Terri Brown family tree » Cecil Wilson Spry (1904-1974)

Personal data Cecil Wilson Spry 

• He was born on April 7, 1904 in Wiota, Cass Co, IA.
• Profession: Over the Road Truck Driver.
• Social Security Number: Social Security #: 507-03-5158.
• Resident:
• Residence code: 79907.
• in the year 1927: Phoenix, Holt, NE.
• Census in the year 1920, Holt, Nebraska, Verenigde Staten.
• Census in the year 1910, Grattan, Holt, Nebraska, USA.
• (Reference Number) : 403.
• He died on May 8, 1974 in El Paso, El Paso Co, TX, he was 70 years old.
• He is buried on May 11, 1974 in Evergreen East Cmt., Spry Family Plot, El Paso, El Paso, TX.
• Alternative: He is buried on May 8, 1974 in Services conducted by Rev. Robert Shrank, Reedemer Lutheran Church, El Paso, Tx.
• Alternative: He is buried on May 11, 1974 in Provided by Chapel of the Cross Mortuary.
• A child of Marion Wilson Spry and Ida Mae Carley

Household of Cecil Wilson Spry

He is married to Cora Lucille Stearns.

They got married on December 24, 1927 at O'Neill, NE, he was 23 years old.

Child(ren):

1. Bernard Cecil Spry  1931-1989
2. (Not public)

Notes about Cecil Wilson Spry

Cecil Wilson Spry was born April 7, 1904, on a farm in Wiota, Cass C., Iowa. His parents were Marion Wilson Spry and Ida May Carley. He had three sisters; Gladys May, Violet Myrtle, Emily Fidelia; and five brothers ; Floyd Marion, Roy Melvin, Gale Raymond, Clayton Leonard, and Leland Orville.

The family moved to O’Neill, Nebraska in 1909 when Cecil was 5. Four years later they moved five miles Northeast of Phoenix, Holt Co. Nebraska (which was about 23 miles North of O’Neill) where Marion bought a farm.

Cecil had good and caring parents, but due to the times and circumstance got kind of a rough start in this world. He was born with a cleft pallet and hair lip, which was not repaired until he was around 13. He was only able to attend school through 3rd grade, and he lost his Mother at age 16. He worked hard on his Father’s farm and grew into a handsome gentle young 5ft. 11 1/2 inches, weighing about 160 lbs. Had dark brown hair, clear blue eyes and an endearing smile; with an inner strength. What he lacked in formal education, he made up for in observing and learning along the way. He had a natural aptitude for Math and could figure problems in his head faster than most people could with pencil and paper. He could not tell you how he got the answers as to a formula or how you could do it, but he nearly always came up with the right answer. He could read and write enough to get along, but was not a good speller nor did he have good penmanship. His practical and common sense allowed him to make a a decent living, though he never got rich.

When he was 19 he met Cora Lucille Stearns, daughter of Archie Leon Stearns, a neighboring farmer. Cora was born on a farm near Spencer, Boyd Co, Neb. June 16, 1912; She was 13.

He decided he was going to wait until she grew up, and ask her to be his wife. The young people of the two families socialized together, dances, picnics, and community affairs for the next two years. In June of 1927 Cora turned 15. Cecil married her on Christmas Eve of that year, and took her home to live on his Father’s farm, as he was still working there.

When they left the farm a few years later Cecil tried his hand at many things. Working at a super market, running a movie projector, working for the State, working as a ranch hand, and driving trucks. He decided truck driving was what he wanted to do. He and Cora worked and saved until they could buy a truck. They were in business. Things went well for awhile and Cecil became a very proficient driver. He drove in the local Truck Rodeos until local drivers refused to drive against him. They said he was going to win anyway, so why bother.

Then their luck turned against him. He had an accident, lost his truck and his license was suspended for three years.

These were hard times for everyone. The economy was in very bad shape, and jobs were hard to come by. Cecil and Cora had started their family and there were children to be fed. Cecil did any kind of work he could find, sometimes walking miles and going without lunch to work at unloading the beer trucks at 50 cents a day. He would pick up coal along the Rail Road track, where it shook out of the cars, to keep them warm.

In the mean time his Father fell on hard times and had to sell the farm. He was working in O'Neill as a carpenter. Cecil was able to get enough work with him to manage to keep his family going until he could get his license back and go back to his second love, driving truck. He was never fortunate enough to own his own truck again, but made an adequate living at driving for others.

Winters are cold in Nebraska, but Cecil would get up before day light, walk more than a mile, sometimes with cardboard lining his shoes to keep the snow from coming through the holes in the soles, to get his truck and be away from his family a week or more at a time.

