Dannie Louise Pegues

b. 2 January 1907, d. 19 February 1998
  • Dannie Louise Pegues was born on 2 January 1907 in Mineola, Wood County, Texas.
  • Minnie Pearl Pegues appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Mineola, Wood County, Texas, at Kilpatrick Street. Other members of the household included Dannie Louise Pegues, Dannie E. Dyer. Alfred Pegues is enumerated as a boarder in Newton County, employed as a railroad agent.
  • Alfred Franklin Pegues and Minnie Pearl Pegues appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Big Spring, Howard County, Texas, at 409 Gregg. Other members of the household included Dannie Louise Pegues.
  • The following appeared on 18 June 1926 in The Big Spring Herald: A. F. Pegues returned Sunday from a trip to East Texas. He was accompanied home by Mrs. Pegues and daughters, Mrs. Jap Bradley and Miss Dannie Pegues, who had been visiting relatives at Mineola.
  • She married Charles Grady Graves, son of William Thomas Graves and Mary Beatrice Roberts, on 26 August 1927 in Big Spring, Howard County, Texas.
  • Charles Grady Graves and Dannie Louise Pegues appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Crowell, Foard County, Texas, rooming with widow Willa Tuttle.
  • She was a public school teacher, according to the 1930 census.
  • The following appeared on 6 February 1931 in The Big Spring Herald: Mrs. Pearl Pegues, 47, 203 Scurry Street, well known Big Spring woman, succumbed to a lingering illness at 11 p. m. thursday night at a local hospital.
         Funeral services will be held at 4 p. m. this afternoon at the Eberly Chapel, with the Rev. D. R. Lindley, pastor of the First Christian Church, conducting.
         Burial will be in the new Mt. Olive Cemetery.
         Mrs. Pegues is survived by her husband, A. F. Pegues, two daughters, Mrs. J. F. Bradley of Sterling City, and Mrs. Grady Graves of Cromwell.
         Mrs. Pegues was well known in Big Springs. She was an employe of J. D. Biles drug store for a number of years. She also was employed by Collins Bros. drug stores.
         Mrs. Pegues had been in ill health for a number of months, and of late has been a patient in the hospital.
         She was born Dec. 26, 1883.
         Pallbearers will be Dee Purser, Alfred Collins, Dick Collins, Virgil Reed, Dr. E. O. Ellington and Shine Philips.
  • Charles Grady Graves and Dannie Louise Pegues appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Crowell, Foard County, Texas.
  • The following appeared on 10 May 1964 in the Wichita Falls Times: (Crowell, Tex.) Mrs. Grady Graves plans to end 27 years of school teaching at the end of this term.
         In addition to being a teacher much of her life, she is the wife of the superintendent of schools here and the mother of two teachers.
         Her husband has resigned his position to take over his late father's insurance business in Stephenville, Tex.
         Born on January 2, 1907, in Mineola, Tex. to the late Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Franklin Pegues, "Dannie" (as everyone calls her) completed high school in Big Spring. She met her husband-to-be when he was playing professional baseball during the summer of 1926 in Big Spring.
         He was going back to the University of Texas for his junior year, and as a courtship had started, she went there for her freshman work. They married on August 26, 1927, and came to Crowell a week later. Graves had accepted the high school principalship and athletic coach for Crowell high school, a position he held for 17 years until he was promoted to superintendent in 1944.
         When Mr. Graves attended Texas A&M during the summers to finish his bachelor's and then complete his master's degrees, Mrs. Graves accompanied him. She, as a wife of a student, was able to take courses for credit at A&M, but had to have them transferred to another college in order to get her degree. She finished her undergraduate work and B.S. degree at Midwestern University in Wichita Falls.
         Her first school was at Beaver Creek in 1930 where she taught a combination class of first, second and third grade pupils. She has taught second grade most of the time since.
         She left the school room for seven years, and had a family of four sons, one of whom was tragically burned to death when he was three (in 1946). She had not planned to return to teaching, but Crowell had such a shortage of teachers during World War II that she felt compelled to go back.
         Though teaching the same grade, she remarks that she still learns something every day -- that every situation is a learning situation, for both her and the pupils. Mrs. Graves has never used the same thing from year to year -- she has always varied the material presentation.
         She feels that her teaching experiences and being able to share ideas with others has contributed to whatever success she has had as a second grade teacher. Her philosophy of teaching is that love is the primary requisite to the profession. She reasons this as a mother and a teacher, and that when childen know that they are loved, they will give more of themselves.
         Her teaching has reflected her deep religious convictions. She has been a worker in the First Baptist Church in Crowll, as her record of eighteen years as primary department superintendent signifies.
         The Graves children have all finished college and are making outstanding records for themselves. Two have chosen the teaching profession. The oldest son, Robert Bradley, 27, is junior high mathematics teacher at William James school in Fort Worth. Their youngest son, William Grady, 22, is in Lubbock at Slaton Junior High teaching English and athletics. Gordon Thomas Graves, 26, is a junior executive of Teledyne Industries in Los Angeles. They also have five grandchildren.
  • Dannie Louise Pegues died on 19 February 1998 at age 91 in Erath County, Texas.
  • Her husband Charles Grady Graves became a widower at her death.
  • She was interred at East Memorial Cemetery, Stephenville, Dallas County, Texas.
  • The following appeared on 21 February 1998 in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: (Stephenville) Dannie Louise Graves, 91, a retired teacher, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 1998, at an Erath County hospital.
         Funeral: 2 p.m. Saturday at Lacy Funeral Home with the Rev. Emil Becker officiating, assisted by Dr. Dan Murray. Burial: East End Cemetery.
         Dannie Louise Graves was born Jan. 2, 1907, in Mineola. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She married Grady Graves on Aug. 28, 1927, in Big Spring.
         She was preceded in death by a son, John Terrell Graves.
         Survivors: Husband, Grady Graves of Stephenville; sons, Dr. Robert Graves of Burleson, Gordon Graves of Austin and Bill Graves of San Angelo; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
         Lacy Funeral Home Stephenville, (254) 968-2102.
  • The following appeared on 18 December 2005 in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: (Stephenville) Grady Graves, 101, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, at his residence.
         Funeral: 2 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church. Burial: East End Cemetery. Visitation: 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Lacy Funeral Home.
         Memorials: American Cancer Society; and Stephenville Senior Citizens.
         Survivors: Sons, Dr. Robert Graves, Gordon Graves and Bill Graves; sister: Mona Marie McCain; eight grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
         Lacy Funeral Home, Stephenville, (254) 968-2102.
  • Last Edited: 17 Feb 2015

Family: Charles Grady Graves b. 15 March 1904, d. 16 December 2005