One of the many complexities of genealogy is that in order to find the beginning, you must begin at the end. In this case, the end is me.
In the future I hope to expand the content of this blog to include information about all of the branches of my family tree, but for the time being we'll be focusing on the Eatons.
Now....lets start at the end....
GENERATION 1
Caleb Lee Eaton
I was born on October 22, 1985 at Women's and Children's Hospital in Odessa, Texas to Billy Jack Eaton Jr. and Phyllis Ann Qualls of Monahans, Texas. The purpose of this blog is not to tell my life's story, but to tell the stories of my ancestors. However, to begin exploring the values and culture of my ancestors, I'll indulge my ego only briefly.
"...and the oil fields fed our family
'neath the amber waves of grain
and God, he was our savior
though his name was spoke in vain
my dad would leave for work each morning
in the twilight's last gleaming
and every day I'd awaken
to the American Dream..."
and God, he was our savior
though his name was spoke in vain
my dad would leave for work each morning
in the twilight's last gleaming
and every day I'd awaken
to the American Dream..."
- "American Dream" as performed by Garth Brooks
When I think of my early life, the above song comes to mind. My earliest memory of my family's roots was looking at the Eaton Coat of Arms on the wall in my paternal grandparents' home. The banner below the arms read "vincit omnia veritas" which roughly translates to "truth conquers all". This motto has come to be one of the cornerstones of my character. From that coat of arms my curiosity of my roots sprung.
I grew up hearing the stories of my parents and grandparents families: of Grandpa Arnold fighting the Germans in the Great War, of Nanny's family traveling to California during the Dust Bowl, of the Highs settling in the Oklahoma Territory. These stories shaped not only my heritage, but who I believed I was and what my place was in this world.
When I look at my life now and my upbringing there are three passions that I have inherited from my ancestors: Humor, Faith and a love of the land. Jokes and humor have always been my most outward personality trait. Humor was always found in the gatherings of the Eaton/Lawson clan when I was growing up. I can remember falling asleep in the back bedrooms to the belly laughs of my family. Faith in God was the foundation of my early life. Growing up, church was not only my first social interaction, but where I learned the words such as love, honor, mercy, compassion, wisdom and courage. Faith was not just for Sunday's in the Eaton house. I can remember the singings at Uncle Lynn's house in West Odessa and the Sunday services by the pond in Oklahoma. I count myself blessed to have been born in a family of believers.
The third passion I inherited from my ancestors has become to largest passion of my life: love for the land. My ancestors like most rural people were primarily farmers. My grandparents were the first generation of my family to leave the farm, but the love for the land was passed down. Growing up, hunting and the outdoors were the primary conversation and pastime for the Eatons/Lawsons. Learning to shoot was a right of passage and going on your first hunt was a cherished milestone for each boy. When I was around 7, my dad and Uncle Mike decided to take advantage of the low cattle prices and some available lease country and started into the cattle business. Although I had no clue then, that one event has shaped the majority of my adult life. I didn't catch the ranching bug until I was in Junior High or High School. I don't remember any rhyme or reason for it; it just clicked. When I was 16 I joined Ward County 4-H and was introduced to Agricultural Extension. At this time I knew that I wanted to study Agriculture and make my living in someway in the ranching industry.
After graduating High School, I went on to follow my passion for agriculture: first at Odessa College, then at Sul Ross State University. Upon graduating with my Bachelors of Science in Animal Science, I began to explore the job market. I had always wanted to try my hand at being a County Agent, so when I was given a job interview for a position in South Texas, I leaped at the opportunity. I had never been to South Texas, and knew little about it. But I remembered that neither did my ancestors when they headed west each couple of generations, and this gave me the courage to step forward and begin a new adventure....and an adventure it has been. The adventure has taken me across the state, meeting new people and learning new things along the way. I do not know when and where the adventure will end, but I know that with the road my ancestors laid behind me, I can face the journey ahead.
...okay that's enough ego stroking for now. Lets move on...
GENERATION 2
Billy Jack Eaton Jr.