In 1954 his job at Tri-State was giving out. There was less and less work to be had. He was hauling eggs from Tri-State Produce in O’Neill, to Valley Produce and Egg in El Paso, Texas. Herman Golden and Murray Cohen owned Valley, and offered him a job. He and Cora talked it over and packed up what they had and moved. Cora hated to leave her family, but never hesitated to follow her husband, and do what they felt was necessary for their family.

They bought a house and a used car, and Cecil drove truck for Valley Produce until his health gave out. He drove truck for about 47 years. He drove in and out of 48 States of the Union and both Canada and Mexico. The younger drivers, just starting out, nick named him "The Old King". His last few years of driving was local hauling of cinders to build roads in the El Paso area.

Cecil died May 8, 1974 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, El Paso, Texas. Cora had his headstone inscribed "King of the Knights of the Road." With a memorial stone in Phoenix, Nebraska, next to his loving wife, who went back to their first home area in Holt Co. Nebraska after he died. She passed away June 14, 1995. She spent her last years in the O’Neill Nursing home. In the 21 years between their passing, I don’t believe she ever spent one day not missing Cecil.

Cecil and Cora never had a lot of money to give "things" to their children, yet the

children never went without anything they needed. They taught them the honorable way of life by example. If any man ever gave his all for his family, it was Cecil Wilson Spry. He and Cora left their seven children a rich legacy of Honor, integrity and love which was taught by example every day. Each child was special to them in their own way, never one more than the other. The children were: 1. Bernard Cecil born March 2,1931 died March 13, 1989. Married Deloris LaVonne Schultz. Their children were Zane Bernard Apr.2,1951 married Shirley May Weatherhead (AAron Zane and Jacquilyn Christine). Phillip Lee Sep. 29, 1952, married Elizabeth Ann Joram (no children). Rachel Dee Apr.14,1955 married Charles Peter Frank (Damian Spry). Dana Richard May 26,1956 Married Connie (unknown). 2.Mavis Lucille born March 22, 1932 married Elmer Franklin Wiseman Their children were: Martin Elmer born Dec. 26, 1951, married Ruth Joan Spangler. (Clayton Scott ,Kristopher Martin) 2nd wife was Jackie Lee Juracek, (Mardi Ann, and Jerry Jo.); Michael Alan born Nov. 24,1954 married Kimberly Telegren (Shannon and Joshua.) Mark Douglas born Sep. 17,1956 married Deborah Ann Ketteler, (Jason Michael and Amy Jo.) Merlin Reed born Sep. 29, 1958- single in 1993. 3. Lona Lee born April 14,1938, married James A. Flowers, their child was Laura Lee Oct. 21, 1964 married Dale Wade Bevel! (Ryan Matthew and Joshua Allen) 4, Orin Clifton born January 7, 1944 married Naomi Ray Barnes (Edwards). Naomi had two sons by a previous marriage. Orin no children of his own but felt that Naomi’s were his as well. Kenny married Peggy (Jeniffer and Alisha). Michael (wife unknown) had Stacy. 5. Janey Louise born Dec.11, 1945 married George Richard Lanterman. Their children are George Richard Lanterman Jr. born July 20, 1964 married Lisa Ann Hall.(Shanna Marie and Jason Everett.) 2nd marriage Beverly Keiwert, no children. 3rd wife Marlene (Nathan Ryan). Alice Richeal Lanterman married Richard Anthony Garcia. (Christopher Anthony and Steven Theodore) 2nd marriage Brian P. Quintana. 6. LaVonn Kaye born Oct 22, 1947 married Layne (nmi) Johnson. There children were: Cynthia LaVonn born May 25,1967 married Robert Shannon Sizemore. (“Joshua Adam, Olive Nichole and Alaina Gale). Keva Lynn born Aug 16,1968 married Thomas William Burdett (Justin Thomas) second marriage James Lee Berry (Kylie Lane and Jessica Shalynn). 7. Lynn Elaine born September 24, 1949 married William Eugene Turner - no children. 2nd marriage Martin Dean Waterman (Tyrel Dean).

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written by Lona Flowers

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[ginidon1.FTW]

 

In 1927, Cecil was living in Phoenix, NE. Cecil drove a truck for 42 years. A local cattle run in the beginning, then long haul. He received many good driving awards. At the time of his death, Cecil had a drdive in 47 or the 50 states of the Union, plus into Mexico and Canada. Cecil died of cardiac arrest after surgery. Source: Vonnie Crider[Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2 L-Z, Ed. 7, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: Apr 24, 2001, Internal Ref. #1.112.7.108093.91]

 

Individual: Spry, Cecil

Social Security #: 507-03-5158

Issued in: Nebraska

 

Birth date: Apr 7, 1904

Death date: May 8, 1974

 

 

Residence code: Texas

 

ZIP Code of last known residence: 79907

Primary location associated with this ZIP Code: El Paso, Texas

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Dad always said that "next time he would have all boys, because it was too hard to keep giving his girls away."

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Timeline Cecil Wilson Spry

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