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James Family Archives

 

•  Researching the Past

•  Education for the Present

•  Preservation for the Future

 

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Children of Flora Agnes James (1900- 1982) and Mathew Lovel Rutledge (1893-1986) of Merkel, Jones County, Texas:

 

1.    Nellie Joye Rutledge:  born January 31, 1923 in Noodle, Jones County, Texas; married February 18, 1941 in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas to Marion Zellner Stevens (1922-2021), son of Thomas Bryan Stevens (1897-1964) and Johnie Pearl Matchett (1902-2008); died May 5, 2017 (aged 94) in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas; buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, 4th Addition, Block 11, Lot 51, Space 4 in Merkel, Taylor County, Texas; known children include: Ronnie Stevens.

 

2.    Flora Jean Rutledge: born February 4, 1929 in Noodle, Jones County, Texas; married April 20, 1947 to Ollie Higgins (1926–2014), son of W.O. Higgins and Ida Taylor; died July 17, 2016 (aged 87) in Bronte, Coke County, Texas; buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Merkel, Taylor County, Texas; known children include: Wantha Kay Higgins and Steve Higgins.

 

3.    Janice Lynette Rutledge: born 1939; married in Taylor County, Texas to Johnnie Deloss Edwards (born 1936), son of A  Murel Edwards, Jr. and Ada Lee Brown; known children include: Darla Deann Edwards, Donnie Dale Edwards and Jana Lynn Edwards.

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Notes:

 

Flora Agnes James (1900- 1982) was the daughter of Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923) of Fannin County, Texas and Flora Alice Johnson (1874-1960).

 

Nellie Joye (nee “Rutledge”) Stevens (1923-2017) worked in the Banking-Payroll Department for First National Bank of Anchorage, Alaska. She was a member of the Pioneer Drive Baptist Church.  At the time of her death she was survived by her husband Marion Z.. Stevens of Abilene, Texas; one son, Ronnie Stevens and wife Gaylene of Salida, Colorado; her sister, Janice Edwards & husband Dee of Abilene; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

 

Flora Jean (nee “Rutledge”) Higgins (1929-2016) was a bookkeeper for her family’s business, Abilene Aero, from 1968 to 1989. She was a rancher from 1989 until her death. She enjoyed spending time with her family, checking on the cows, and caring for the dogs. At the time of her death she was survived by her son, Steve Higgins and wife Cathy of Abilene, Texas; two sisters, Joye Stevens and husband Marion of Abilene; Janice Edwards and husband DeLoss of Abilene; two grandchildren, Jenee' Higgins of Big Spring and Cory Higgins and wife Jessica of Clyde, Texas.

 

Ollie Higgins (1926-2014) was a longtime resident of Abilene, Texas.  He was born in Merkel, Texas on September 16, 1926.  Ollie joined the Army Air Corps, serving during World War II as a Flight Engineer on a B-24 in the South Pacific.  On April 20, 1946 he married Flora Jean Rutledge in Merkel.  After the war, he became a road contractor, building highways all over the State until 1966. Ollie and Kent Waddell started Abilene Aero in 1966 and Chaparral Airlines in the early 1970's. In 1989, he and his son, Steve Higgins, started a registered Angus ranch at Bronte, Texas which he enjoyed doing until the time of his death.  Ollie was a member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church and served on the Board of Directors of Hendrick Hospital in the 1980's.

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Sources:

 

See, Joye Rutledge Stevens (1923-2017), Obituary on Legacy.com, Abilene, Texas - Abilene Reporter-News, May 6, 2017.

 

See also, Jean Higgins (1929-2016), Obituary on Legacy.com, Abilene, Texas - Abilene Reporter-News, July 19, 2016.

 

See, Ollie Higgins (1926-2014), Obituary on Legacy.com, Abilene, Texas - Abilene Reporter-News from May 22, 2014.

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Virtual Memorials on “Find A Grave” Website:

 

Nellie Joye Rutledge Stevens (1923-2017), Memorial ID No. 179104129, by Michauel Bryan, added May 6, 2017.

 

Flora Jean Rutledge Higgins (1929-2016), Id., Memorial ID No. 167137608, by Dennis Alan Deel, added July 18, 2016.

 

Ollie Higgins (1926-2014), Id., Memorial ID No. 130146795, by Dennis Alan Deel, added May 21, 2014.

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Photos:

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Nellie Joye (nee “Rutledge”) Stevens (1923-2017)

 

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Flora Jean (nee “Rutledge”) Higgins (1929-2016)

 

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Ollie Higgins (1926–2014)

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Updated: July 17, 2023