Suggested edit by Contributor: debbie hendrix (48061624) on April 22, 2020.
"Levi P. Preston was a member of the church of Christ. The congregation he was a member of had no located preacher, so Levi preached the gospel message when called upon."
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Levi P. Preston, the fifth child of Alzona and Henry "Rufus" Preston, was born in Henrietta, Clay County, Texas, on April 26, 1880.

Levi's parents moved from Henrietta, Texas, to Bellefonte, Boone County, AR, in 1885 when he was five years old. Within six years, three members of his family were dead, including his father, mother, and sister, Nettie. After his mother's death in 1891, his siblings, Ervin, Taylor, Ada, and Alfus went to live with his uncle Joe Preston in Jacksboro, Texas. Levi, age 11, and his brother, Wesley, who wasn't quite 8 years old, stayed with his aunt and uncle, Hollan and Ed Sharp, who lived near Bellefonte.

In 1893, when he was 13 years old, he hopped a train and went to Texas to live with his uncle, Joe Preston, in Jacksboro, Jack County, Texas. Wesley followed him three years later. After getting settled in Jacksboro, Levi worked at various jobs to support himself.

Levi was a good looking young man, six feet tall, with sandy brown hair and blue eyes. He met Nora Bell Kee, a pretty petite woman, with dark hair and brown eyes, who was four feet eleven inches. She was the first child of John William and Cynthia Cordelia (Pate) Kee and had lived in Jacksboro most of her life.

Levi and Nora were married about 1902. Their fifteen children were Lonnie Dee, Beautrice Cleo, George Calvin, Leazonia Bell, Marvin, Melvie and Elvie (twins), Lester Rufus, Cordelia Vesti, Florence Juanita, Sara, Bonnie Dell, Baby (died on day of its birth, January 13, 1926), Joe Arnold, & Odessa Fern.

Levi bought a section of land about ten miles south of McLean in Donley County. This was near Skillet Creek, in what was known as the Skillet Creek community. It was here that he built their home and became a successful farmer who was much admired by his neighbors.

He was very self sufficient and ran his farm with a firm hand. Upon observation one would usually see a serious or stern demeanor, but at times his delightful sense of humor surfaced. He had a blacksmith shop where he made horse shoes and other necessary farm implements.

Levi nearly always had good crops whether his neighbors did or not. It got to the point that when his neighbors saw him planting, they planted too. He became quite an authority on when, how, and where to plant. Nora assumed a quiet role as a dutiful and supportive wife and a caring mother. Her daughter, Odessa, said that her mother was the glue that held things together. She said, "Mamma was the link to the beauty in all of our lives. Mamma was God's answer to the whole family."

Nora attended the funeral of her seven year old granddaughter, Wanda Preston, on Thursday, November 22, 1945. She died unexpectedly from a heart attack later that day.

In 1946, Levi and some of his children went to Arkansas to visit his cousin, John Sharp, who was four years old when Levi went back to Texas. While in Bellefonte he met Miss Rhoda Elizabeth Beavers who he married about one year later. She went back to TX with him and stayed with him until his death on January 11, 1956, and Rhoda returned to Bellefonte.

His obituary was published in a local McLean newspaper: "Services For L.P. Preston Set Friday - Funeral services are scheduled for tomorrow, January 13, at 2:30 o'clock for Levi P. Preston, 75, at the Church of Christ in McLean. Mr. Preston died Wednesday. Mr. Preston was born April 26, 1880. He left Wichita County in 1920 and came to Collingsworth County near McLean. His wife preceded him in death nine years ago and two daughters have also passed on. Survivors include six sons: L.D. Preston of Littlefield, George Preston of McLean, Marvin Preston of Borger, Melvie Preston of Fort Worth, Lester Preston of Portland, Oregon, and Joe Preston of Mercedes; seven daughters: Mrs. Beatrice Stanton of Boise City, Oklahoma, Mrs. Leazonia Baker of Pampa, Mrs. Cordelia Ashby of Amarillo, Mrs. Florence Hunt of Tulsa, Mrs. Sara Carter of Iowa Park, Mrs. Bonnie Harris of Amarillo and Mrs. Odessa Rehwalt of Amarillo: 49 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Claborn Funeral Home and burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery."

The above information is from my book, "The Family of James and Caroline Bell," who were Levi's grandparents.
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Levi & Nora would have been proud of their son, Joe. He was the 14th of their 15 children.

The month after Joe died, Nov. 10, 1996, an article was published in the "Christian News of South Texas." His granddaughter, Ruby (Preston) Curry, has furnished the article, shown in part.

"MINISTER DIES WHILE PREACHING
Karnes City - Sunday, November 10th, Brother Joe Preston was preaching at the church here when he died in the pulpit. Joe was preaching on the subject, "What is Your Life - the Contrast of Death." His text was James 4:13, 14 which reads: 'Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell and get gain, Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.'

Little did Joe know that in just a matter of minutes his life would be taken from the earth and he would become an object lesson for the very subject he was preaching.

Preston had been a faithful gospel preacher and singer for many years. He was loved and appreciated for the christian man he was and for his works sake.

Bill Reynolds, of Fort Worth (a man who was like a son to the Prestons) and Sammie Swim of San Antonio, conducted the memorial services for Joe Preston on Wednesday, November 13, at the Blanco church building. Preston had formerly preached for the Blanco church.

Joe didn't live to read the following quotation, but it was included at the end of his sermon notes. 'The clock of life is wound but once and no man has the power to tell just when the hand will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own! Live, love, and toil with a will. Place no faith in tomorrow, for the hand may then be still.'"