Life History

Other facts

Notes

• "Everett (born August 1923) married a local girl, Marie "Tootie" Cox, three years after his Army discharge.  They married in January 1948 and have spent all their days together at Rocky Point.  They farmed and ran cattle in addition to Everett retiring from REC after twenty-one years of service.  They have four children: Rita [Reta] Faye, born in 1950, lives in Glendale, AZ;  Larry, born in 1952, lives a little northeast of his parents; Terry, born in 1955, lives in Chickasha, OK and Alfred, born in 1961, lives next to his parents.  Everett bought their home place from his parents in 1952 and they continue to run cattle and garden in Rocky Point.  January 26, 2008, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary."
  --  Pikes Peak History Book 1908-2008, pp 27, courtesy of Loretta Gregory Gay of Lindsay, Oklahoma, January 2020
  
  1930 Federal Census, Garvin County, Oklahoma, 12 April, Lindsay, District 10, page 7B, Hse #92, Fam #109
  Gregory, Andy Head M W 37 TN TN AL General Farming
  Gregory, Retta  Wife  F W 34 OK TX GA General Farming Labor
  Gregory, Everett  Son  F W 6 OK TN GA
  
  As the only boy among the children, Everett was called "Son" by not only his parents but all his sisters.
  
  I was always close to Uncle Everett.  I was the oldest nephew and spent a lot of time with him on the farm and around town on our visits up there from Quanah, Texas.
  
  When I was a kid and into my adulthood, he would take me around the farm with him in his work with the cattle. At one time I remember he let me ride his horse. He would tell me about his terrible experiences in the European war, especially about the time when he and his platoon were captured.  He had a harrowing experience as a prisoner of war.
  
  I always felt comfortable with him.  When I was young he used to take me into own and introduce me to all his friends. When I got to return from overseas to visit, he would talk to me about his work and we always talked about cattle and business. I loved him very much.
  
  1940 Federal Census, Garvin County, Oklahoma, 8 April, Lindsay, District 25-12, page: 5B, House 50, Rented
  Gregory, Andy Head M W 47 born Tenn Rural Garvin Co in 1935 Farming
  Gregory, Reta [Retta] Wife M W 44 born Okla Rural Garvin Co in 1935
  Gregory, Everett W 16 born Okla Rural Garvin Co in 1935
  
  U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
  Everett W Gregory
  Birth 1923, Oklahoma
  Residence Garvin County, Oklahoma
  Enlistment 13 Oct 1943 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  Private, Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
  2 years of high school
  Single, without dependents
  
  Online Memorial
  --------------------------
  B G Boydston Funeral Home, Lindsay, Oklahoma
  
  Everett Wayne Gregory was born in Purdy, Garvin County, Oklahoma on August 15, 1923 to Andy and Alpharetta Mae (Green) Gregory and passed from this life on April 13, 2009 in his home in Erin Springs, Oklahoma at the age of 85 years, 7 months and 28 days.
  
  Everett had lived in Garvin County most of his life except for the time he served in the U.S. Army. He was drafted in October 1943 and did his basic training at Camp Walters, Texas. He was a machine gunner and had seen about seven months of combat before he was wounded at Bologna, Italy.
  
  A grenade left him wounded with shrapnel in his leg. He was then taken a German prisoner of war. After being in captivity for six months, he was released and later discharged in December 1945. After leaving the army he continued to farm and raise cattle with his father. On January the 31st, 1948, he married Vesta Marie Cox who was his wife for over 61 years. They set up their own household and began their family. In February 1952 they moved to his parents farm in the Rocky Point community. They purchased the family farm in the 1950s, where the couple continued to farm and raise cattle. Marie was a stay at home mom, and Everett began working outside the farm. He retired from Rural Electric Cooperative after 29 years. At that time, he was the purchasing agent.
  
  Everett gave his heart to the Lord many years ago; but, he later rededicated his life and became a member of the Erin Springs Baptist Church. He loved reading his Bible, attending Sunday school and church, the mens breakfasts and Senior suppers. He was also a member of the American Legion. Everett loved his farm, his cattle, and he adored his family. He thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with his wife, children and grandchildren.
  
  Everett is survived by his wife Marie, his children, Reta Hayes and husband Dennis of Glendale, Arizona, Larry Gregory of Lindsay, Terry Gregory of Chickasha, Alfred Gregory and wife Pam of Lindsay, his grandchildren; Kees Campbell and Jason Hayes, Robbie and wife Andrea Williams, Kaylee Ezell, LeeVon McCoy, Logan Gregory, Dock Patrick Gregory, Hale Gregory, Kaleb Trammell and Lauren Gregory, and his great-grandchildren; Molly Hayes, Aiden Williams, Gavyn Williams, Tayslee Williams and Adison Ezell, and also Chrystal Field and son Ethan. He is also survived by his sisters; Lou Ila Jenkins, Wanda June Trout and husband Roy and Loretta Gay and husband Joseph, all of Lindsay.
  
  He was preceded in death by his parents, an older brother, Alfred Andrew Gregory, and two older sisters, Dessie Spann and her husband Ernest and Josephine Hayes and husband Roy Jackson Hayes.
  
