Obit [Alice Texas Davis Starkey]: The Wellington Leader (Collingsworth Co., Texas), 10 Sept 1946. [From a faded photo copy of the original obit submitted to the Tackett Family Assoc. by Will Ella Brooks Ball, late of Lubbock, TX.] [Received by Zipra Morgan from Mr. James W. Tackitt, Tackett Family Association March 2009.]

Mrs. T. B. Starkey (Alice Texas Davis Starkey), one of the County best loved pioneer women, died at her home in Wellington Monday Afternoon, Sept. 23, at 2:00 p.m. of an illness that had extended over several months. She was 74 years of age and had lived in Collingsworth County 55 years, coming with her husband just after the county was organized. This quiet and gentle woman was one of the very few left who had watched the growth of the county during its entire organized history, and who had a part in forming its early development. Mrs. Starkey, was before her marriage, Miss Alice Davis, the daughter of Judge and Mrs. William Davis, early settlers of Montague County. She was born there January 15, 1872, and grew up in that county. She was married to Thomas Benjamin Starkey on Sept. 5, 1888, in Montague County. Three years later, they came to Collingsworth County, and settled in what was then called Bradley Flat, but later the Dozier community. Her first home was a half-dugout, prepared by her husband on a previous trip. Mrs. Starkey's nearest neighbors at that time were two and one-half miles away, and the family got its supplies from Aberdeen, or sometimes from Wellington and Old Salisbury. She and Mr. Starkey helped to organize the first Sunday School and Church, and later they were active in securing a school for the area, known for many years as the Lake Creek School. As the mother of a growing family, she worked energetically for those things that would mean a better community and a better place to live for her children. Devoted first to her family, her friends and her church, Mrs. Starkey gave to them a full measure of her love and her energy. She had been a member of the Baptist Church for more than 50 years and was counted one of its most loyal and faithful members. A number of years ago, when Mr. Starkey retired from farming, they moved to Wellington and continued to make this their home. Funeral services were held from the First Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. In charge of the services were Rev. Charles Jameson, a relative who is pastor of the First Baptist Church at Odessa; Rev. W. Herbert Brown, a grandson, who is pastor of the First Baptist Church at Panhandle; and Rev. Howard Jones, pastor of the church here. Gathering to pay final tribute were a part of those many friends whose lives she had touched during the years this had been her home. Pall bearers for the service were grandsons, while granddaughters assisted with the flowers. Interment was in the Wellington cemetery with the Ellis Funeral Home in charge. Mrs. Starkey is survived by her husband, T.B. Starkey of Wellington, and the children: Bert Starkey, Oran Starkey and Charlie Starkey of Wellington; Grady Starkey of Quitaque; Mrs. Bill Brooke of Abernathy; Mrs. Henry Brown of Levelland; Mrs. Ed Morgan and Mrs. Raymond Powell of Perryton; and Mrs. Bill Boston of Littlefield. Twenty-nine grandchildren and 16 gt.-grandchildren also survive. One child died in infancy and was the first person buried in the Plymouth cemetery.