FELIX J. AND BILLIE BURTON

The following bio was taken from page 136 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

The Felix J. and Billie Lee Burton Family first came to Henderson and Rusk County in March of 1943 for him to serve as assistant County Agricultural Agent. Billie Lee did substitute teaching in the local schools. She was told by the principal to bring her three-year-old son John as it was during World War II and teachers were hard to find. She was paid three dollars a day.

The Burtons moved to Nacogdoches in 1944, where he served as county agricultural agent for three years. Billie Lee taught second grade at the elementary school on Mound Street for those three years.

The family moved to Henderson the second time in 1947 for Felix to serve as Rusk County Agricultural Agent for the next twenty-five years. Billie Lee taught third grade in Montgomery Elementary School for that twenty-five years.

John went to Henderson schools and finished Henderson High School in 1958. John got his B.A. degree from Texas A & M and then his law degree from the University of Texas. John has an accounting firm in Houston, Texas. He has two daughters, Beth Elaine and Jeana Burton.

Felix attended two-teacher rural schools in Jasper County and graduated form Kirbyville High School. He attended Texas A & M and received his B. S. and Master of Agriculture degrees.

Billie Lee was born and grew up in Groveton, Texas. She finished high school, went to Rusk Baptist Junior College, and then received her B.S. and Masters degrees from Stephen F. Austin University. She taught ten years in Groveton. Felix and Billie Lee met and taught school in Groveton. They married in 1936 and moved to Carrizo Springs, where they both taught school until moving to Rusk County.

Felix and Billie Lee both retired in 1971 and are spending their time taking care of a small ranch. They go for one weekend each month with East Texas Mobile Scouts Camping Club and three times each year with Multi States Adventure Club.

Felix and Billie Lee have been members of the First Baptist Church since the late 1940’s. Felix is a member of the Noon Lions Club, and she belongs to the Lioness Club. They are also members of NRTA and AARP.

Submitted by Felix Burton