Showing posts with label Carr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carr. Show all posts

Sunday, September 16, 2018

The insanity that is Elizabeth Faulk-Brazeal-Carr

This genealogy has been a mess since the first day I started researching my Aaron Carr -> Elizabeth A. Carr-Meredith-Smith line. 

I am very close to publishing the truth, but the tree shown below illustrates the problem and lack of understand about Aaron Carr's first and subsequent wive. Yes, he did have two and NO they are not the same regardless of what some researchers claim. Wife two he married in 1851 could not and was not the mother of the children he fathered in 1825-1835. That I am almost entirely confident was Elizabeth Faulk, the daughter of James Faulk and Sarah (possibly Needham) who was born in 1807 and died sometime around 1835. She did not live until 1906 as claimed by some including the Find-A-Grave memorial for her online. That was his second wife he married in 1851 that lived until 1906. Two completely different women.

But don't take my word for it. Click to enlarge the document below and you will see that the claims by some Carr/Faulk family researchers are absurd. 


If you have this line up in your tree, I'm sorry but it is wrong. More on the Carr-Faulk family very soon. I have a few more details to iron out before I can call that lineage complete.


Monday, February 17, 2014

Update: The Brick Wall Got Knocked Down on My Carr Family

2nd Great Grandmother Elizabeth A. Carr-Meredith-Smith
Update: Thanks to Mike Harmer and Autosomal DNA testing I have been rewriting this 2008 post. Will be doing further updates shortly, but some of the info in my original post have been changed below and further changes are in the works.

============================

Original 2008 Post with changes.

For several years now I have built a circumstantial case on the identity of the father of my 2nd great grandmother, Elizabeth A. Carr-Smith. She came out of Wilkinson County, Georgia, a burnt county, and it has been tough to do any research on this line. It has been painstaking to put this line together as some of the clues could have led me off on the wrong Carr generation, but the best evidence pointed to the following.

Elizabeth A. Carr
b. 1 Oct 1825, Georgia
m. (#1) Samuel Meredith Jr. 28 February 1847, Wilkinson Co, GA
m. (#2) John B. Smith, 12 March 1865, Caldwell County, TX
d. 28 April 1925, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX

Father: Aaron Carr, b. ca 1800 in either Georgia or North Carolina (This relationship was proven through circumstantial evidence, and in 2008 via a primary record source - her Texas Death Certificate)

Mother:  Still an unknown, but not Elizabeth Faulk-Brazeal-Carr that married Aaron in 1851.

Aaron Carr's father was Balis Carr. Some sources list his name as William Balus Carr, but I have seen no proof that it was his full name. He came out of North Carolina, probably Anson County. Evidence indicates that his wife's name was Ann Mann and not Charity as I once believed1.

In addition to 1. Elizabeth A. Carr, who was the oldest child of Aaron Carr and Elizabeth Faulk, she had the following siblings (all my second great grand uncles and aunt).

2. Charity Amanda Carr m. James E. Butler
3. Private Joseph A.J. Carr m. Elizabeth Stuckey
4. Private Balus Carr m. Elizabeth Sawyer
5. Private Thomas A. Carr m. Elizabeth ?

One source indicated that Joseph AJ Carr was with the 14th Georgia Infantry, Company B. That is not the case. I have now confirmed that all three of my 2nd great grand uncles served with Company I (Carswell Guards, orignally Wilkinson Invincibles), 3rd Regiment, Georgia Infantry of the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee, commanding.

Excerpted from Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861 - 1865 Compiled by Lillian Henderson, ca 1900

This company left Irwinton, Wilkinson County, Ga. August 27, 1861 and proceeded by railroad to Portsmouth, Va. Arrived there August 30, 1861, and on the evening of that day went into "Camp Gwynn". Mustered into the service of the Confederate States August 31, 1861. It was assigned to this regiment August 30, 1861, taking the place of Blodgett's company, which was transferred to artillery August 5, 1861.

Carr, Balus - Private May 5, 1862. Surrendered, Appomattox, VA April 9, 1865. (Died in Laurens County, GA in 1914.)

Carr, Joseph A. J. - Private May 5, 1862. Died, Strasburg, Shenandoah County, VA on October 21, 1862.

Carr, Thomas A. - Private August 21, 1861. Lost leg, Spotsylvania, VA May 14, 1864. On wounded furlough through the close of the war.

