PERNECIA "ISABEL" (McBRAYER) HOLLABAUGH
The correct spelling of her name is Pernecia "Isabel" McBrayer Hollabaugh, even though her marker says Isabell. Death certificate is also incorrect showing Isabell P. Hollabaugh, and SS # is not available. She always went by her middle name of Isabel. She signed her name as Isabel in the Family Bible. Her marriage license and children's birth certificates all show Isabel. The marker was ordered after Grandpa died, so Grandma had to have been aware it was incorrect. She was very proud of their marker with their 50th Anniversary picture on it. Grandchildren have questioned this today, but no one knows how this all happened. We never heard her or anyone else question the incorrect spelling of her name on the marker. I'm sure Grandma Hollabaugh is smiling on us from heaven saying this is not a big deal. She is in a wonderful place. However, the correct spelling of a person's name is important.
Granddaughter, Judy Robertson Evans

Pernecia "Isabel" Hollabaugh
February 9, 1883 - February 19, 1972

Obituary
Mrs. Isabel McBrayer Hollabaugh, age 89, passed away Saturday morning, February 19, 1972 at 11 a.m. due to congestive heart failure at the home of her daughter, Tessie Actkinson, 1301 Sanford, Arlington, Texas. She was surrounded by family members

Isabel was born February 9, 1883 in Springfield, Alabama to John Newton and Edna Caroline (Laster) McBrayer. She was born the eighth of ten children. Her siblings all preceded her in death in 1946 with the death of her last brother, Will. She lived 26 years years being the last surviving child.

Her family moved to Texas when she was a small girl settling in Ellis County where she lived for many years. She was converted at the age of 16, and joined the Methodist Church in Mountain Peak, Texas, Ellis County. She was a member of the Methodist Church in Seymour, Texas at the time of her death. Prior to that, she had been a member of Vera Methodist Church for over 40 years.

She married John Wilton Hollabaugh December 23, 1900 in Ellis County, Texas. They were blessed with six children who called them Mama and Papa. The children were Tessie (1901), Bessie (1904), Lillie (1907), Juanita (1909), Fred (1910) and Lois (1914). John and Isabel were part of the Mountain Peak community in Ellis County until the Fall of 1917.

The family had the opportunity in 1917 to move to Knox County when their six children were ages almost 3 years (youngest, Lois) up to 16 years (oldest, Tessie). They traveled in a caravan of three covered wagons to Vera, Texas in Knox County to a farm owned by John's older brother, Oscar. He was the Superintendent and Principal of Vera Schools. Mona, his wife, taught first and second grades, and they did not have any children. Oscar allowed John and Isabel to live on the 160 acre farm, farm the land, and pay him for the farm with their crop money each year.

The caravan of three covered wagons traveled to Knox County. Two were John and Isabel with their children. The third one was a cousin and his family also moving to Knox County. It took them 14 days traveling in the covered wagons to arrive at Munday, Texas in Knox County. They had about 20 more miles to travel to the farm in Vera.

John drove one covered wagon with Bessie helping him. Juanita and Fred were with them. Isabel drove the second wagon with Tessie helping her. Lillie and Lois were with them. They had an old mare they brought with them. Tessie had to hold onto his halter as they traveled. They sat on burlap bags filled with pecans they had picked up in Mountain Peak. They would camp along the road at night. Palo Pinto County was their first night, and it was frightening hearing wolves howling. They started seeing more cars as they arrived at Fort Worth. They would try to pick places along the road to camp where there were more cars, homes and lights after Pala Pinto County.

The children worked hard on the farm. They were always late starting to school in the Fall as they picked cotton. John wanted each one of his children to graduate from high school which was the 11th grade at that time. Bessie was Valedictorian of her class. Juanita got her teaching certificate (two years of college) with encouragement from Uncle Oscar and Aunt Mona. She taught in Vera two or three years. She did complete her college later in life. All six children graduated from high school even with having to start late each year. This is how the farm was paid for. They always had cows, chickens, hogs and a garden. Tessie said they had a bigger house, a nice well, a larger barn and more sophisticated school system in Vera than in Mountain Peak. They did better themselves by moving to Vera. even though they worked very hard.

A big family celebration was held Christmas 1950 to celebrate John and Isabel's 50th Wedding Anniversary which was December 23, 1950. Family members all drew names that year for Christmas. A large Christmas tree was in the Front Room. The children gave them an electric mixer which was a very nice gift in 1950. John received a whole box of Jo - Boy candy bars, his favorite candy. Isabel loved the little sugar coated Orange Slices of candy.

