JAMES LONNIE GENTRY, JR.

 

     James Lonnie Gentry, Jr., b November 9, 1921, (September 28, 1968 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Falls County, Texas - was a son of James Lonnie Gentry and his first wife, Mary (Sanders) Gentry of Louisiana.

     On January 30, 1943, Lonnie married Margaret Emily Mitchell, b February 6, 1924 in Falls County Texas - a daughter of Bryan Earl and Cleone (Clark) Mitchell. Lonnie and Margaret were the parents of five children:

     Madeline Ann Gentry, b October 31,1943 - married August 31,1963 to Harvey Lewis Schraeder - son of Edmund and Alvina Schraeder of Riesel, Texas Madeline received her B.S. degree from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and became I teacher in the Huntsville Public School System Harvey is a teacher and school principal, and worked toward his doctorate at Texas A&M University. They reside in Huntsville, and have two daughters: Greta Sue Schraeder, b March 20, 1969, was adopted; Christy Dianne Schraeder, b November 24, 1970.

     Clark Sanders Gentry, b August 8,1945, d August 9, 1945 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin. He died while his father was overseas in World War II.

     Emily Gentry, b February 18, 1951- married December 26, 1947 in Marlin, Texas to Jan P. Senuta, II - son of Mrs. Conrad (Florine Curd) Erskine of Stranger, Falls County, Texas, and they reside in Garland, Texas. Emily attended Sam Houston University at Huntsville, but married before obtaining her degree. Jan received his degree from Texas A&M University. They have one son: Chad Kenton Senuta, b July 13, 1972.

     Mary Cleone Gentry, b November 19, 1951- married December 7, 1981 in Durant, Oklahoma to Jeffrey Lynn Young, b September 1954 - a son of Marvin Clem and Jerri (Whitener) Young, and had one daughter: Margaret Ann Young, b May 13, 1983 in Dallas, Texas. Mary (Gentry) Young now resides in Marlin, Texas, and works for the Marlin Chamber of Commerce.

     James Lonnie Gentry, III, b February 13, 1958, died tragically May 9, 1983 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Texas. He received mechanics training at Texas State Technological Institute at Waco, Texas; and was working and living in Dallas, Texas when he died on a weekend visit to his mother in Marlin. He was not married.

     After the death of James Lonnie Gentry, Jr. of an unexpected heart attack in Sacramento, California, Margaret Emily moved back to Texas with her children, and obtained her B.S. degree from Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos. She taught Economics in the Riesel, Texas school, and obtained her M.A. degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

     On January 22, 1972, Margaret married second to Clinton Seth Ferguson, Sr., who then owned Ferguson Chevrolet-Buick Company in Marlin. Clint's son by a previous marriage, Clinton Seth Ferguson, Jr., moved from Falls County shortly before his father sold his business and retired.

     Margaret Emily (Mitchell) Gentry Ferguson is a member of the Green Thumb Garden Club in Marlin, and has served as president of that group. She is very active in other local organizations, and has been a "mainstay" in the care and preservation of The Allen House - a Marlin civic landmark. Clint and Margaret enjoy their "42 Club," and other activities; and they continue to reside in Marlin. Margaret still owns land in Falls County, which was part of her inheritance from her father.

 

 

 

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 183 column 2 and page 184 column 1 and 2.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.