History of the unit from NPS CWSS website:

3rd Infantry Regiment was assembled at Augusta, Georgia, in April, 1861. Its companies were recruited in the counties of Clarke, Burke, Dawson, Dade, Madison, Baldwin, and Oconee. This regiment served in the Departments of Norfolk, North Carolina, and Middle and Eastern Florida before being assigned to the Army of Northern Virginia. Here it was under the command of General A.R. Wright and after November, 1864, General Sorrell. It participated in the difficult campaigns of the army from Seven Pines to Cold Harbor, then was involved in the Petersburg siege north and south of the James River and various conflicts around Appomattox. The unit reported 25 killed, 110 wounded, and 22 missing at Malvern Hill and had 10 killed and 129 wounded at Chancellorsville. It lost more than forty-five percent of the 441 engaged at Gettysburg, and there were 75 casualties at Manassas Gap. The 3rd surrendered in April, 1865, with 12 officers and 236 men. Its commanders were Colonels Edward J. Walker and Ambrose R. Wright; Lieutenant Colonels A.B. Montgomery, R.B. Nisbet, James S. Reid, and Claiborne Snead; and Majors George E. Hayes, John F. Jones, Augustus H. Lee, and John R. Sturges.

So is anyone researching my Wilkinson County, GA/North Carolina Carr family lines above? Would like to share some information. I hope that this line ties in to the Colonial Virginia Carr families.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

One of my Smith Brick Walls has Tumbled Down! Part 1

I love it when patience and perseverance can finally achieve success in knocking down an ancestral brickwall.

My 3rd great grandparents on my maternal line was John J. Smith and Nancy Ann Burns.

Years ago my Mom related a story to me how she went to the Family History Center in San Antonio to try and find some information on her Smith line. The man who was running the center that day told her, "Don't bother to research your Smith family, you will never get anywhere with it. They are just too hard to research."

Well the last laugh is on him. Not only have I done well on that line but it now goes back to a Rev War soldier. I feel like doing the "told you so" dance.

Here is the family History of my John J. Smith and Nancy Ann Burns.

John J. Smith (Find-A-Grave Memorial #5372276) was born in Fairfax County, VA on 18 Jun 1800 (per his tombstone)


On 15 Jan 1826, he married his first wife Margaret Kite (b. ca 1806 Rockingham County, VA), daughter of Benjamin Kite. They were married in Rockingham County. Their marriage bond was posted on 10 Jan 1826 and Abraham Brubaker was the bondsman. The exact date of death for Margaret is uncertain, but most of our family genealogy believe she is the mother of Van Buren Smith who was born on 21 Sep 1834; d. 21 Feb 1938 in Karnes Co, TX at the age of 103, and the evidence tends to support that. I believe she may have died in childbirth. Van Burn married Nancy Jane Shockley and he served with the Confederacy during the Civil War ( Co. D, Baylor's Regiment (2nd Arizona brigade) Texas Calvary of the Confederate Army. Date of enlistment October 6, 1862 at Bastrop Co, TX. Discharge date of 1865).

There were two other known children to this marriage: Alfred Fletcher Smith (b. 1 Jul 1829 Rockingham Co, VA; d. 16 Oct 1916 in Texas) who married Elizabeth Ann Griggs, and Jane Smith (b. ca 1830, no additional info on her is known).

The 1830 census taken in Rockingham County, VA, does list John and his family as follows:

Males
Under 5: 2
10-14: 1
15-19: 1
20-29: 1
30-39: 1

Females:
Under 5: 1
5-9: 1
10-14: 2
20-29: 1

I'm not totally sure who the extra people are in the household at this point, so we may have children in the household that have never been identified.

I found the following land sale transactions dated 20 Aug 1831 in Page County, VA:

Book A, p. 99-20 Aug 1831 -- Between John J. Smith and Margaret his wife (Grantors) of Page County [to] Benjamin Rudle/Biedler of the County foresaid...consideration of Thirty dollars...a certain lot of land lying and being in County of Page on the North side of Cub Run...the same being part of a larger survey in the name of John Smith 20 acres 1 Rood and 11 poles by survey made the 29th May 1826...and part of said survey is conveyed unto Jacob Fultz Jun. of 10 Acres 1 Rood and 34 poles..
Wit: none John J. Smith, Recorded: 24 Oct 1831 Maragaret (x) Smith
Book A, p.100-20 Aug 1831, Maragaret Smith the wife of John J. Smith released Dower right to above land. William Bradley and Jacob Strole, Recorded: 20 Aug 1831

