Micky Vaughan Elliott

Notes:

Virgie Speights writes that he is a vice-president of Gulf Supply, and lived in New Orleans.

Obituary, copied from his FindAGrave memorial page

Mickey Vaughn Elliott was born on August 16, 1926 to Von Bergen & Minnie Bickley Elliott in Hemphill, Texas and passed away peacefully at his home in Austin on Wednesday, the 19th day of August, 2020, three days following his 94th birthday.

Always a proud American, and even prouder Texan, Mickey lived an honorable life of achievement and service to others, and knew that he was blessed beyond measure. Those who met him would quickly sense his abundant optimism, vision, kindness, generosity, faith and most of all, love for family and friends. He always saw the very best in people and found his greatest joy in helping others. He was honest in all that he did and set the standard for all of his family of what it means to live your faith by your words and actions every single day. Mickey will be deeply missed, but his family rejoices for the long, wonderful life that he lived, and the amazing joyful eternal life that he is now living.

Truly a member of the "Greatest Generation", Mickey began working early as a young boy in his family's tomato packing and shipping shed ? and started the first of his many lifetime entrepreneurial endeavors at age 5 selling cold soda pop to the workers in the hot tomato shed, and the farmers who would bring in their tomatoes to sell.

Just a few years later, around age 7, Mickey and his only slightly order aunt Helen became the milk man and milk lady in Hemphill, delivering fresh milk from his parents' cows milked earlier that morning before going to school each day. Neither Helen's or Mickey's legs were long enough to reach the gas pedal of his father's Ford Model T, so they had to improvise and use a two by four piece of lumber to reach the gas pedal to drive the car, and get the job done. As a young boy Mickey also loved to ride his pony named Dolly.

Mickey grew up in the Hemphill United Methodist Church, the Fellowship Hall and Youth Building of which are dedicated to his parents. The Methodist Church has always been the foundation stone of his life, and a great comfort in good times and not so good times. Mickey attended elementary school and high school in Hemphill, graduating early at age 16. He then started college at the University of Texas and was a proud member of the Longhorn Marching Band. However, World War II had begun, and as soon as he was old enough to do so, Mickey enlisted in the U.S. Navy V-12 officers training program at the University of Texas. The Navy subsequently transferred Mickey to Princeton University and then to Columbia University for further naval officer training. For a young man who had never previously traveled outside the State of Texas, getting to see and experience life in New Jersey and New York City was quite an adventure that Mickey thoroughly enjoyed. Upon completion of his officer training, Mickey began training as a Navy deep sea diver at Pier 16 in New York City.

Following V-J Day, when the war was finally over, Mickey was reassigned by the Navy to go to the Caribbean and to South American and captain Navy tanker ships operating in those waters back to harbor in New York City and New Orleans. As a young naval officer visiting New Orleans, he first experienced and quickly developed a love of delicious fresh Gulf seafood, fine French and Cajun cuisine, and New Orleans jazz music.

Upon discharge from the Navy, Mickey returned to the University of Texas to finish his college education, graduating from the U.T. Business School in 1949. During those years, Mickey became a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity were he made many close friendships, many of which he maintained throughout the remainder of his life. As a senior, he was elected Vice President of the U.T. student body, was honored as a U.T. Outstanding Student, and was very proud to have been selected to be a member of the Silver Spurs service organization which took great care of the iconic Longhorn mascot, Bevo.

Upon graduation from the University of Texas, Mickey moved to Beaumont, Texas and joined childhood friends from deep East Texas in starting an industrial supply company, which they named the Gulf Supply Company. After World War II was over, America needed a lot of new chemical plants and petroleum refineries ? and thankfully they all needed a lot of pipe and valves.

In 1952, while frequently visiting Augusta, Georgia to sell pipe and other industrial supplies for the construction of a huge new nuclear power plant just across the border in South Carolina, Mickey regularly attended the downtown Augusta Methodist Church and had the good fortune to meet a beautiful young Georgian named Doris Paul. A year later they were married and moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to open a new office there for Gulf Supply, and to start a family. Amanda, Mike and Mark soon followed. In the years that followed, the family moved frequently as Gulf Supply expanded rapidly, and especially enjoyed living in New Orleans for several years, and getting back to Texas living in Beaumont and then Houston. While in Beaumont, the Elliott family attended Trinity United Methodist Church, and in Houston enjoyed being active members of Chappelwood United Methodist Church.

Through grit, determination and incredible tenacity and work ethic, over the next thirty years the team of East Texas childhood friends built Gulf Supply (subsequently renamed Gulf Consolidated Services) into the industry leader in the industrial supply business.