There are memories of the females (ladies and little girls) receiving matching feed sacks (Isabel knew how many it took) for a new dress. It was not unusual for the guys to get a box of Chocolate Covered Cherries. She always enjoyed giving gifts. This tradition was carried on by her daughters. As the years went on, she gave little remembrances such as handkerchiefs, peppermint candy or small books to little ones; but she still wanted to give gifts.

John's health began to fail in later years; so they purchased a house in 1956 in Seymour, and moved to town. John died in 1958 . They had been married over 57 years. Isabel was able to continue living alone in her own home for several years. Fred lived on the Hollabaugh farm. He called each day to check on her. Juanita and young Holly came from Wichita Falls quite often to help her with grocery shopping and other essentials. Lillie saw she had homemade gifts to give as she was very crafty. Bessie made all of her dresses. Her next door neighbor would see her raised window shades each morning on several windows next to his driveway when he left for work. He knew she was fine. She had a small garden. She walked less than a block to the beauty shop to get her hair fixed. She purchased a small record player, and listened to her gospel records. She enjoyed watching programs like Oral Roberts on her television. She loved piecing quilt tops on her sewing machine and making woven potholders. She always looked forward to her children and grandchildren's visits. Lois shared how her Mama would just talk and talk when she came for a week-end visit. She struggled to stay awake on Saturday night as she knew her Mama was hungry to talk. Christmas, 1960 was celebrated at Grandma Hollabaughs house with all family members who could attended. She was thrilled to have her house filled with her family.

Grandma Hollabaugh came to Dallas in 1960 when Lois (my mother) had some surgery. She stayed with my brother and I while mother was in the hospital, then stayed longer after Lois came home from the hospital. Isabel and Lillie even rode the bus to visit Bessie in Jal, New Mexico about 1964. That was a big adventure for both of them. I was thrilled she got to attend my wedding in Dallas in 1961. Juanita, Alvin, Noel and Holly brought her. She will always be remembered for her kind sweet gentle spirit. Lula Countryman, niece (daughter of Sister Bettie), shared Isabel's personality was a lot like she remembered her grandmother's personality. She never wanted to be a burden to anyone.

In 1965, Isabel reached the time she did not need to live alone. She first lived with Juanita and her family in Wichita Falls. Juanita had recurring cancer, so she could no longer physically care for her Mama. Isabel then went about 1968 to live with Tessie and Oliver in Arlington. Lois came from Dallas frequently to visit and help. She kept her Mama a week once at her home in Dallas to give Tessie a break. Fred and Lera brought her back to Arlington. Tessie had older daughters (Isabel's granddaughters) Irene, Margie, Ruth and Kathleen that were able to help. Their helping made a big difference as Tessie was getting older.

Survivors include; one son, Fred Hollabaugh (Lera) of Arlington; four daughters, Tessie Actkinson (Oliver) of Arlington, Bessie Hobbs of Midland, Lillie Taylor (Pat) of Vera, Texas and Lois Robertson of Dallas. She is also survived by 24 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren and 18 great great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews. She had over 100 descendants when she died.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Hollabaugh; one daughter, Juanita Irby (1970); parents, Newton and Edna McBrayer; five brothers: John, Lum, Kay, Will and Lonnie McBrayer; four sisters: Bettie Wadsworth, Ada and Ida McBrayer and Josie Smith; and four grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Mother Hollabaugh was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She will be missed by all. Our loss is Heaven's gain.

A visitation was held at Hugh M. Moore & Sons Funeral Home, Arlington Texas on Saturday evening . Funeral services were held on Sunday, 3 o'clock, February 20, 1972 at the First Methodist Church, Vera, Texas. It was officiated be Rev. Douglas Crow of Vera and assisted by Rev. J. Rennol Hester, pastor of Seymour Methodist Church. Music was provided by Mrs Douglas Crow and Mrs Doris Hardin. Of interest is Bessie (an excellent seamstress) made the dress her Mama was buried in. Pallbearers were Wallace Actkinson. Leon Hobbs. Charles Hollabaugh, Eugene Taylor. Robby Robertson.and J. L. McCarver

Interment followed at Vera Cemetery with Isabel laid to rest beside John.

Arrangements were with Hugh M Moore & Sons, Arlington, Texas

Judy Robertson Evans, # 49706236, Isabel Hollabaugh's Granddaughter