Book A, p.100-20 Aug 1831 -- Between John J. Smith and Maragaret his wife (Grantors) of County Page [to] Simeon Lucas of the aforeside county...consideration of Five Hundred and Thirty Dollars...tract of land lying and being on the North side of the Shenandoah River and is part of the lands of which Reuben & Benjamin Kite dec'd died seized and possessed...Lot No. ____ in the division and the same that was assigned said Margaret a daughter and heir of said Benjamin Kite dec'd...in a line between Jonathan Crofft and John Short...containing fifty acres more or less...
Wit: none John J. Smith, Recorded: 17 Jan 1832 Maragaret (x) Smith
Book A, p.100-20 Aug 1831, Maragaret Smith the wife of John J. Smith released Dower right to the above land. William Bradley and Jacob Strole, Recorded: 20 Aug 1831



Book A, p. 102-20 Aug 1831 -- Between John J. Smith and Margaret his wife (Grantors) of Page County [to] Jacob Foltz Jr. of the County foresaid...consideration of thirty Dollars...a certain lot of land lying and being in County of Page on the North side of Cub Run the land being part of a survey in the name of John Smith called 20 acres 1 Rood and 11 poles by surveying the 29th May 1826...containing ten acres one rood and 34 poles...
Wit: none John J. Smith, Recorded: 24 Oct 1831 Maragaret (x) Smith
Book A, p.102-20 Aug 1831, Maragaret Smith the wife of John J. Smith released Dower right to above land. William Bradley and Jacob Strole Recorded: 20 Aug 1831

On 4 Nov 1832 -- John J. and Benjamin Beedle patented 400 acres on Cubb Run in Rockingham County, VA (Source: Land Office Grants No 81, 1832-1833, pg 424 (Reel 147))

Very shortly after Margaret's death, John obtained another marriage bond on 5 Dec 1834. This time he was marrying Nancy Ann Burns (Find-A-Grave Memorial #5372246). The bondsman was Cherubim Harshman and permission was given by bride's mother, Mary Burns for her daughter to marry. (Note: This would indicate her father had died by this time.) The bond and marriage took place in Page County, VA and on 11 Dec 1834 they were married.

Nancy Ann Burns (b.18 Jun 1810 in Shenandoah County VA, per her tombstone) was the daughter of Daniel Burns (c1780-1832) and Mary Kite (ca 1782-1851).

 
Sometime between 1834 and 1838 we believe the family traveled west to Missouri. There maybe evidence that this occurred around 1835 as we see a John J. Smith buying land from the federal government. He purchased two parcels of land (40 acres each) in Marion County, Missouri, north of St. Louis on 13 Oct 1835. We also see who we believe to be his brother Joseph Smith buying land on the same day (two 40 acre parcels). One the 21 Oct 1835, we once again see John J. buying two more 80 acre parcels for a grand total of 240 acres total) in Marion County.

At some point I believe he left Marion County and went to Warren County, Missouri, just west of St. Louis. For sure, we see him buying land in Warren County, Missouri, in Oct 1840 (two lots totaling 120 acres) and again in Aug 1852 (40 more acres) from the federal government. I have him living in the Camp Branch area of Warren County on the 1840 census. In 1850 it was known as District 99.

During this time John J and Nancy Ann's family continued to grow. They had the following known children:

John B. Smith (my 2nd great grandfather) b. May 1838 Warren Co, MO; d. 22 May 1917 Bastrop Co, TX, married Elizabeth A. Carr.

Lucinda Smith b. ca 1841 Warren Co, MO; d. 28 Jan 1874 Bastrop Co, TX married Rufus Ingram

Sophronia Ann Smith b. 8 Mar 1842 Warren Co, MO; d. 30 Sep 1889 Bastrop Co, TX married George Washington Corbell.

Samuel Cope Smith, Sr. b. 26 Jun 1846 Warren Co, MO; d. 10 Nov 1890 Bastrop Co, TX married Fannie Isadora Essay Bashford.

Andrew Jones Smith b. 26 Sep 1848 Warren Co, MO; d. 16 Sep 1927 Bastrop Co, TX married Mattie G. Rosses

Lavinia Smith b. Aug 1849 Warren Co, MO: d. 9 Feb 1940 Bastrop Co, TX married Peter Yoast Sr.

Bascom Sherman Smith b. 20 Aug 1850; d. 2 Aug 1897 Bastrop Co, TX never married.

I believe that the family left Missouri sometime around 1852-1853 and settled in Bastrop County, Texas. I see John J. on the 1860/1870/1880 federal census population schedules for those years.