The shared sense of mission, common goals and teamwork that Mickey so enjoyed over the years with Gulf Supply and then Gulf Consolidated resulted in many new, deep, lifelong friendships which meant the world to him. He was always so proud of the fine company that he helped to start and to lead, but it was the fine people and the great friendships there that were always what mattered the most to him. Again, Mickey and his partners were blessed to sell Gulf Consolidated Services to the Meade Paper Company just prior to the oil market crash and subsequent harsh economic recession of the 1980's.

Following the sale of Gulf Consolidates Services, Mickey and Doris moved to Austin to a lovely high-rise condominium that overlooked the U.T. Tower and South Mall, a beautiful view that Mickey enjoyed daily throughout the remainder of his life.

However, his retirement years were not easy. For nine years Mickey was devoted to taking loving care of his wife Doris as she struggled mightily with lung cancer. Through it all though, Mickey remained relentlessly positive and grateful to God for all that he and Doris had been blessed with. And he definitely was not through yet. He read the Wall Street Journal front to back everyday, and was deeply interested in current events, especially in business and political happenings. He always so looked forward to his monthly luncheons at the Tarry House in Austin with a very distinguished group of fellow U.S. military veterans who were all such fine gentlemen and great Americans. They were not always able to solve all of the problems in our world that were discussed, but it sure was not from lack of interest, knowledge and love of our great country.

Mickey also always looked forward to sitting in the second row of the sanctuary (an Elliott family tradition going back to his Hemphill childhood) at Tarrytown Methodist Church on Sunday mornings, following Sunday School with his Faith Class. All of the members of the Faith Class were so thoughtful and caring, and Mickey was always honored to be a part of such a fine group of folks.

Mickey was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife of almost 60 years Doris, and his three sisters, Wynell, Martha and Arnette whom he dearly loved. He leaves behind his daughter Amanda, son Mike, son Mark and his wonderful wife Donna, and their three daughters, Nicole, Cecily and Gabrielle that he loved so much.

With grateful hearts, the Elliott family wishes to thank "the Great Ladies" Rae Brown, Linda McKinley and Terasa Felix for their devoted, loving care of our Dad over many years ? and also Bob Mitchell, Dad's personal trainer and great friend over the years who did so much to keep Dad vertical and moving, and able to enjoy an active life almost up to the very end.

We also wish to express our heartfelt thanks to all of the great team at Hospice Austin who so kindly and compassionately helped our Dad in his final days.

The immediate family, and our dearest friend Virginia Duke (whom we have officially adopted as a family member of Clan Elliott), and our Pastors from Tarrytown United Methodist Church will gather for a private internment at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery on Wednesday, August 26, 2020. Honorary pallbearers, all of whom preceded Mickey in the journey to eternal life in Heaven, include his lifetime, dearest of friends Rudy Williams, Paul Beauchamp, Bill Aufricht, Bob Duke, Harmon Parrot and Seldon Graham.

Due to the COVID, a larger celebration of Mickey's life at Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin will have to wait until it is again safe for us all to gather again. When that time comes, hopefully soon, there will be much to celebrate, many traditional Methodist hymns to sing, and of course lots of great southern cooking from the Methodist ladies.

Though our hearts are deeply saddened by the loss of our Dad, we are comforted in knowing that he is now reunited in Heaven with family and so many great friends, that he is now pain free and will enjoy a profoundly joyful eternal life in the greatest of all places. Ad we take great solace and comfort in the testimony of the Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:6-8):

"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

We thank God for the gift of our Dad. And the great life that he was blessed to live.

Our family requests that in lieu of flowers, any remembrances or memorial contributions in honor of our Dad be directed to: Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78759, or to the J.R. Huffman Public Library, 375 Sabine Street, Hemphill, Texas 75948 ? or any good cause of your choice that makes the world a better place.

Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home

Family/Spouse: Doris Paul. Doris was born on 9 Jul 1933 in Thomson, McDuffie County, Georgia; died on 4 Jul 2009 in Texas; was buried in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, Austin, Travis County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

FindAGrave shows him as a son of Jim ELLIOTT and Laura McAFEE, both of whom are buried in the Joel Halbert Cemetery in Milam, Texas.

Von married Minnie Mae Bickley on 1 Nov 1924. Minnie (daughter of Horace D. Bickley and Della Meador) was born on 13 Jan 1904 in Texas; died on 13 Nov 1986 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She taught school, and with her husband also ran a general store.

Notes:

Married:
Virgie Speights, in a column dated November 14, 1968, writes about the Von B. Elliott family, on the occasion of their retirement and liquidation of the stock of their former retail store which they had operated for 30 years under the motto "A Fine Store in a Fine Town." She noted that both were lifelong residents of the area, members of pioneer families, and always active in every phase of life in the community. Both were active in chruch, school and civic affairs, and were members of the United First Methodist Church of Hemphill.The Elliott children were well-supervised, well disciplined, with no thought of permissiveness in their up-bringing, and expected to do their best at whatever they undertook. All four were honor students in school, and all completed college educations. The Elliott's have ten grandchildren, "two granddaughter and eight skinny grandsons."