Billy Jack Eaton Jr was born on July 1, 1953 in Odessa, Texas to Billy Jack Eaton Sr. and Mary Lois (Jana) Lawson. Billy was the oldest of three brothers: Michael Wayne (b. 1953, Borger, TX) and David Lance (b. 1963, Odessa, TX). The Eatons followed the oil booms around early on; leaving Odessa for Borger, then Stinnett, then Colby, Kansas for a bit before returning to Odessa. In the early 60's they bought a piece of property off Moss and University on the west-side of Odessa and built a house. The house at 10023 W. Bradley would become one of the sets of most of my happiest memories.
Bill & Jana Eaton family, 1967
After graduating from Odessa High School in 1972, Billy enlisted in the United State Army. Because of his JROTC background he was given the rank of Private First Class and ended his service at Ft. Lewis, Washington with the rank of Sargent in the 2nd Ranger Battalion.
In 1973 he married Phyllis Ann Qualls at West Odessa First Baptist Church in Odessa, Texas. I was the only child born of this marriage. After trying his hand at lumberjacking and working on a game preserve, Billy Jack returned to West Texas in 1977 and went to work for TESCO as a lineman in Monahans, Texas. He worked for TESCO (now known as Oncor) for 35 years. In 2000 he married Joanie Carolin in San Antonio, Texas. With their marriage I not only recieved a new mother in Joanie, but 3 brothers in Joshua, Jacob and Joel Housman.
Billy & Joanie Eaton Family, 2002
Billy Jack and Joanie Eaton now reside in Bulverde, Texas.
Phyllis Ann Qualls
Phyllis Ann Qualls was born on February 27, 1955 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Paul James Qualls and Joyce Kathryn High. Phyllis was the oldest of 3 Qualls children: James Paul (b. 1957, Albuquerque, NM) and Dennise Renae(b. 1959, Seminole, OK). Shortly after the birth of Dennise, the family moved to Odessa, Texas. In 1965, Joyce married Alva Claude Dudney Jr. in Odessa Texas. One more daughter was born: Lu Emily (b. 1966, Odessa, TX). Phyllis grew up on Joan Dr. in West Odessa. This house was also the setting to some of my earliest and happiest memories (I can still hear Grandpa's old clock). Phyllis graduated from Odessa High School in 1973. Phyllis currently resides in Brookshire, Texas.
GENERATION 3 (Paternal)
Billy Jack Eaton Sr.
Billy Jack Eaton Sr. was born on July 16, 1932 in Cromwell, Oklahoma to Christopher Arnold Eaton and Stella Mae Livingston. Bill was the youngest of 4 children: Margaret Jo (1921-2001), Joyce (1924-2010) and Chris Jr. (1928-2000). Bill grew up in Wolf, Oklahoma and suffered from severe asthma as a child. Bill married Mary Lois (Jana) Eaton on March 3, 1952 in Snomac, Oklahoma. Bill and Jana graduated from Wolf High School that Spring and Bill went off to look for work. Bill left Wolf to look for a job in Colorado (there was an oil boom going on there). Bill soon wrote to Jana that he did not find work in Colorado, but had left there for West Texas and had found work with Phillips Petroleum Company in Odessa. A pregnant Jana soon rode a bus down to Odessa (which was in the middle of the drought of the 50's) and in July they welcomed their first son, Billy Jr. Bill and Jana moved around quite a bit early on, moving to boomtowns such as Borger (where Michael Wayne was born in 1956), Stinnett, and Colby, Kansas before coming back to Odessa in the early 60's. In 1963 they welcomed their 3rd and last son, David Lance. Poppa was an avid hunter and shooter and loved to shoot match with his Remington 721 .270 (aka Blunderbuss). Bill retired from Phillips in 1994. Bill passed away on July 21, 2002 in Odessa after a long battle with Leukemia.
Mary Lois Lawson
Mary Lois Lawson was born on September 27, 1934 in St. Louis, Oklahoma to King Clyce Lawson and Martha Ryker. Mary gained the childhood nickname of "Mary Jane", and it was soon shortened to "Jana", which is what most people knew her by. Jana was the oldest of 6 children: James (1938-2014), Anna (1940-2008), Emma (b. 1942), Barbara Sue (1945-1990) and George (1948-2015). Jana grew up poor on a Peanut Farm. As the oldest, it was her duty to help raise her younger siblings. In the late 30's, the Dust Bowl had taken its toll on Oklahoma. King and Martha saw the writing on the wall and decided to take their family to California where King found work as a welder in the Long Beach Shipyards. After a short time, King broke his back in an accident. The family came back to the farm in Maud where King healed and went back to farming and working part time as a welder.
