Berryman, Doyle and Ina Bell

Lea County Families and Histories, "Then and Now", Vol II, 1984

Submitted by: Ina Bell (Rodger) Berryman

     I was born on January 29, 1922 at the Rodgers family home place, three miles southeast of Eunice, New Mexico. My parents homesteaded there in 1914. I was one of nine children born to Alexander E. Rodgers, (3/9/1994 - 5/29/1975) and Lelah Mae Long Rodgers, (3/10/1890). My mother is still alert at 93, and for the past three years she has won the "Old Timers" Plaque for being the oldest woman homesteader still living, at the Old Timers Celebration in Eunice, held each year in July.

     I attended school at White School with eight grades, having one teacher until 1935, when our school was consolidated with the Eunice schools. I was a charter member of the Eunice School Band,  and we wore the first red and white band uniforms. I finished high school in three and one-half years and went to Jal, New Mexico where I worked as a nurses aid in the hospital. Later, I went to live with my sister, Merie Culbertson, in Dallas, Texas, and was in beauty college there when I married Edward Doyle Berryman on 12/13/1941. We made many friends in Dallas. We were both members of the First Baptist Church in Dallas when Dr. George W. Truitt was pastor. We changed to Cliff Temple Baptist Church because it was near where we lived. We enjoyed working with the young people of Cliff Temple Baptist and this was a very rewarding time for us. We moved back to Eunice the last part of 1945, and except for two summers in northern California we lived and worked in Eunice. Doyle and I enjoyed our 33 years in Insurance and Real Estate business in Eunice Business in Eunice. We are grateful for the many Christian workers in the First Baptist Church, and all the school teachers who had a part in the lives of our two daughters.

     Ina Carol, our oldest was born in Hobbs, New Mexico, April 20, 1949. She finished school in Eunice and attended New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, and Hardon Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Ina Carol is married to Carl Scott Randall, and they have three children: Melissa Ann; Sarah Elizabeth and David Levi.

     Cathy Ruth was also born in Hobbs, on May 22, 1957. She also finished school in Eunice. Cathy Ruth is married to Larry Chapman and has one son, Cody Michael. They both live within two blocks of us in Hobbs, and we do enjoy being near our daughters and their families.