Frankie Ponder was born 01 May 1895 in Reilly Springs, Hopkins County, Texas. She married (1) Gordon Holbert Massengale 25 December 1916 in Hunt County, Texas (Vol: S, p. 293). Gordon was the son of Hopkins Millican Monroe Massengale and Leona Westbook Holbert. He was born December 1893 in Town Creek, Lawrence County, Alabama (World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 ).

Gordon and Frankie lived in Allen, Texas when he registered for the World War I Draft on 5 June 1917. This record tells us that Gordon worked as a farm laborer for L. B. Gatlin in Parker Texas. He claimed support of a wife as an exemption from the draft.

Frankie and Gordon lived in Reilly Springs for the birth of three children, at least until the later part of 1921. They moved to Wylie, Texas before April of 1924 and were there in October 1925. The family moved to Fort Worth and were living there when the 1930 census was taken in April. They were enumerated in the 5th ward of District 16. Frankie and Gordon, along with 5 of their children, were living at 201 Kentucky Avenue in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas. Gordon worked as a fireman for "steam railway".

Gordon and Frankie (Ponder) Massengale

Children of FRANKIE PONDER and GORDON MASSENGALE are:

1. Frank Maurice "F. M" Massengale was born 02 April 1919 in Reilly Springs, Hopkins County, Texas (Births Vol: 5, part: 1, p: 23). He married 1) Mamie Josephine Turk 1938 in Tarrant County, Texas (Vol: 78, P: 353). She was the daughter of Roy Milton Turk and Blanche Owens. Mamie Josephine was born 25 January 1919 in Dallas County, Texas (Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997) and died 31 January 1997 in Johnson County, Texas (Texas Death Index, 1903-2000). Frank Massengale married 2) Johnnie Marie Davis 12 December 1946 in Hopkins County, Texas (Vol: 20, p: 131)
   "F. M" Massengale died 15 November 1978 in the Veteran's Administration hospital in Alexandria, Rapides Parrish, Louisiana and was buried 18 November 1978 in Reilly Springs Cemetery in Reilly Springs, Hopkins County, Texas.

   Picture needed here! Do you have one to share?		F. N. MASSENGALE Funeral services for Frank N. Massengale will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Tapp Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. L. B. Morgan officiating. A former Hopkins County resident, Mr. Massengale died Wednesday in a Veteran's Administration hospital in Alexandria, La. He was 60. Born Apr. 2, 1918 in Hopkins County, he was the son of Gordon H. and Frankie Ponder Massengale. Survivors include a son, Gerald Massengale of Godley, two sisters, Mrs. Jewell Covington of Jacksonville, Ark., and Elizabeth William of Charleston, Ill., and a brother Ed Massengale of Ft. Worth. Interment will be in the Reilly Springs Cemetery.

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2. Theda Bara Massengale was born 02 November 1920 in Reilly Springs, Hopkins County, Texas (Births Vol: 5, part: 2, p: 47) and died 29 June 1965 in Shreveport, Caddo Parrish, Louisiana. She married 1) [-?-] Foty. Theda was listed as Mrs. Theda Foty of Corpus Cristi when her sister died in 1948. She married 2) [-?-] ALLEN.
   Theda Bara (Massengale) Allen was 43 years, 8 months and 27 days old when she died in a Shreveport, Louisiana Hospital where she had been a patient for 6 months. Her residence was listed as Sicily Island, Louisiana. Tapp Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. No children listed as survivors. Her brother, Ed, ordered the services. She was buried 01 July 1965 in Reilly Springs Cemetery in Reilly Springs, Hopkins County, Texas.

   		Allen Rites Set Thursday     Funeral services for Theda Bara Allen, 43, of Sicily Island, La, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Tapp Funeral Home chapel.     She was born in Sulphur Springs Nov. 2 1921, the daughter of Gordon H. and Frankie Ponder Massingale. Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Beabout of Altus, Okla., and Mrs. Fred Covington of Little Rock, Ark.; and two brothers, Frank Massengale of Louisiana and Ed Massengale of Fort Worth.     She was a member of the Church of God. The Rev. Wayne Blackshear will conduct final rites. Burial will be in the Reilly Springs cemetery.
   Theda Bara (Massengale) Allen

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3. Lucille "Lucy" Mae Massengale was born 28 October 1921 in Reilly Springs, Hopkins County, Texas (Births Vol: 5, part: 2, p: 62) and died 16 June 1948 in Tarrant County, Texas (Death Certificate # 27643). She married (1) Howard Arvill Williams 16 October 1937 in Precinct one, Parker County, Texas by W. R. Hawkins, Justice of the Peace. (Vol: 17, Page: 158). She married (2) Harry William Mason December 1946 in Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland. (newspaper article). He was the son of William Mason and Hilda Fluhart (Death Certificate # 27635). Harry was born about 1916 - 1917 and died 16 June 1948 in Tarrant County, Texas. His body was removed to Salisbury, Maryland. "Lucy" Massengale Mason was buried in Laurel Land Cemetery in Tarrant County.