John died on 6 Jan 1882 and is buried in the Smith Cemetery in Red Rock, Bastrop County, Texas.

This is the a letter from a friend and the obituary of John J. Smith printed in the Bastrop Advertiser on Saturday, January 14, 1882. The question marks are mine.

The news of the death of Mr. John J. Smith, whose obituary appears elsewhere in today's Advertiser, will be sad news to his numerous friends.  Mrs. Smith was an old citizen of the county, an honest, respected christian gentleman, who had passed the three score years allotted to man, reaching even beyond four score, and by his pious and God-like walk, earned the plaudit, "Well done good and faithful servant." Peace to his ashes.

Died----
 At his residence in Bastrop County, on the 6th, John J. Smith, in the 82nd year of age.  The deceased was born in Fairfax, Virginia June 18th, 1800, where he lived to the prime of his manhood.  From there he emigrated to the state of Missouri in 1837 (?) and settled in the county of Montgomery (?), where he lived until his removal to Texas in 1853.  In the fall of that year he settled on Lentz Branch, where he resided until a few years ago when he settled in the String Prairies, near this place.

Another of the good old pioneers of the county is gone; plain and unassuming in manners, a man of sterling integrity; a man of purity of character.  An active member of the M.E. church for more than a quarter of a century, his walk and conduct in all the relations of life proved his faith. 
The deceased was twice married-first time January 25, 1826 and the second time December 11, 1834.  He leaves numerous posterity to mourn his loss.
Full of years, surrounded by many friends and relatives he breathed his last, fully trusting that Savior that he has worshipped for years.  He has gone to the reward of the faithful.   
      A Friend
      Snake Prairie
      January 8, 1882


His wife Nancy Ann Burns-Smith died on 3 Jun 1897 in Snake Prairie and is also buried in the Smith Cemetery.

Another family researcher Eugene Davis of Houston, Texas (descendant of Sophronia Ann Smith and George Washington Corbell) passed along all the stories below regarding our wonderful Smith family especially Gramma Smith. I can not vouch for their validity, but no self respecting family history on this family would be complete without them.

Nancy Ann Smith ("Granma Smith") is notorious in family legend as a "mean, hard woman." When any of his children exhibited willful independence or otherwise misbehaved, my grandfather would say that they "had too much Grandma Smith" in them. Reputedly only five feet tall, one hundred pounds or less, she feared nothing, animal or human. She expected her sons to be as fearless, and would punish them for showing any sige of "cowardice." According to family legend, she always gave birth unattended (my mother told me stories about this, and I heard my grandfather make reference ot her "habit" of giving birth alone).

She was thrifty to the point of miserliness, but her pantry and smokehouse were always well stocked and her family ate better than the neighbors. According to my mother, she invented ways of preserving food that were far ahead of her time. Family legends credit her with wealth, and she allegedly bought a farm for each of her children as a wedding present. The 1880 census supports this: it shows her children on farms adjacent to hers, which was also a part of the legend. According to Mrs. Petty, her sons (and grandsons) were successful businessmen and farmers; some were elected and reelected to public office. One grandson, Will Smith, was owner and president of the Red Rock Bank for years.

In my opinion, the well known "dominating Corbell personality", exhibited by my grandfather and the majority of his children, was not a Corbell trait, but a Smith trait, genetically transmitted by Grandma Smith. Mrs. Petty, who does not try to hide her dislike of the Smiths, said to me, ". . . they were not bad people, they were just dominating," which supports my opinion.


Apparently Grandma Smith was the epitome of the pioneer woman: tough, fearless, capable, frugal, hard-diving, independent. I don't think I would have liked her personally, but as an ancestor, she is one of my favorites.

The Saddlebags of Gold - - - - - - The Smith Family allegedly had two "saddlebags of gold" when they arrived in Missouri. They lived near a river with a wagon trail crossing, and the wagoners were often lawless, violent men. For fear of robbery, the family buried the saddlebags behind the henhouse. When the family needed money, the older boys were send to dig them up. If a stranger asked what they were doing, they were to reply that they were "digging fishing worms". One evening when the family returned from the field they found the area dug up and the coins scattered. At first they feared robbery, but soon realized that feral hogs had rooted up the area, possibly after the leather in the bags. Although tired from a day's work in the field, and without supper, the entire family, including the youngest infant, was put to work recovering the coins from the mud. Grandma Smith hung quilts to conceal the activity from the wagoners camped by the river. She had candle lanterns, but to avoid wasting candles she would allow only one lantern at a time, so the children had to hunt by feel in the dark. Grandma Smith knew exactly how many coins were in the bags, and near daylight they had recovered all but one or two coins. Grandpa Smith went to bed, but Grandma Smith drove the children relentlessly until the last coin was recovered after daylight. The story was told by her children as an example of her derive and determination to protect "her property".

