Submitted by Lilly Jean BEAL Engleman

James Pinkney BEAL, born in Alabama and his wife Delila moved to Cass County prior to 7 Sept 1869. Their son William Benjamin was born in Cass County. William died 13 April 1944.

He married Anna Tululah Hatcher born 27 Nov 1874 in Cass County, the daughter of James Lawrence Hatcher and Eliza C. Harris who moved to Cass County from South Carolina. Anna died 26 Feb 1928 and she and William are buried in the Simmons Cemetery in Avinger.

From this union were born ten children:

1. Leonard Jackson (Jack) b. 31 Aug 1891, d. 16 Oct 1973 in Texarkana. He and his wife Maidie had one child, a son.

2. Lawrence Pinkley b. 9 June 1893, d. 3 July 1945 in California. He married twice but did not have children.

3. Willie Tolulah (Will) b. 9 July 1895, d. 13 Sept 1956 in Texarkana and is buried in Arkansas. She had three daughters.

4. Lillie Lorene (Toad) b. 9 Aug 1898, d. 2 Dec 1980 is buried in Santo North in Palo Pinto Co. Never married.

5. Rosie Mae (Tom) b. 24 Nov 1901, d. 2 May 1979, is buried Santo North, Palo Pinto Co. Married Marion Daves and did not have children.

6. Romie Lee b. 8 Sept 1903, d. 27 Mar 1906 is buried in Simmons Cemetery in Avinger.

7. Louis Napoleon (Son) b. 31 Jan 1906, d. 17 Mar 1982 in Texarkana. Married Beatrice (Bee). There were two children.

8. Ida Mildred (Sis) b. 5 May 1908, d. 1978 in Angleton, TX and is buried in Santo North, Palo Pinto Co. She married Warner Harwell and they had four children.

9. Looney Ovel (Coon) b. 16 Nov 1909, d. 1 June 1992. Buried Grandview Cemetery, Pasadena, TX. Married Fern Margaret Culver 20 Jan 1939 in Houston, TX. They had two children, Lilly Jean and Ronnie Edward.

10. Lonnie Leon (Bud) b. 12 June 1912, d. 26 Oct 1995, is buried in Louisiana. Married 1st Elaine, one son Billy George. Married 2nd Erna, two stepsons.

Looney Ovel (Coon) BEAL, born 16 Nov. 1909 in Cass County d. 1 June 1992.

Looney worked in the oil fields before and after WWII. He was a Seaman 1st Class on the USS Jaguar. He retired from Brown and Root Construction Company.

On 20 Jan. 1939 he married Fern M. Culver who he met in Genoa, Harris Co. TX. When he returned from WWII the family moved to LaPorte TX where he built a small house for his family. They resided there until the summer of 1960 when they moved to Pasadena, TX.

Looney contracted and survived colon cancer but maintaining an active life he suffered a fall while trimming a tree and shattered his hip. Due to his advanced years his heart was unable to endure the strain and gave out on 1 June 1992 at the age of 82. Injured though he was his sense of humor endured. When the doctor inq1uired how high on the ladder was he replied "you know the rung that says do not stand on"

As of 13 March 1998 Fern is living with daughter Lilly Jean BEAL Engleman in Whitney, Texas.

Lilly Jean BEAL, b. 25 Sept. 1942 in Pasadena, TX married Walter Owen (Butch) Engleman on 16 Dec. 1960 in Deer Park, TX. Butch was born 17 May 1942 in Pasadena, TX, the son of Chris L. Engleman and Gladys Cleo Hill. Butch grew up in Deer Park while Lilly grew up in LaPorte.

Their children are:

1. Sophia Ann b. 12 June 1962, mar. David Hixson, their son Dusty b. 2 Jan 1984.

2. Walter, Jr. b. 9 Oct 1965, D. 9 Mar 1984. Was killed by a drunk driver and is buried in Waco Memorial Park, Waco, McClennan Co. TX.

3. Stephanie Jean b. 13 Oct. 1970 mar. Kenneth Wayne Beeman. They have one daughter Hilery Jean b. 16 Dec. 1990.

Butch and Lilly moved to the Waco, TX area in 1969. He retired from Texas Utilities in 1992 and they now live in a resort in Whitney, Hill Co. TX. Daughter Sophia still lives in Waco while daughter Stephanie lives in Freeport, TX.

From CASS COUNTY CONNECTIONS, June 1998
Transcribed by Ruth Ann Ballard