   "Lucy" Mae Massengale Williams		Ft Worth Star Telegram Evening edition 17 June 1948 Gunfire Ends family Strife     Death Thursday had ended the marital troubles of Harry William Mason, 32 year old lumber worker, and his estranged wife, Mrs. Lucille Massengale Masom, 26, of 1158 E. Vickery.     Mrs. Mason struck in the head by a 25 caliber slug, died in a hospital approximately two hours after the double shooting Wednesday in the 2800 block of W. 7th. Mason died instantly of a bullet wond in in the chest. Justice Brown returned an inquest verdict of murder and suicide.     Mrs. Mason was to have reported for work at 4 p. m. at the Triple XXX Thirst Station. She and Mason dismounted from the bus across the street and the shooting occurred. Police were told that the Masons were arguing on the bus. Woman Shot Twice
   		R. S. Nelson, owner of the A&H Package Store, 2836 W. 7th, told police: "The man shot the woman twice and attempted to fire a third time when the gun jammed. She screamed and he walked away. He circled back to where she was lying and fired the gun into his chest"     The Masons had been separated about two weeks, relatives told homicide Detetives Howerton and Harris. Mrs. Mason's mother, Mrs. Frankie Conway of the E. Vickery address, told police Mason "told us he was gong to watch her every move. But he has escorted her home at night without harming her" Wed in Maryland     The Masons were married at Salisbury, Md., in December 1946. Mason had been employed at a lumber mill at Everman.     Mrs. Mason is survived by two children by a former marriage: (names snipped - living); her father, G. H. Massengale of Amarillo; two brothers, Flynt Massengale of Fort Worth and Frank M. Massengale of Wzle; and three sisters, Mrs. Theda Foty of Corpus Cristi and Mrs Elizabeth Beabout and Mrs. Jewell Hoot, both of the E. Vickery address.     Mrs. Mason's body is at the Gause-Ware Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements were incomplete Thursday.     The Harveson & Cole Funeral Home is attempting to communicate with relatives on Mason in Maryland.
   U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Family Violence Program

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4. Ed Flynt Massengale was born 10 April 1924 in Wylie, Collin County, Texas (Vol: 6, p. 449) and died 29 June 1982 in Tarrant County, Texas. He married (1) Betty Pearl Graves 1944 in Tarrant County, Texas (Vol: 90, P: 347). He married (2) Gertrude Rogers 21 November 1948 in Lamar County, Texas (Vol: 47, p: 456). He married Mrs. Violet Corabelle Hutchison in Tarrant County, Texas (Vol: 130, P: 33). She was born 16 November 1924 and died 09 August 1986 in Tarrant County, Texas. Ed Flynt and Violet Massengale are buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Ft Worth, Tarrant County, Texas - Woodlawn Garden Section, plot: 790.

   Taken at the Ponder reunion in 1964 Ed Flint and Violet Massengale are on the far right. Not sure about the children at this time.		ED FLYNT MASSENGALE .... retired from Texas Industries    Ed Flynt Massengale, 58 of 1304 Michael, died Tuesday at a local hospital.     Funeral will be at 2 p.m., Thursday at Greenwood Memorial Park.    Massengale, a native of Wylie, lived in Fort Worth 30 years. He was retired from Texas Industries, where he had been a truck driver for 30 years. He served in the Navy during World War II.     Survivors include his wife, Violet of Fort Worth, three sons, Michael Massengale, Kenneth Massengale and Ed Flynt Massengale Jr., all of Fort Worth; two stepsons, Robert Ploetz and Gary Hutchison, both of Fort Worth; step-daughter, Gloria McCrory of Haltom City; two sisters, Jewell Covington of Jacksonville, Ark., and Beth Williams of Charleston, Ill; and eight grandcildren.

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5. Onala Jewell Julie Massengale was born 20 October 1925 in Wylie, Collin County, Texas (Vol: 7, p. 149 - Amended -Vol: 883, p: 129), and died 27 April 2002 in Escondido, San Diego County, California. She married (1) Charlie Thurman Hoot 1942 in Tarrant County, Texas (Vol: 85, P: 331 or 351). She married (2) Fred Miller Covington Junior. He was born 18 June 1930 and died 30 April 1996 in Arkansas.

   Onala Jewell Julie Massengale Hoot and children Robert Jay and Charlene Hoot		Julie Covington, 76 ESCONDIDO ---- Julie Covington, 76, died Saturday, April 27, 2002, of cancer. Born Oct. 20, 1925, in Riley Springs, Texas, she lived in Escondido for seven years. She retired in 1960 from Dollar Stores and Kroger Grocery. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints in Little Rock, Ark., and the Royal Order Moose Lodge in Little Rock. Mrs. Covington was preceded in death by her daughter, Judy Ann Hoot, in 1945; and son Micah Jabez Covington, in 1959. She is survived by her son Robert "Bobby" J. Hoot of Benninston, Vt.; daughters and sons-in-law Charlene and Chris Shidelee of Oceanside, Cindy and Glenn Huang and Jane Covington, all of Philadelphia and Ruth Covington Ackland of Provo, Utah; grandchildren Tammy and Rick Karpinski, Gary McGreevy, Philip Stracener, Karan Stracener and Samantha Tilkeemeir; and four great-grandchildren. Private cremation is planned. Eternal Hills Mortuary is handling arrangements.