The Feral Hogs - - - -In the fall of the year, feral hogs would come up the river near the Smith homestead in search of acorns and pecans. Feral hogs are dangerous beasts, and can mortally wound a man in a few moments. They will attack if approached too closely, but normally will avoid humans by moving away. By maintaining a cautious distance and patience, Grandma Smith and her sons could gradually "herd" the hogs into a corral trap, where they were butchered and the meat smoked for sale and trade. The corral gate consisted of poles laid horizontally between two posts. The gate took time to close, and once when the boys were attempting to close the gate, the hogs charged them. The boys dropped the poles and jumped up on the corral fence to escape. Grandma Smith ran to the gate, grabbed the dropped poles and drove the hogs back into the corral. After she closed the gate, she whipped her sons mercilessly for "running from the hogs". "I will not", she said, "raise cowards for sons." My mother would always end the story with the chuckling comment "she was so mean even wild hogs were afraid of her," which while not true was in keeping with the legends about Grandma Smith.

Birthing Time - - - - - - - When Grandma Smith's time came, she sent Grandpa Smith and the children to the field. If it was dark, Grandpa Smith and the children waited in the corncrib until daylight. She allegedly had the baby over a tub of warm water; a tub of cold water was kept nearby in case the baby "needed reviving". After the baby was born, she cleaned up, cleaned the baby with butter or lard, and put it to bed. She then put the next meal on the table, and raised a flag to alert Grandpa Smith. When the family came back to the cabin, they sat down and ate. (When Grandma Smith put a meal on the table, you washed up and sat down immediately and ate, without talking. Talk took time from chores.) After Grandpa Smith finished his meal, he would ask about the baby. Despite the start in life, her children were sound, healthy and vigorous except for one, Andrew Smith, who was a deaf mute from mealsed in infance.

Her "Medicine" - - - - - - - - - Opium could be bought openly over the counter until Congress passed the Food and Drug Act (about 1906). Like many other farm women of her time, she became addicted to opium in her later years. Her sons kept her supplied with her "medicine". My mother believed that the addiction was related to childbearing problems, but I do not know how my mother knew this.

The Name Change - - - - - - - - Some of the Charlie Corbell's daughters-in-law like to put on the dog, and they wanted to trace the family history in the expectation, of course, that only great things would be found. At the Corbell family reunion at Xmas, 1940, they asked my grandfather for his help. "No, he said. "You will find out things you don't want to know." They persisted, and finally at the Xmas dinner table he declared, "Grandma Smith told me before she died that their name was Boyd before they came to Texas." I didn't hear this ( I was eating at a table with other children) but my mother heard it, and I heard the adults talking about it later. I don't know if the name change occurred or not ( I have since come to doubt it), but the report of it certainly suppressed any interest in genealogy at that time.

There is one other story that I've heard that Samuel Smith killed Sam Jenkins on election day in Bastrop County, Texas in Smith-Jenkins fued.

So this is the setup piece to introduce you to my 4th great grandparents the Smith family from Fairfax County, Virginia. So in part 2 of my story I will introduce you to John J. Smith's parents, a search that took 34 years to complete.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Researching My Wilkinson County GA Carr Family

Several years ago, while at the South Carolina Archives, I came across some information on the Carr family that I am related to from Wilkinson County GA.

My 3rd great grandparents are Aaron Carr and Elizabeth Faulk. Possible parents for him are William Carr and Charity (unknown). If you descend from this family, please contact me at the address in the masthead. I would like to compare notes. In the meantime I have posted some of the notes that I found in the source below during that trip to the SC Archives in Columbia.

From: Wilkinson County, Georgia Court of Ordinary Minute Book A, 1835-1858 By Miriam Mitchiner Brown, Location: South Carolina State Archives

Wilkinson County, Georgia Carr Family Information

Page 5: November Term 1835, page 20 B. Carr, Est - William Carr, Admr., makes a return.

Page 9: July Term 1836, page 36 John Ashely Estate- Allen Ashley is appointed Admr. $12,000 bond. James Stanley and Robert Rozar security John Smith, Robt Rozar, Allen Smith, William Carr and Anderson Ingram are appraisers.

Page 26: January Term 1841, page 120 [no name], Ward - William Carr, Gdn makes return.

