Grayson County TXGenWeb

J. T. "Tom" Hunnicutt
1877 - 1939

Willa True Hunnicutt
1884 - 1965

Dallas Morning News
September 19, 1939

MAN IS FOUND HANGED NEAR DENISON HIGHWAY
Special to The News

DENISON, Texas, Sept. 18 - The body of J.T. Hunnicutt, 61, was found hanging by a rope tied to a tree near the Bells-Denison Highway on the J.L. Lynch farm Monday morning. Mrs. W. T. Clayton, wife of an M.-K.-T. engineer, who was driving past the farm, discovered the body.
E. A. Wright, coroner, rendered a verdict of suicide. A pillow slip was drawn over Hunnitcutt's head and in front of him waving from a fence, was a large white rag. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Chris Hunnicutt, Sherman; Phillip Hunnicutt, Celina; Lewallen Hunnicutt, Channing; and Emil Hunnicutt, Amarillo; a daughter, Mrs. Jim Bray, Caddo, Okla.; four sisters, Mrs. Allie Cotton, Bartlesville, Okla.; Mrs. Daisy Batte, Dallas; Mrs. Frank Savage, Van Alstyne; Mrs. Susie Ward, Ardmore, Okla.

Funeral Rites Here for Tom
Found Dead Monday At Cherry Mound Home

The body of J. Tom Hunnicutt, 61-year-old farmer, formerly of Van Alstyne, was found hanging from a tree near his home in the Cherry Mound community, southeast of Denison, Monday morning at 10 o'clock. Justice of Peace E.A.Wright, who conducted the inquest, said his verdict would be that death
was self-inflicted.
When found the body had a pillow case over the head and the hands and feet were bound with wire. A white flag had been left on a fence near the road which Judge Wright believed was intended as a signal.
The body was discovered by Mrs. W.T.Clayton, who resides near Denison on the East Texas street road. She had gone to the Hunnicutt farm after eggs. Mrs. Hunnicutt was in Sherman when the tragedy was discovered.
Funeral services were held at the Van Alstyne Baptist church at 8 p.m. Wednesday with the Rev. Frank Johnston, pastor, the Rev. Chester Moss of Denison, and Rev. Mr. Skeller of Greenville, Officiating. Burial was in the Van Alstyne cemetery with Short-Murray of Denison in charge.
Pallbearers were Morris Lewallen, Clyde Phillips, Newt Hunnicutt, Lee Gathwright, Vernie Henderson and Clarence Hunnicutt.
Judge Wright said the evidence indicated Mr. Hunnicutt had climbed into the small tree on the J. L. Lynch farm near his home and fastened the cotton rope to two limbs and prepared himself for the fatal drop. He had been dead a short time when found.
A life-long resident of Grayson County, Mr. Hunnicutt has resided in the Cherry Mound area about a year. He was born at Van Alstyne, Nov. 10, 1877, where he received his schooling and was married Jan. 4, 1901, to Miss Willie Lewallen, sister of Gus and Jim Lewallen of Van Alstyne.
Mr. Hunnicutt was a successful farmer in the Van Alstyne area for a number of years before going to Gunter where the family resided until they moved to Cherry Mound. H was a member of the Baptist church.
Surviving are his widow; four sons, Chris Hunnicutt, Sherman; Phillip Hunnicutt, Celina; Lewallen Hunnicutt, Channing, and Euil Hunnicutt, Amarillo; one daughter, Mrs. Jim Bray, Caddo, Okla.; four sisters, Mrs. Allie Cotton, Bartlesville, Okla.; Mrs. Daisy Batte, Dallas; Mrs. Frank Savage, Van Alstyne; Mrs. Susie Ward, Ardmore, Okla.