   NOTE: Surviving grandchildren who were omitted in the obituary were Stacey, Bobby, Ashley, Bradley, Trista, and Travis Hoot.

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6. Elizabeth Irene "Beth" Massengale was born 08 December 1930 in Tarrant County, Texas (Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997) and died 06 June 1992 in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois.

Elizabeth Irene "Beth" Massengale married (1) John Dale "Jack" Beabout. He was the son of Dale Owen Beabout and Flora Oakley. John Dale "Jack" Beabout was born 21 January 1928 in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois. John D. Beabout enlisted for World War II on 5 Feb 1946 in Chicago, Illinois. That tour of duty led him to Texas where he met and married "Beth" Massengale on 05 December 1947 in Parker County, Texas by H. J. Starnes (Vol: 25, Page: 385). John and Beth had 5 children while he was stationed at Carswel Air Force Base in Tarrant County. They moved their family to Altus, Oklahoma in 1957 when John was stationed at Altus Air Force Base where he retired as Senior Master Seargeant in 1966. John D. and Elizabeth Irene Beabout were divorced between 1966- 1974. John remarried 31 May 1974 in Mattoon, Illinois. John Dale "Jack" Beabout died at his home 20 June 2005 in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois. He was interred with Military Rites by the Honor Guard of Veterans of Foreign Wars Paul McVey Post 1592 and buried in Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois.

According to his obituary, "Jack was preceded by his father; his mother and stepfather, Hiram and Flora Bryant; a son, John Dale Beabout, Jr.; and two sisters, Margie Catron and Frances McCullough."

 

Elizabeth Irene "Beth" Massengale married (2) Jimmie Rex Williams in 1974. He was the son of Chester A. Williams and Mabel A. Johnson. Jimmie Rex was born 17 December 1930 in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois where he lived all of his life. Jimmie worked as a contract trucker for the Pre-Fab Trucking Company of Farmer City, Illinois. He died 24 March 1982 at the Intercommunity Hospital in Fairfield, Solano County, California. According to his obituary, he died of natural causes. According to a family member, he died of a heart attack. Jimmie Rex Williams was buried 27 March 1982 in Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois.

 

Elizabeth Irene "Beth" Williams died 06 June 1992 in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois. She is buried beside Jimmie Rex Williams in Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois.

 

Two children preceded Beth in death; according to family members, she had Martha Jane Beabout who was born and died in 1948 in Tarrant County, Texas; John Dale Beabout Jr. born 13 May 1949 in Ft Worth, Tarrant County, Texas and died due to AIDS complications on 21 November 1991 at his mother's home in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois.

 

Her youngest daughter Flora Maryon "Dink" Beabout was born 25 July 1957 in Ft Worth, Tarrant County, Texas and died 23 January 2008 at home in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois.

		Clipped obit - not dated Elizabeth Williams    Elizabeth I. Williams, 61, of Charleston died Sunday (June 8, 1992) at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.    Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Caudill-King Funeral Home. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.    She was born Dec 8, 1930, in Fort Worth, Texas, the daughter of Gordon and Frankie M. Ponder Massengale. She married Jimmie R. Williams in 1974; he died in 1982.    She is survived by a son, (living), who is stationed with the USA Army in Germany; two daughters, Flora Beabout of Charleston and (living) of Blue Mound; and a sister, Julie Covington of Charleston.    Mrs. Williams also was preceded in death by one son, one daughter, two brothers and two ststers.
Elizabeth Irene "Beth" Massengale

We have not found a record of Frankie and Gordon's divorce.

Frankie Ponder married (2) Mr. Conaway or Conway before1944.
(Frankie was listed as Mrs. Frankie Conaway of Ft. Worth when her mother died on 23 October 1944. She lived at 1158 Vickery Street in Ft. Worth, Texas)

Frankie Ponder Conway died 16 May 1961 at home in Azle, Parker County, Texas (Vol: 17, p:45). She had lived at that address since 1948 (death certificate: 12 years) Frankie was buried 18 May 1961 in Reilly Springs Cemetery in Reilly Springs, Hopkins County, Texas.

Gordon Holbert Massengale died 24 May 1961 in Wichita County, Texas. According to funeral home records and his obituary, he was interred 25 May 1961 in Spring Creek Cemetery in Plano. We did not find his grave in that cemetery. He is actually buried in Big Springs Cemetery in Garland, Dallas County, Texas.

You may access information on each of Frank and Nobie's children by clicking the "next" icon which will lead to each child's page in birth order. The back option will take you back to Frank and Nobie's page with a list of all their children.

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		Source Notes:

1880 Precinct 3, Hopkins, Texas - Roll: 1311, Book: 2 - Page: 155B, Line: 33, Household: 56
Death Certificate