James married Laura McAfee before 1896. Laura was born on 23 Oct 1880 in Texas; died on 13 Jun 1971 in San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in Halbert Cemetery (Joel Halbert Cemetery / Fox Hill Cemetery), Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name Laura Elliott
Event Type Death
Event Date 18 Jun 1971
Event Place San Augustine, San Augustine, Texas, United States
Gender Female
Marital Status Widowed
Birth Date 23 Oct 1880
Birthplace , Texas
Father's Name B F Mcafee
Mother's Name Martha Mccartneny [White and Toole instead show her as Martha Ann HALBERT]
Certificate Number 44023
GS Film number 2223202
Digital Folder Number 005145929
Image Number 02694

Citing this Record:
"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K36L-DB8 : accessed 01 Feb 2014), Laura Elliott, 18 Jun 1971; citing certificate number 44023, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2223202.

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K3FM-DXN
name: Horace D Bickley
event: Death
event date: 25 Jan 1967
event place: Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
gender: Male
marital status: Married
birth date: 07 Feb 1880
occupation farmer
veteran? no
birthplace: , Texas
father's name: William Bickley
mother's name: Mattie Smith
certificate number: 10079
film number: 2138242
digital folder number: 005164798
image number: 01397
Collection: "Texas, Deaths (New Index, New Images), 1890-1976," Horace D Bickley, 1967

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP One
Enumerated 13 Jan 1920
SD 226 ED 168 Sheet 13A
Hemphill and Fairdale Road
253-269
Bickley, Horace D head m W 40 m Tx Ga Ga Drayman General Hauling
Bickley, Della Wf F W 37 M Tx Miss Tx
Bickley, Clarence L Son M W 17 S Tx Tx Tx Salesman Retail Drug Store
Bickley, Minnie M Dtr F W 15 S Tx Tx Tx
Bickley, Mattie C Dtr F W 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Bickley, James P Son M W 11 S Tx Tx Tx
Bickley, Horace D Jr Son M W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Bickley, Hellen A Dtr F W 2 5/12 S Tx Tx Tx

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated April 14, 1930
ED 202-2 SD 19 Sheet 6A Stamped 20
112-136
Bickley, Horace Head M W 51 M 21 Tx Ga Miss Night Watchman City
Bickley, Della Wf F W 47 M 17 Tx Miss Tx
Bickley, Helen Dtr F W 12 S Tx Tx Tx

Horace married Della Meador. Della (daughter of James T. Meador and Martha Ann Oliver) was born on 7 Aug 1883 in Texas; died on 4 Apr 1972 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Myrtle Springs Cemetery, Geneva, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KSYR-R6R
name: Della Meador Bickley
event: Death
event date: 04 Apr 1972
event place: Hemphill, Sabine, Texas, United States
gender: Female
marital status: Widowed
birth date: 07 Aug 1883
birthplace: , Texas
father's name: James Meador
mother's name: Martha Ann Oliver
informant Mrs. Von Elliott, daughter
certificate number: 30928
film number: 2223768
digital folder number: 005144713
image number: 03118
Collection: "Texas, Deaths (New Index, New Images), 1890-1976," Della Meador Bickley, 1972

Notes:

On the "Betts-Tuttle-Roedel-Lang" tree at RootsWeb, he is shown as a son of Simon Peter Bickley and Martha Ann Culver, and half-brother of John S. Bickley, born 1847. This does not appear to be correct, as William Buckley can not be located in the household of Simon Bickley and Harriet Culver in the 1850 through 1880 census. The "Ancestors of William Gene Bowman", also on RootsWeb, also shows William Washington Bickley, along with a twin brother, Wilson W. Bickely, as sons of Simon Peter Bickley and Martha Ann Culver, again married 27 Jan 1846. The also shows Simon married second Ann Elizabeth Biggs, not Harriett.

Wilson Bickley, 17 years, 3 months, Farmer b. Ga; and W. Bickley, 17 years, 3 months, farmer, b . Ga were listed on the 1864 Census for Re-Organizing The Georgia Militia. They were in Talbot County, Twenty-fifth Senatorial District, 688 Militia District, John E. Barksdale, Enrolling Officer; Albert E. Acee, Aide de camp.