Page 27: January Term 1841, page 121 [no name Ward] - William Carr, Gdn makes return.

Page 37: July Term 1843, page 164 Sam'l Carr, est - Green B. Burney, Admr has leave to sell all the real estate of the estate.

Page 39: January Term 1844, page 170 John Hughs, Est - Green B. Hughs and Benjamin J. Hughs have L of A on the Estate, $14,000 bond. William Hughs, Steven Whipple, S.M. Carr, Anson Ball and N.C. Hughes are appointed appraisers and distributers.

Page 39: January Term 1844, page 171 Sam'l Carr, est - Green B. Burney, Admr has leave to sell all the real estate of the estate.

Page 43: July Term 1844, page 184 Baily Carr, Orph - Aaron Carr is appointed Gdn for David W.M. Carr and James B. Carr, with $300 bond.

Page 44: Sept Term 1844, page 188 William Carr, Orph. - Baily Carr, Gdn makes a return.

Page 54: Sept Term 1846, page 230 William Carr, Est - John Smith and Aaron Carr are appointed Admrs. at $800 bond. Nathaniel Hughes, Robert Rozar, James Methvin and Bryant Smith are the appraisers.

Bales Carr, Orph - Aaron Carr is dismissed from his guardianship and John Smith is appointed Gdn. in his stead. $800 bond.

Page 60: Sept Term 1847, page 258 William Carr, Est - John Smith and Aaron Carr, Admrs have leave to sell the real estate of the Estate.

Page 61: Sept Term 1847, page 259 William Carr, Est - John Smith , Admr. makes a return. Bales Carr, Orph - John Smith, Gdn makes his return.

Page 61: Sept Term 1847, page 261 William Carr, Est - John Smith and Aaron Carr, Admrs make a return.

Page 62: January Term 1848, page 266 Francis M. Smith, Est - Robert Rozar, Wyatt Meredith, Willis Allen, A.W. Ard and Aaron Carr are the appraisers.

Page 68: January Term 1848, page 297 Luraney Smith, Elizabeth Smith - Gdn - A.B. Smith produces property which is ordered to be appraised by Eli Sears, Nimord Burk, Samuel Meredith and George W. Smith

Francis Smith, Est - Wyatt Meredith, Robert Rozar, Willis Allen, Nimrod Burk and Aaron Carr are appointed Distributers, to divide the Estate into "shears" and distribute them equally among the Distributees.

Page 69: March Term 1849, page 303 S. Carr, Est - G.B. Burney, Admr makes a return.

Page 116: June Term 1857, page 503 Robert Garrett, Est - Joseph Carr has L of A on the Estate with the Will annexed, $2,000 bond.

Page 117: Sept Term 1857, page 508 Robert Garrett, Est - Joseph A.I. Carr, Admr. has leave to sell all the land belonging to the Estate.

Sunday, August 6, 2006

George Thomas Redus Obit - Feb 19, 2004


Feb 19, 2004 Shawnee News-Star: George Thomas Redus

George Thomas Redus of Shawnee died Saturday, Feb. 14, in Oklahoma City, at the age of 75. He was born Jan. 14, 1929, in Stillwater, to Samuel and Margaret Goforth Redus. He managed Consumers Service Station for 17 years and owned Nifty Foods convenience store. He was a U.S. Army veteran and was on the board of trustees of the First Assembly of God Church in Shawnee.

He married Allene Carr on May 30, 1964, in Tulsa. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one son.

He is survived by his wife, Allene Redus, of the home; three sons and two daughters-in-law, George Thomas Jr. and Linda Redus of Stratford, Randy Eugene Redus and fiancee Angela Shirey of Shawnee and Ricky Dean Redus of California; three daughters and one son-in-law, Sandy and Phil Ledford of Kansas, Christy Redus of California and Alice Burnett of Shawnee; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Leamon and Elvira Redus of Stratford, Donnie and Barbara Redus of Piedmont and Jackie and Carmine Redus of Piedmont; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Florine and Junior Monroe of Yukon and Loretta Hannigan of Piedmont; six grandchildren and spouses, Jason Lee Redus of Oklahoma City, Kyle James Redus of Shawnee, Amanda and Jeremy Brook of Austin, Texas, Chelsea Rae Lefler of Fitcher, Texas, Dana and Randy Pike of Skiatook, and Ace and Amy Lockard of Portland, Ore.; six more grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

Service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Resthaven Funeral Chapel with the Rev. James Walter officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park.