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Walter Fletcher Tetts was born on June 26, 1881, in Louisiana; died on February 16, 1961, in Bay City; and was buried in Cedarvale Cemetery, Bay City. His father was J A. Tetts and his mother was Charity Coleman Crosby. Tetts is a Dutch name and Crosby is usually thought of as Irish, however, Crosby originated in England. When the practice of surnames began, it was the custom to adopt the name of one's occupation or place of residence as the family name. In this case the name Crosby was apparently taken by a family who lived by a cross. An ancient stone cross still stands in the town of Crosby, England, from which the town derives its name.On December 20, 1902 , in Many, Louisiana, W. F. Tetts married Mary Catherine Forbis, who was born on February 3,1884, in Louisiana. She died on April 5, 1965, in Bay City and was buried in Cedarvale Cemetery. Her mother was Cora Ada Moore- her father's given name was unknown. The Tetts had one child, a daughter, Cleo Ada, who was born on October 5, 1903, in Many, Louisiana, and died in Tyler, Texas, on November 28, 1978. She was buried in Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City. On November 22, 1925, in Houston, Texas, Cleo married Dr Clarence Roensch "Jack" Woolsey, who was born on April 6, 1897, in Winchester, Texas. He died on January 6, 1975, in Corpus Christi, Texas, and was buried in Cedarvale Cemetery. After their marriage, the Woolseys lived in Corpus Christi where Dr Woolsey was an osteopathic physician and surgeon. Three children were born in Corpus Christi: Mary Katherine, John Fletcher, and Ann Elizabeth.When the Tetts came to Texas, they lived first in San Augustine and then in Austin where W. F. worked in the jewelry business. In 1913, W. F. established a watch repair and jewelry store in the P. G. Huston Drug Store on the west side of the square in Bay City. He soon moved his jewelry store to the south side of the square and added an optometry department.In 1933, the Tetts built a spanish-style house on Avenue I which is still owned by John F Woolsey, the only grandson of the Tetts .In 1952 , the Tetts celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a large reception in the ballroom of the Bay-Tex Hotel. Mrs. Tetts wore a replica of her wedding dress.W. F. was active in the First Methodist Church , the Chamber of Commerce, and was a charter member of the Bay City Rotary Club. He was a past Worthy Master of the Bay City Chapter of the Masonic Lodge and was awarded the York Cross of Honor Mary Catherine was well-known for her cooking, the beautiful flowers which she raised and arranged, and for her dedicated work in the Methodist Church. She was a member of the Philo Christo Class of the Methodist Church, the Pricilla Circle, and the Bay City Book Review Club.
Historic Matagorda County, Volume II,
1986, pages 533-534 |
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Funeral services were held Friday at 3 p. m. at the First Methodist Church for W. F. Tetts with Rev. Leslie LeGrand, pastor, officiating. Mr. Tetts, prominent retired businessman of Bay City, died at Matagorda General Hospital after a prolonged illness which began when he was stricken with an acute heart ailment in Many, La. last October while attending the funeral of his sister. Mr. Tetts, age 79, was a native of Louisiana. He moved to San Augustine, Texas in 1906 and has been a resident of Bay City for 44 years where he has been a jeweler and optometrist. Active in the Methodist Church and in civic affairs, he served as president of the school board, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the Bay City Rotary Club. He was also active for years in work on the Colorado Development. He was in the Masonic Lodge, having received from the Grand Lodge of Texas the Certificate of Appreciation for fifty years active service. He was a member of the Shrine and Order of Eastern Star. He and Mrs. Tetts celebrated their golden wedding anniversary eight years ago. Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Mary Catherine Tetts, a daughter, Mrs. C. R. Woolsey of Corpus Christi; three grandchildren, Mrs. Ray Breedlove of Tyler, Mr. John F. Woolsey of McAllen and Ann Woolsey of Corpus Christi, and two great grandchildren. Pallbearers were: Messrs. Bill Ingram, Vim Rye, Bob Rice, Dale Wendt, Sam Richardson, H. J. McAllister, Pat Thompson, and Harry Norris, Jr.
Daily Tribune, February 22, 1961 |
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Mrs. Cleo Tetts Woolsey, 75, of Corpus Christi, died Monday, November 27, in a Tyler Hospital. She was born October 5, 1903 in Many, Louisiana and was a resident of Corpus Christi for the past 53 years. Survivors include her daughters, Mrs. Ray "Mary Katherine" Breedlove of Tyler and Mrs. J. "Ann Elizabeth" Allen of Houston, a son, John F. Woolsey of Bay City, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church in Bay City, Wednesday, November 29, at 2:00 p. m. Rev. Don Peevey will officiate. Interment at Cedarvale Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Paul Breedlove, John Breedlove, William N. Woolsey, Thomas Woolsey, Russell A. Matthes and Vim X. Rye. Arrangements under the direction of Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.
Daily Tribune, November 28, 1978 |
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