In that same district, other Bickley's listed were J. S. Bickley 17 years, 4 months, Farmer, b. GA ; and S. Bickley, 46 years, 2 months, Farmer, b. SC

(Research):

Census Listings:

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 5
Enumerated 29 Jun 1880
Page 21 SD 1 ED 86 Stamped 247A
185-185
Bickley, William W M 33 Farmer Ga Ga Ga
Bickley, Mattie W F 31 Wf Keeping House Ga Ga Ga
Bickley, Minnie L W F 9 Dtr Ga Ga Ga
Bickley, May T W F 6 Dtr Tx Ga Ga
Bickley, Robert W W M 4 Son Tx Ga Ga
Bickley, Horace W M 1 Son Tx Ga Ga

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 8
Enumerated 2 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 3B
33-33
Bickley, William Head W M Nov 1846 53 m 21 Ga Sc Ga Farmer
Bickley, Martha H. Wife W F about 51 M 31 6/5 Ala Ga Ga
Bickley, Lucy Dtr W F July 1871 28 Ga Ga Ala
Bickley, Robert W Son W Mch 1876 24 Tx Ga Ala Farmer
Bickley, Horace D Son W M Feb 1879 21 S Tx Ga Ga Farm Laborer
Bickley, Willie S Son W M Dec 1881 18 S Tx Ga Ala Farm Laborer
Bickley, Anna M Dtr W F Oct 1888 11 S Tx Ga Ala

William married Martha "Mattie" Hutchinson on 4 Jan 1870 in Georgia. Martha was born on 16 May 1848 in Georgia; died on 25 Jan 1925 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Could not locate a Texas Death Certificate on the Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976 database at Familysearch.org.

FindAGrave shows her as Martha "Mattie" Hutchinson Smith, and lists her location of birth as Autauga County, Alabama. It further shows that she and William Washington Bickley were married 4 Jan 1870 in Talbot County, Georgia, and had seven children. (Memorial # 39404881, showing Burial at the Hemphill City Cemetery). A second FindAGrave Memorial exists (# 64919395) which instead shows her burial at Bickley Cemetery. A photo of this double tombstone with her husband, William W. Bickley is shown. Her date of birth is engraved, apparently in error, as May 18, 1884.

On the death certificates of sons Robert and Willie Simon, she is shown as Mattie Hutchinson (Hutcherson). On the death certificate of daughter, Tinie May, and the one for her son, Horace Bickley, she is instead listed as Mattie Smith. Could she have remarried after her husband William Bickley died in 1907, perhaps accounting for the inconsistent names, and for the two headstones in differing cemeteries?

Notes:

(Research):The Sabine County Reporter
May 9, 2012

Myrtle Springs receives marker

An official Texas Historic Cemetery Marker was dedicated April 28, at Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery. The day was also the cemetery's annual homecoming......

The newly placed marker reads:
GENEVA MYRTLE SPRINGS CEMETERY

Situated North of the small, rural community of Geneva, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery serves as the primary resting place for pioneers, settlers of the area, and their descendants. Originally granted to Juan Ignatino Pifermo in 1794, the town of Geneva grew in the 1820s when pioneers began to settle there from the east. Geneva was first known as Shawnee village and later as Jimtown, after two early settlers of the are, Jim Halbert and Jim Willis. Originally surveyed for Daniel F. Renfro in 1838, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery is comprised of land granted by Levi T. ALLEN in 1879 for use as a church and cemetery. The Geneva Baptist Church was first located on the present day cemetery site, but later moved south of the area. In addition, a school was once located near the cemtery near Myrtle Springs, organized by William Thomas Arnold.

The general landscaping of the cemetery is traditional with brick, marble, sandstone, grantie, wood, and metal grave markers. The first marked grave is that of William J. JONE from 1888, but Bible records indicate that there were earlier unmarked graves, including that of Wiley William CROW (1845-1877). Among the many pioneer families interred at this cemetery, there are veterans of the Civil War, including Wiley CROW, Seth Marion LAYFIELD (1833-1906), and James T. MEADOR (1845-1933), as well as veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Iraq War. Burials for members of the fraternal organizations such as Woodmen of the World are present. Today, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery Association maintains and cares for the cemtery, while also serving the community of Geneva. Historic Texas Cemetery -2010.

James married Martha Ann Oliver in 1867 in Sabine County, Texas. Martha (daughter of Annanias Oliver and Ludeshia Cornelia "Cassie" Allen) was born on 4 Apr 1852 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 26 Apr 1933 in Milam, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Myrtle Springs Cemetery, Geneva, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name: Martha A. Meador
Death Date: 26 Apr 1933
Death Place: Milam, Sabine, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 81 years 22 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 04 Apr 1852
Birthplace: Sabine, Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Robert Oliver
Father's Birthplace: Mississippi
Mother's Name: Cornelia Allen
Mother's Birthplace: Mississippi
Occupation:
Place of Residence:
Cemetery: Myrtle Springs
Burial Place:
Burial Date: 27 Apr 1933
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2115359
Digital Film Number: 4163856
Image Number: 3405
Reference Number: 19949
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976