  Funeral services for Everett will be Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the Erin Springs Baptist Church with interment in the Erin Springs Cemetery. Officiating the service will be Brother Bryan Shaw, Brother Bill Love and Brother Joe Elam. Services are under the direction of B.G. Boydston Funeral Home of Lindsay, Oklahoma. Condolences for the family may be made online at www.boydstonfuneralhome.com.
  --  Boydston Funeral Home, http://www.boydstonfuneralhome.com/listings/memorial.asp
  ---------------------------------
  
  Oklahoma Certificate of Death
  Everett Wayne Gregory
  Social Security #448-32-8238
  Residence Rt 3, Lindsay, Garvin County, Oklahoma
  Born 15 August 1923 Purdy (Garvin County), Oklahoma
  Father Andy  Gregory, Mother Alpharetta Mae Green
  Surviving Spouse Vesta Marie Cox
  Occupation Purchasing Agent, Electric Cooperative (Retired)
  Death 13 April 2009 in the home at 7:00 AM
  Cause of Death Coronary Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, due to Coronary Artery Disease
  Burial Erin Springs Cemetery, Erin Springs, Garvin, Oklahoma
  By B G Boydston Funeral Home, Lindsay, Oklahoma
  Informant's name Alfred L Gregory, Rt 3, Lindsay, Garvin County, Oklahoma
  Death Certified 28 April 2009
  Registered Locally 1 May 2009, State 7 May 2009
  
  Everett's sister, my mother Lou Jenkins, wrote a poem for his funeral.
  
  ---------------------------------
  In Memory of My Brother -- Everett Wayne Gregory
  By Lou Ila Jenkins
  
  I loved him with all my heart
  It was so sad when we had to part
  But I know he's happy in his home above
  Where there's always happiness, peace and love
  
  We lived on the farm in our growing my years
  We witnessed laughter, contentment and some tears
  He's gone to Heaven to meet our God
  Where he'll never again till the sod
  
  We climbed trees and made mud pies
  And at night enjoyed the stars in the skies
  We rode stick horses and waded in the brook
  We ate good food; our Mother was such a good cook
  
  I'll miss him terribly till the day I die
  One day I'll meet him in that home on high
  His body is now sleeping beneath the sod
  But his soul has gone on to meet our God
  
  At my age, I know it can't be very long
  Before I'll be there with him singing a song
  --  From the papers of Lou Ila Jenkins, July 2019; written upon the death of her brother, April 2009
  ---------------------------------
  
  Social Security Death Index
  Everett W. Gregory
  Born 15 Aug 1923
  Died 13 Apr 2009
  Last Residence Lindsay, Garvin, Oklahoma 73052
  SSN 448-32-8238 issued Oklahoma (1951)
  
  Everett Wayne Gregory
  Birth August 15, 1923 in Purdy, Garvin, Oklahoma
  Death April 13, 2009 in Erin Springs, Lindsay, Garvin, Oklahoma
  Marriage to (Private) 31 Jan 1948 Wichita Falls, Wichita, Texas
  --  Allen Family, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/31307885/person/12420444593
  
  I posted a memorial for Everett on Find a Grave, including his death certificate transcription and his obituary.
  
  Everett Wayne Gregory
  Birth Aug 15, 1923 Purdy, Garvin County, Oklahoma
  Death Apr 13, 2009 Erin Springs, Garvin County, Oklahoma
  Online Memorial Obituary [as found above in this profile]
  Parents:
  Andy Gregory (1892 - 1975)
  Alpharetta Mae Green Gregory (1895 - 1963)
  Spouse Vesta Marie Gregory (1924 - ____)
  Siblings:
  Dessie Lea Gregory Spann (1915 - 2003)
  Alpha Josephine Gregory Hayes (1917 - 2005)
  Alfred Andrew Gregory (1919 - 1920)
  Wanda June Gregory Trout (1927 - 2013)
  Burial Erin Springs Cemetery, Erin Springs, Garvin County, Oklahoma
  Created by Orville Jenkins Feb 23, 2015
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #142963928, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=142963928
  
  Though a search had not indicated a memorial for Everett, after posting mine, I found there was a previous one, Find A Grave Memorial #37678131.

Sources

• 1. Lou Ila Gregory Jenkins, Personal Communication
• 2. Social Security Death Index
• 3. 1940 Federal Census, Garvin County, Oklahoma
  • 8 April, Lindsay, District 25-12, page: 5B, House 50, Rented
• 4. Family Bibles
• 5. 1930 Federal Census, Garvin County, Oklahoma
  • 12 April, Lindsay, District 10, page 7B, Hse #92, Fam #109
• 6. Obituary of Everett W Gregory
• 7. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 8. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
• 9. Pikes Peak History Book 1908-2008
  • Location: Lindsay, Oklahoma; Date: 2008;
• 10. Ancestry Trees
  • Allen Family, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/31307885/person/12420444593
• 11. Oklahoma Certificate of Death
• 12. Orville Boyd Jenkins, Personal Knowledge
• 13. Obituary of Earl "Red" Lester Cox, Sr, newspaper name not given, courtesy of B J Allen, the Allen Family Tree
• 14. Pauls Valley (Oklahoma) Democrat newspaper