JAMES HEATON 

The following bio was taken from page 231 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, Cemeteries of Texas  

I, Sheri Lue, was seven years old when my family moved to Henderson.  My husband, James, was born and raised in Henderson.  My grandparents, Annie Lue Roquemore and Ransome Bartlett Roquemore, settled in the Good Springs area of Henderson, while Golda P. Propes and Forrest Chilton Propes settled in the Pine Hill area.  My parents, Annie Ruth Roquemore Propes and Turner Crim Propes, Sr., were both born in Henderson.  James’ grandparents, Arbie Whitehead Gee and Jim Whitehead, settled in Henderson, along with Emma Magdaline Heaton and Luther Frederick Heaton, Sr. James’ parents, Gladys Lee Heaton and Luther Frederick Heaton, Sr., also reside in Henderson.  James’ mother died in 1966 and his father in 1976.  Both are buried in the Neely Cemetery. 

James was born with a slight heart murmur, but it has not yet given him any trouble.  James has two sisters, Kim Marie Heaton, who died of a heart condition a few months after her birth in 1955, and a half sister, Tracie Sue Crocker Duncan, who resides in Temple, Texas.  I have four brothers and three sisters (See Crim Propes Story.) 

James had an accident during junior high or high school and broke his foot.  While living in Shreveport, I had a bicycle wreck and cut my chin.  I later fell off a tin garage and cut the fingers off my right hand.  After moving to Henderson, I cut my wrist on a glass door in 1970 and had to spend two weeks in a Tyler hospital. 

James attended Gaston Elementary, West Rusk Junior High, and New London High School.  James graduated in 1971.  I attended Montgomery, Henderson Junior High, and Henderson High School and graduated in 1975. 

James enjoys playing softball, hunting, fishing and swimming.  I enjoy playing softball, tennis, fishing and swimming. 

James and I met while he was working at the Strand Theater.  We did not start dating until 1974.  He proposed marriage right before Christmas of 1974, and we married June 7, 1975.  Shawnee Village Baptist Church gave us a wedding shower.  Our wedding took place at this church with Reverend Louis F. Asher performing the ceremony.  We traveled to Galveston for a week’s honeymoon.  James is employed by Terry Brothers’ Air Conditioning and Sheet Metal of Henderson.  He works as an installer.  I work for Shelby Row of Henderson as a seamstress and bundler. 

James and I started our family in 1976 when Sabrina Renee was born March 27.  Her brother, Frederick Lee, was born three years later on October 8. 

In the summertime our family enjoys camping out at Lakeway Harbor on our lot near Lake Palestine.  We also go boating and fishing while we are there. 

Submitted by Sheri Lue Heaton