Vaught, Hugh and Neita Wheat

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

Submitted by: Hugh Alan Vaught

     My parents, H. A. "Arkie" and Bertha E. Vaught, were married in 1917 in Mountainburg, Arkansas. I was ten years old when they moved to Lea County in 1935, from Seminole, Oklahoma. Skelly Oil Company transferred dad here, to work at the Skelly Gasoline Plant eight miles south of Eunice.

     "Arkie's" parents were Rufus Robert and Elvira Vaught. Berth'a parents were Jesse and Mary Blevins.

     I went to school in Eunice and graduated from Eunice High School in May 1946, the first WWII Veteran (U. S. Navy) to do so.

     I remember when there were board sidewalks in Eunice, and the telephone office was at the northeast corner of Main and Texas Ave. We used to live in a house where the elementary school is now. I also remember the community Center building was out in the open about where Avenue F. and 14th Street are now: when C. H. Conway was school superintendent; J. W. Caton was was Principal; E. Lee Todd was head football coach; and when Judge Faugh H. Bowden was the judicial and political power in Eunice.

     I married Neita K. Wheat August 29, 1949 at Eunice Methodist Church. She is the daughter of Durant and Valley Putty. Durant's parents were Charley and Alice Putty. Valley's parents were John Thomas and Dollie Robinson Neita went to school at Desdemona, Texas, and Eunice High School. We have five boys and one girl.

     Jimmy Dale Vaught is single, living at Victoria, Texas.

     Gary Edward Vaught married first, Sharon Freeman. Their children are: Gary Edward Jr., and Jason Lee. The children are living in Alta Loma, Texas. Gary married second, Karen Cobb and their children are: Joe David Taylor and Melissa Karlene Vaught. They live in Imperial, Texas.

     William Earl Vaught, is single living at Imperial.

     Donald Karl Vaught is married to Carol Leatherman. They don't have children and live in Odessa, Texas.

     Judy Faye Vaught is married to Jerry Whitson. Their children are: Eddy Jo, Mary Luann, and Emery Whitson, of Pinkneyville, Illinois.

     I was Postal Clerk at the Eunice Post Office for two and one-half years (1949-1951): Byron F. Hughes was Postmaster. I now work as a gauger for Scurlock Oil Company. I belong to the Methodist Church and Neita belongs to the Church of Christ.

     My father, mother, and four brothers are buried at the Eunice Cemetery. The four brothers buried there are: Glenn, O., Jesse Robert "Bob", Jimmie Lee, and Billy Dale.

     Billy Dale was killed in action on Heartbreak Ridge, Korea, with the U. S. Army October 7, 1951. He was in the Navy in WWII. According to letters received by my parents from men who served with Corporal Billy Dale, he was firing a machine gun at the hoards of Chinese soldiers who were over running the American position. They told him they were moving back, (authorized retreating), and for him to come on! He looked around at then and shook his head (NO) and returned to firing the machine gun. That was the last account they had of him. He received the full rights of a military funeral.

     I have one brother living, Thomas Edward "Eddy" Vaught of Houston, Texas and two sisters, Ellen Irene Hart of Ft. Worth, Texas and Almalie Worrell of Cleveland, Oklahoma.