Myrtle Ernestine Bay

Myrtle Ernestine Bay

Myrtle Ernestine Bay, 1902-1943

• Father: John Edwin Bay b. 2 October 1859, d. 31 May 1926
• Mother: Stacy Scott Teague b. 22 May 1859, d. 5 December 1931

• Myrtle Ernestine Bay was born on 2 February 1902 in Bell County, Texas.
• She was known as Ernestine.
• John Edwin Bay and Stacy Scott Teague appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included Myrtle Ernestine Bay, Olive Elizabeth Bay, Francis Oscar Bay and Eugenie Salome Bay.
• John Edwin and Stacy Scott Teague Bay were photographed with their children and grandchildren during 1915 in front of "the Bay hotel" in Richards.
• Rush Brevard Wood and Claudia Gertrude Bay appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Richards, Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included Myrtle Ernestine Bay, William Boyd Wood, Walter Warren Wood, Solomon William Wood, Martha Clarana Reed, Henry Campbell Wood and Claude Irvin Wood.
• She was a public school teacher, according to the census.
• She married Jewett M. Palmer, son of James Houston Palmer and Minnie Ola Barker, on 23 December 1922 in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, with Rev. J. J. Tatum officiating.
• The following appeared on 28 December 1922 in The Bryan Weekly Eagle: At 12:30 o'clock Saturday Mr. Jewett M. Palmer of Port Arthur, and Miss Myrtle Bay were united in marriage by Rev. J. J. Tatum at his home. The groom is a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Palmer of Normangee and the bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Bay of Richards. The groom is with the Collins Pharmacy Company at Port Arthur and Miss Bay is a teacher at Millican. They left for home via Houston today, followed by the good wishes and congratulations of their many friends.
• The following appeared on 28 December 1922 in The Waco News-Tribune: (Bryan, Dec. 27) At noon Saturday the marriage of Jewett M. Palmer of Port Arthur and Miss Myrtle Bay of Richards, Texas, took place. The ceremony was witnessed by only a few invited friends, and was at the home of Rev. J. J. Tatum, pastor of the Bryan Free Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer left for their future home in Port Arthur.
• Jewett M. Palmer and Myrtle Ernestine Bay appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Edcouch, Hidalgo County, Texas. Other members of the household included Johnnye Beth Palmer.
• The following appeared on 3 September 1931 in The Normangee Star: Jewettt Palmer, who has been in the hospital at San Antonio, was brought home Monday. He had been in the hospital for several weeks, with what is thought to be a serious attack of Bright's Disease. Under the very best of medical attention, he seemed to grow worse. He kept insisting that he be brought home, that it would be best for him to spend his last days in his childhood surroundings. So he was placed on the train in a berth in a sleeper and brought to Hearne Monday afternoon. The ambulance from Madisonville met him there, as well as a number of Normangee friends, and he was brought to his father's home, Monday night. He has been blind for some time from the poison in his system, but he was conscious and recognized the voices of his relatives and friends. He is now at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Palmer. His father, his wife and his sister, Mrs Glady's Graumann, accompanied him from San Antonio.
• Myrtle Ernestine Bay became a widow at the 3 September 1931 death of her husband Jewett M. Palmer.
• The following appeared on 10 September 1931 in The Normangee Star: While not unprepared for it, all who knew him were saddened when last Thursday morning about 11 o'clock came the word that Jewett Palmer had passed away. As stated in last week's paper, he had been brought from the hospital to his boyhood home on Monday previous. He was conscious at the time that the end was nearing and he wanted to die at the home of his mother and father.
       He was buried Friday afternoon in Hopewell Cemetery, the services being conducted by Rev. S. H. Innes assisted by Rev. W. A. Craven of Rockdale, and Rev. R. N. Davis. Over the casket was draped a flag of the Stars and Stripes, in memory of his service for his country during the World War. The mound was completely covered with floral offerings.
       Jewett leaves a wife and a little daughter, Johnnie Beth, 3 year old, father and mother, two sisters, Mrs. Lillian Sandel, and Mrs Gladys Graumann, two brothers, Lee and Lamar, and a number of other relatives, including his aged grandmother, Mrs. D. L. Palmer, and a host of friends.
       Jewett M. Palmer was born November 16, 1899. His early life was spent in Normangee, where he received his education. In 1917 he joined the army, and was assigned to the medical service where he learned the druggist's profession. Leaving the army he worked in the drug stores in a number of places including Montgomery, Port Arthur, Abilene, Richards. About the year 1925 be bought a half interest in a drug store at Iola of which he became manager, and to which he brought a pronounced success. A couple of years later he sold his interest there and moved to Edcouch as that town was being launched as a new municipality. There he had a splendid success in business, growing with the town. Last spring his popularity was attested by his election as mayor of his town, even though he personally did not seek the election.
