Clara Cecil (Monroe) Ward (1898 - 1987)

Born 28 Oct 1898 in Grapevine, Tarrant, Texas, United States of America

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Jerome House — married 24 Apr 1920 (to 29 Jul 1921) in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States

Wife of Virgil Erskine Moore Sr. — married 9 Jul 1925 (to 27 Nov 1933) in Waco, Texas, United States of America

Wife of Edgar Lee Ward — married 30 Mar 1946 in Corsicana, Texas

Descendants

Died 5 Jun 1987 at age 88 in Corsicana, Navarro, Texas, United States of America

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jesse Beamon [send private message] and Paul Beamon [send private message]

Biography

Lifetime member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and Redbud Club

Timeline

28 Oct 1898: Clara is born to Alonzo Franklin Monroe and Mary Ann Dyer in Grapevine, Texas. Clara is the third child born to Mary Ann.^[1]

c. 1900: moved to Corsicana, Texas with her parents.

20 Jun 1900: Living with Parents, Alonzo F. and Mary Monroe, and half-sister Ernest O.Bonds at 717 W. 10th Avenue, Corsicana, ^[2]

18 Apr 1910: Clara (11) living with parents, Alonzo F. (41) and Mary A. (35) Monroe, half-sister Ola Bonds (17), sisters Bessie (9) and Mary (5), and brother Lonie (7 mos) at 718 W. 10th Avenue, Corsicana, Texas. ^[3]

3 Jan 1920: Clara (21) living with parents, Alonzo (56) and Mary (44) Monroe, half-sister Ola Jackson (24, sisters Bessie (19) and Mary (15), brother Lonnie (9), and nephews Avery (4) and Lynn (2) Jackson at 617 West 9th Avenue, Corsicana, Texas. ^[4]

24 Apr 1920: T. J. House and Clara Cecil Monroe were united in marriage by T. H. Alexander, Justice of the Peace, Dallas County, State of Texas. ^[5]

28 Jul 1921: Jerome is killed instantly when he touches electrical wiring while working at the Corsicana Electrical Substation.^{[6] [7]}

7 Oct 1921: Clara Jerome House is born 5 months after her father’s death. ^[8]

c. 1923: Clara, a cashier in the Corsicana office of the American National Insurance Company, meets Virgil E. Moore who is an Insurance Agent for the same company.^[7]

9 Jul 1925: Virgil Erskine Moore and Mrs. Clara C. House are united in marriage by C. G. McPhee in Waco, Texas. ^[9]

3 Nov 1926: Daughter Mary Bird Moore is born to Clara and Virgil Moore. The family resides at 823 W. 11th Ave, Corsicana, Texas.^[10]

10 Mar 1930: Son Virgil Erskine Moore, Jr. born to Clara and Virgil Moore, residents of Corsicana, Texas. ^[11]

2 Apr 1930: Clara Cecile Moore (31) living with husband Virgil E. Moore (30), daughters Clara Jerome House (8) and Mary Bird Moore (3), son Virgil E. Moore, Jr (1 mo), parents Alonzo (63) and Mary A. (53) Monroe, sister Bessie B. (29) and brother Lonnie T. (20) Monroe at 823 W. 11th Avenue, Corsicana, Texas.^[12]

27 Nov 1933: Virgil Erskine Moore, Sr. died. Clara’s marriage to Virgil ends upon his death due to pneumonia. The family was living at 823 West 11th Avenue, Corsicana, at the time of his death. Clara uses the proceeds from Virgil's Life Insurance policy to pay off the mortgage on the family home.^[13][7]

1940: Clara Moore, head, 41. widowed. owns home valued $1800. Employed by telephone company as an operator. Living on West 11th Avenue, Corsicana, with daughters Jerome House (18), Mary Bird Moore (13) and son Virgile Moore (10) at 823 W. 11th Ave, Corsicana, Texas. ^[14]

30 Mar 1946: Edgar Lee Ward and Mrs. Clara Cecil Moore are united in marriage by Andrew Byers, Pastor, First Presbyterian church, Corsicana, Texas. ^[15]

16 Aug 1976: Clara’s third husband, Edgar Lee Ward, dies at the age of 80. ^[16]

5 Jun 1987: Clara dies in Corsicana, Texas and is buried at Resthaven Memorial Park, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas. ^{[17] [18]}

Obituaries

Clara Ward

Clara Monroe Ward, 88, of Corsicana, died Friday at Twilight Nursing Home.

Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Corley Funeral Home with John Shero officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park.

She lived most of her life in Corsicana, was a member of the Church of Christ, a retired telephone operator and clerk for Southwestern Bell, and a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

Survivors include a son, Virgil Moore, Jr. of Breckenridge, two daughters, Mrs. Jessie L. Beamon of Corsicana and Mrs. John A. Roxburgh of Metaire, LA.; three step-sons, E. L. Ward Jr. of Arlington, George Ward of Corsicana and James D. Ward of Arlington; a brother, A. T. Moore of Corsicana; a sister, Mrs. Paul Kenner of Wichita Falls.^[19]

Clara Ward

Mrs. Clara Ward, 88, died here Friday.

Service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Corley Funeral Home. John Shero will officiate, with burial in Resthaven Memorial Park.

The retired Southwestern Bell Telephone Company operator and clerk was a Corsicana resident for 87 years. She was a member of the Westhill Church of Christ.

