson King born 23 Jan 1983

+Hix Habern King was born to Jack and Bessie King near Purley TX on 13 Dec 1914.  He and Mary Frances Owens were married in January of 1937.  Six children:
++Sally Ann King born 26 Jul 1940
++Michael Hix King born 2 Mar 1942, died 12 Aug 1947, buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler TX
++David Neill King born 20 Nov 1945
++Timothy Mark King born 10 Sep 1948, died 18 Jan 1963, buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler TX
++Danny Paul King born 14 Apr 1953
++Lucinda King born 9 Dec 1956
Hix died at his home in Tyler TX on 2 Dec 1990.  He is buried in Tyler.

++Sally Ann King was born to Hix and Frances King on 26 Jul 1940 in Tyler TX.  She and Frederick Lawrence Fifer Jr (born 9 Dec 1937) were married 22 Aug 1959 in Tyler.  Three children:
+++Frederick Lawrence Fifer III born 14 Sep 1960
+++Timothy King Fifer born 22 May 1964
+++Christman Francis Fifer born 15 Feb 1969

+++Frederick Lawrence Fifer III was born to Sally and Fred Fifer on 14 Sep 1960.  He and Jean Anna Cleary were married on 10 Oct 1987.  Two children:
++++Andrew Lawrence Fifer born 11 Aug 1993 in Dallas TX
++++William Frederick Fifer born 11 Oct 1995

+++Timothy King Fifer was born to Sally and Fred Fifer on 22 May 1964.  He and Amy Nicol Marlowe were married in Dallas TX on 27 Jul 1996.  One child:
++++Timothy Hix Fifer born 24 Aug 1999

+++Christman Francis Fifer was born to Sally and Fred Fifer on 15 Feb 1969.  He and Cathy Tartikoff were married in Dallas TX on 25 Apr 1998.  Cathy died of melanoma 30 Mar 1999.

++David Neill King was born to Hix and Frances King on 20 Nov 1945 in Tyler TX.  He and Sheryl Gene Schulk were married 17 Mar 1972.  Two children:
+++Johanna Millisa King born 31 Mar 1973
+++Matthew David King born 9 Jul 1976
David and Sheryl divorced in 1982.

++Danny Paul King was born to Hix and Frances King on 14 Apr 1953 in Tyler TX.  He and Wendy Helen Estes (born 6 Nov 1954 in Lynn MA) were married in November of 1983 in Tyler.  Wendy had a son, Nathan Charles, born 9 Feb 1977 in Lynn MA.

++Lucinda King was born to Hix and Frances King on 9 Dec 1956 in Tyler TX.  She and Abdurrahman Bashir Esbay (born 15 Sep 1948 in Tripoli, Libya) were married in Tyler TX on 1 Jan 1983.  Two children:
+++Aisha Emily Frances Esbay born 4 Mar 1984
+++Michael Bashir Esbay born 29 Jun 1992

Return to: Related File:
Jim and Lou King's Home Page Poem "Tribute to a Father-in-Law"
Photo Five Kings at Pleasant Hill


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