       In early life he joined the Methodist church, and his life has been in every way in harmony with his profession. He was a Mason and a member of the American Legion. He was married December 22, 1922 to Miss Ernestine Bay of Richards, who the year before had been a teacher in the Normangee Schools. While at Iola he served as steward in the Methodist church, and assisted in organizing the Methodist Church in Edcouch.
       The esteem in which he was held in Edcouch was attested by eight of the leading business men of that town coming from there to be present at the funeral, and returning later the same day. They brought Mrs. Palmer messages of condolence from the local Masonic Lodge and from the city council, and perhaps from other organizations.
       Present at the funeral were a number from Iola, and Richards, from Anderson and from other places where Jewett was known, as well as this party from Edcouch down in the Valley.
       Mrs. Bay, mother of Mrs. Palmer, was here from Richards, and her sisters Mrs. Woods from Anderson, Mrs. Brown from Teague, Mrs. Crutchfield, from Anderson and Mrs. Ellison from Temple, sisters of Mrs. Palmer, who with their families were here for the funeral.
       Jewett was one of the finest of the many fine young men who have gone out from Normangee, and while we mourn the loss of a young man cut down in his prime, a young man of great promise, we all feel that his life has been a benediction, and we have a right to feel proud that he is a product of Normangee.
       Present at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Will Barron, Pearce Yeager, H. H. Blagraves, Mrs. J. W. Gilpin, and Mrs. J. D. Moore from Iola, and A. T. Moore, T. C. Hardin, M. Faring, W. Wade, R. D. Bell, M. Lackland, Gene Martin, and P. Strohn from Edcouch.
       Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Ellison and daughter, and Mrs. H. A. Ellison from Oenaville, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Bay Sr., J. F. Bay Jr., and Miss Maegene Bay from Huntsville, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Crutchfield and Mrs. J. D. Crutchfield from Singleton, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Wood, Gertrude Wood, and Mrs. M. K. Hixson from Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. N. A. Jones, Mrs. J. E. Bay, Mr. and Mrs. B. N. Lenorman, and Mrs. J. T. Haynie from Richards, and Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Brown from Teague.
• She married James Myrl Cellum, son of Erastus Woodruff Cellum and Carrie Clyde French, circa 1933.
• The following appeared on 28 April 1939 in the Harlingen Valley Morning Star: (Edcouch) Mrs. J. M. Cellum received a message Tuesday night telling of the death of Rush Wood her brother-in-law, age 57, who died at his home near Houston following a short illness. Funeral services were to be held Wednesday afternoon. The deceased is the father of Irving who made his home here several years ago with his aunt, Mrs. Cellum and family.
• A photograph was taken of the five Bay sisters about 1940 -- youngest to oldest: Myrtle, Ollie, Mary, Claudia and Willie.
• James Myrl Cellum and Myrtle Ernestine Bay appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Edcouch, Hidalgo County, Texas. Other members of the household included Johnnye Beth Palmer and Barbara Kay Cellum.
• The following appeared on 23 August 1940 in the Harlingen Valley Morning Star: (Edcouch) Mrs. J. M. Cellum, who recently underwent a major operation at the Mercedes General Hospital, was removed to her home Monday morning. She is reported to be convalescing nicely.
• The following appeared on 11 September 1940 in the Harlingen Valley Morning Star: J. F. Bay, 59, of Richards, Texs, brother of Mrs. J. M. Cellum, Edcouch, died September 5 at Richards, of a heart ailment; funeral services were held September 6 at Richards.
• The following appeared on 10 July 1941 in The Brownsville Herald: (Edcouch) Mr. and Mrs. Irving Wood have departed for their home at Navasota following a visit here with an aunt, Mrs. J. M. Cellum, and family.
       Mrs. J. M. Cellum and daughters, Barbara Key and Johnnye Beth, are spending a month in Brownsville.
• The following appeared on 19 November 1942 in the Harlingen Valley Morning Star: (Edcouch) Mrs. Rush Woods of Richards, Texas, and Mrs. Newton Jones of Conroe, are visiting their aunt and cousin, Mrs. J. M. Cellum.
• The following appeared on 27 December 1942 in the Harlingen Valley Morning Star: (Edcouch) Mrs. Rush Wood, who has spent several weeks in Edcouch assisting in the care of her sister, Mrs. J. M. Cellum, left Monday night for her home at Richards in response to a message stating that her daughter was quite ill.
• Myrtle Ernestine Bay died on 14 January 1943 at age 40 in Edcouch, Hidalgo County, Texas, . Her death was officially witnessed by James Myrl Cellum.
• She was interred at Fairview Cemetery, Grimes County, Texas, near Richards.
• The following appeared on 15 January 1943 in the Harlingen Valley Morning Star: (Edcouch) Mrs. Myrtle E. Cellum, 40, died at 9:25 p. m. Thursday following a lingering illness. She had been a resident of the community for a number of years, having come here from Richards, Grimes county, Texas.
       Surviving are her husband, J. M. Cellum; two daughters, Jonny Beth Palmer and Barbara K. Cellum, of Edcouch; and four sisters.
       Funeral services will be held at 5 p. m. Friday from the Methodist Church here with Rev. Roy E. Rader officiating. Pallbearers will be E. W. Martin, Jim Howell, George Milliford, C. G. Hart, Gordon Smith and Jack Barnum. The body will be taken to Richards Friday night in a Martin-Nelson ambulance from Westlaco.

• Last Edited: 13 Jan 2017

• Charts: Descendants of TEAGUE Joshua