Survivors include a son, Virgil Moore, Jr., of Breckenridge; two daughters. Mrs. Jessie L. Beamon, of Corsicana, and Mrs. John A. Roxburgh, of Metairie, LA.; three step-sons, E. L. ward, of Arlington, George Ward, of Corsicana, and James D. Ward, of Arlington; 22 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one brother, A. T. Monroe of Corsicana; and one sister, Mrs. Paul Kenner, of Wichita Falls.

Pallbearers will be Maj. Lee Beamon, Randy Beamon, Blair Beamon, Richard Moore, Virgil Moore III, and Joe G. Sims.^[20]

Sources

1. ↑ “Certified Copy of Certificate of Birth”. State of Texas. Tarrant County. Certificate Number 9365. City of Grapevine. Recorded in V. 0-13, P. 337 of the Birth Records of Tarrant County: Clara Cecil Monroe, Personal Collection of Clara C. Ward. Currently in the possession of J. L. Beamon, Van Buren, AR.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-67F3-RGH?cc=1325221&wc=9BWS-6Y3%3A1030553601%2C1035279201%2C1035286301 : 5 August 2014), Texas > Navarro > ED 98 Corsicana city Ward 2, 4 > image 58 of 80; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBC-V9T?cc=1727033&wc=QZZC-42X%3A133641501%2C142220201%2C142222201%2C1589089011 : 24 June 2017), Texas > Navarro > Corsicana Ward 2 > ED 81 > image 6 of 26; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RFW-96J?cc=1488411&wc=QZJT-D1G%3A1037034201%2C1039520101%2C1039525801%2C1589332428 : 14 September 2019), Texas > Navarro > Corsicana Ward 2 > ED 146 > image 5 of 28; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ ”Certificate of Marriage”, T. J. House to Clara Cecil Monroe, 24 April 1924, Dallas County, Texas, County Clerk’s Office, Dallas, Texas. Recorded in Book 29, Page 199 of the Marriage Records of Dallas County. Personal Collection of Clara C. Ward. Original currently in possession of J. L. Beamon, Van Buren, Arkansas
6. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GB9H-Z6V?cc=1983324&wc=9THZ-YWP%3A263835801%2C266039201%2C266099601 : 22 July 2014), Death certificates > 1921 > Vol 041-047, certificates 020390-023330, Jul-Aug, Milam-McLennan counties > image 109 of 3344; State Registrar Office, Austin.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} “Monroe Family History.” Personal Collection of M. B. Beamon. Currently in the possession of J. L. Beamon, Van Buren, AR
8. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JPW8-T35 : 2 July 2020), Jerome Roxburgh, 04 Aug 1994; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
9. ↑ "Marriage License". State of Texas, McLennan County. Virgil E. Moore to Mrs. Clara C. House. 9 July 1925. Personal collection of Clara C. Ward. Currently in possession of J. L. Beamon, Van Buren, AR.
10. ↑ "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-7994-Z6?cc=1803956&wc=M6RW-468%3A145779101 : 22 May 2014), 004687164 > image 1982 of 3576; Texas Department of Health, Austin.
11. ↑ "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9T4R-79Y?cc=1803956&wc=M6RH-QZS%3A146471501 : 22 May 2014), 005035076 > image 1631 of 3480; Texas Department of Health, Austin.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HFLR-D2M : accessed 2 July 2020), Clara Cecile Moore in household of Virgie E Moore, Corsicana, Navarro, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 4, sheet 1A, line 21, family 5, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2379; FHL microfilm 2,342,113.
13. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GY18-QDP?cc=1983324&wc=9TH7-VZ9%3A263835801%2C267608301%2C267642201 : 22 July 2014), Death certificates > 1933 > Vol 100-107, certificates 049750-053150, Nov, Dallas-Williamson counties > image 2325 of 3597; State Registrar Office, Austin.
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4SN-XXG : 27 May 2020), Clara Moore, Ward 2, Corsicana, Justice Precinct 1, Navarro, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 175-4, sheet 9B, line 50, family 200, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4112.
15. ↑ “State of Texas, Navarro County. Marriage License No.1586. Edgar Lee Ward and Clara Cecil Moore”. Issued 29 Mar 1946, Filed 1 Apr 1946, Recorded in Book 34, page 187 of the Marriage Books of Navarro County, Texas. Personal Collection of Clara C. Ward. Currently in possession of J. L. Beamon, Van Buren, AR.
16. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GY19-39ZD?cc=1983324&wc=9T43-JWR%3A263835801%2C285304101%2C285315101 : 22 July 2014), Death certificates > 1976 > Vol 119-126, certificates 059201-062600, Aug, Ector-Navarro counties > image 3458 of 3474; State Registrar Office, Austin.
17. ↑ "Texas Death Index, 1964-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JVYS-SZJ : 5 December 2014), Clara Cecil Ward, Navarro, Texas, United States; citing Department of State Health Services, Austin.
18. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 18 May 2018), memorial page for Clara Cecil Monroe Ward (28 Oct 1898–5 Jun 1987), Find A Grave: Memorial #32521149, citing Resthaven Memorial Park, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by John Smith (contributor 46816801).
19. ↑ "Clara Ward". Corsicana Daily Sun, Corsicana, Texas. Friday, June 5, 1987. p 8B.
20. ↑ "Clara Ward". Corsicana Daily Sun, Corsicana, Texas. Sunday, June 7, 1987.