ERA MC LEROY SEARS

The following bio was taken from page 383 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Era was about one and a half years old when the family moved to Haskell in Haskell County in 1906, where the family farmed and ranched.

In 1921, the McLeroy family moved from Haskell to Brownfield, Texas in Terry County, known as the South Plains.

Kellie Sears was born November 14, 1898 at Mart in McLennan County, Texas. He was the oldest of eight children, six boys and two girls. His parents were Camie Sears and Tennie Bartlett. The Sears family moved from Haskell to Terry County in 1918.

Kellie and Era were married January 8, 1922 in Brownfield. They had four sons: Charles Odell, Ernest Weldon, Earl Wayne, and Kelly Mack.

Charles Odell, born June 11, 1923, married Margie Louise Daugherty, and they have two children, Joe Mac and Susan. Odell is the owner of a gift and hardware store in Brownfield.

Ernest Weldon was born September 25, 1924. He married Anna Marie Bailey, and they have four children: Karen, Weldon, Susan and Nell. Ernest is an insurance salesman with Southwestern Life in Snyder, Texas.

Earl Wayne was born June 19, 1927 and married Gwendolyn Moon. They have four children: Cathy, Bobby, David, and Kristi. Earl is the top executive with National Cotton Council in Memphis, Tennessee.

Kelly Mack, who was born March 31, 1937, is married to Virginia Denson. They have two children, Gregory and Jennifer. He is with Dow Chemical Company at Plainview, where he is director over six states.

Kellie and Era Sears lived in Gomez Community in Terry County. They farmed and raised registered shorthorn and white-faced cattle. They also raised and sold turkeys for breeders, and then they later sold and dressed them. They raised chickens and sold the eggs, raised wild mallard ducks, peafowls, geese and guineas. The schools in Brownfield would bring bus loads of school children to see the animals at the farm. There was always a pet goat or two, always a dog to welcome them, and cats and kittens to pet.

The Sears were married more than fifty-two years and lived on the farm in Gomez Community for more than fifty-two years.

Era, served as manager of the cafeteria in the Brownfield Public Schools for nineteen years. She has been correspondent with the "Brownfield News" for more than forty years and a correspondent for the " Lubbock Avalanche Journal" for ten years. She still works for both papers.

Kellie Sears died of a heart attack March 15, 1974.

Submitted by Era Sears