ERVIN MAURICE DAUGHTERTY

The following bio was taken from page 170 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

Ervin, son of Henry Herman and Minnie Daugherty, was born in Ohio County, Kentucky, April 24, 1925, the seventh of nine children. His ancestors came from Ireland to Virginia and moved on to Tennessee and Kentucky.

Ervin’s parents bought land near Flint Springs, Kentucky, where they reared their family. His father farmed and worked in the coalmines to support the family. Ervin graduated from Cromwell High School in Kentucky and served in the Navy during World War II.

While stationed at the Naval Base at Orange, Texas, Ervin met and married Robbie Sue Smith, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. A. O. L. Smith of the Oak Hill Community. Ervin was discharged in 1946 and he and Robbie Sue moved to Henderson. He entered Kilgore College and worked at odd jobs after school and on weekends, graduating in 1948 with an Associate of Arts degree and then from East Texas Baptist College with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. In 1951 he was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve and served until 1962.

Ervin and Robbie Sue had one daughter, Janet Sue, who was born September 27, 1951 and lived only one day. Robbie Sue died one week later on October 5. Both are buried in the New Prospect Cemetery near Henderson.

I Doris Dukes, met Ervin in Allen’s Drug Store on the Public Square in Henderson where I worked. The drug store had a soda fountain where cold drinks and coffee were served, and Ervin would come in for coffee every day. We were married on Christmas Day in 1952. During this year, Ervin accepted the job of Business Administrator of Henderson Memorial Hospital.

My parents were James Frank Dukes and Eudie Dott Waggoner, lifetime residents of Rusk County. I was born October 19, 1924 in the Pleasant Grove Community, the fourth of five children. Mother and Dad owned a large farm and employed several families to work the land and care for the cattle. My father donated the land for the school and the Methodist and Baptist churches at Pleasant Grove and served on the Board of Trustees at Pleasant Grove for many years.

We moved to Henderson in 1939 after a fire destroyed our home. Another tragedy occurred when my father lost his life on January 13, 1940 in a one-car accident. I graduated from Henderson High School in 1942.

Ervin and I bought our first home at 401 South Evenside and lived there several years. We had moved our church membership to East Side Baptist shortly after we were married and have continued to worship there. Ervin became deacon in August 1959.

Our three children are Jackie Dean, Melanie Ann, and Cindy Lynn. Jackie, born July 9, 1946, graduated from Henderson High School, Kilgore College, and from Stephen F. Austin University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He married Linda Ann Wood, and they have two daughters, Dana Renee and Angela Kay; Melanie Ann was born March 28, 1954 and graduated from Henderson High School and Kilgore College, and from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976. Currently she is majoring in chemistry. Cindy Lynn was born March 28, 1957. She graduated from Henderson High School and is married to Kenneth Heningsmith. They have a daughter, Jamie Lynn, born in Spokane, Washington. They now live in Henderson, where Kenneth works for Texas Utilities.

Submitted by Doris Dukes Daugherty