After Jana married Bill Eaton (she always referred to him as Bill Eaton, not Bill), and they graduated high school, Jana followed Bill to Odessa, Texas. Nanny told me that she was very pregnant with my father on the trip and the bus pulled into Odessa in the middle of a dust storm. Poppa was working so she was met by Grandpa and Grandma Rybolt, who eventually served as surrogate grandparents to my father when he was little. Jana and Bill left Odessa for a few years, following the oil booms in the Panhandle but moved back in the early 60'Ps to eventually settle at the house on Bradley Street in West Odessa. Jana's brother James and his family soon moved in across the street and the Eatons befriended the Poole family next door. All of the Eaton/Lawson/Poole kids were around the same age and the three families created their own little community in West Odessa. Bill & Jana served as foster parents for several years and Jana kept up with many of her foster children for decades after they decided to step down.
Nanny was an avid reader and passed down her love of literature to me. She was also night owl which is also a habit I think I inherited. I can remember waking up as a child and a college student in the middle of the night to find her sitting next to the fireplace with a book and a cigarette. I imagine she developed this habit because nighttime was the only time she wasn't cooking for or cleaning up after 3 Eaton boys and numerous foster kids. She was also a very hard worker and frugal person, which was a product of growing up during the Great Depression. Nanny was also a calm, kind person. She was always a calm voice of reason in times of stress and was surrogate mother and grandmother to half of Ector County.
Jana passed away on April 6, 2015 at her home on Bradley Street. She had spent the day before (Easter Sunday) with her family eating, laughing and working.
GENERATION 3 (Maternal)
Paul James Qualls
Paul James Qualls was born on August 14, 1934 in Lincoln County, Oklahoma. He married Joyce Kathryn High in 1954. He currently lives in the Oklahoma City Area.
Joyce Kathryn High
Joyce Kathryn High was born on August 21, 1935 Maysville, Oklahoma to Foy Milton High and Emma Alavoise McCaleb. Joyce was the second of 6 children: Bob (b. 1934), Rose (b. 1938), Gemey Nell (b. 1940), Marquita (1942-2015) and Ricky. Joyce grew up on the High Farm outside of Maysville. In 1954 she married Paul James Qualls. After their three children were born, Joyce and Paul moved to Odessa, Texas. In 1965, Joyce married Alva Claude Dudney Jr. in 1965 and they had their last child, Lu soon after.
Joyce & Jr Dudney Family, 1966
Joyce and Junior lived on Joan Drive in West Odessa for 43 years. Joyce and Junior we long-time members of Vine Baptist Church in Odessa. I remember going to church with Grandma and Grandpa and how lots of the kids there also called her "Grandma Joyce". Joyce and Junior sang in a gosepl trio for years with Junior's brother Lynn serving as narrator and his wife Emma singing with Joyce and Junior. They toured churches all over West Texas singing. Grandma Joyce was an excellent hostess and cook. Her biscuits and gravy and fried chicken have yet to be rivaled in my book. There was always a separate table for cakes and pies. Grandma loved holidays, especially Christmas. She decorated her house with dozens of Santa Claus figurines she collected over the years. I will always remember Christmas mornings at Grandma's with her reading Luke II to the family, and later encouraging one of the grandkids to read the story when they came of age.
One of my favorite stories that occurred at Grandma and Grandpa's was during a Thanksgiving or Christmas when I was very young. Grandma's Pecan Pies were the thing of legend. Uncle Roger, Aunt Nancy and my dad always fought over the Pecan Pie and often hid them. On the year of this story, the pie showed up missing. Dad, Roger and Nancy were in the middle of accusing each other of who stole and pie and where it was hidden. About 20 minutes into the argument one of them noticed Grandpa Jr. sitting quietly in his chair enjoying a large piece of Pecan Pie!
Grandma Joyce passed away on June 27, 2006 in Odessa, Texas. She was laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa. Grandpa Jr. currenlty resides in Robert Lee, Texas.
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