Died after giving birth to Princess Annie Thompson (Hall) in 1862 while her husband Alexander Thompson was away at war. Ketura was the first person buried in what is now Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney TX. Buried by her father Joseph Bryson Wilmeth in 1862 because he thought it was a beautiful place. Later became Pecan Grove Cemetery McKinney TX. Cemetery established in 1870

Ketura Maranda Wilmeth was one of the ten children who came with their parents Joe Brice [JB] and Nancy Ferguson Wilmeth from Lawrence Co, Arkansas to the Republic of Texas in the fall of 1845 to establish a homestead in Peters Colony. There were two other families with them - a total of 21 children and teens. JB brought with them his sister Jennie's son, Alex Thompson, who was just 12, as was Maranda. The group first settled just south of the Trinity where Grand Prairie is today, but for fear of the Indians fled east to Collin Co, where they permanently settled in June 1846. At some time Maranda and her first cousin Alex fell in love and married 9-27-1857, although it was against the wishes of her parents. A year later, Maranda's brother James Ransom [JR] Wilmeth returned from Bethany College in VA and married 17 year old Maria Lowry. Maranda and Alex lived close by as Maria mentions her often in her diaries. Then the entry for Fri Aug 31, 1860 says "Maranda moved over." The young wives are seeing each other almost daily according to diary entries.

The Wilmeth women were expert weavers. They had brought silk worms with them from Arkansas and had driven 100 head of sheep. They wove cloth of silk and wool, and later cotton and flax when it began to be grown in Collin Co. Maranda helped her younger sister-in-law learn the art, according to diary entries. After Maranda's death, Annie Wilmeth cut up one of the coverlets Maranda had woven, finished the edges, and gave to siblings, so they had a square to remember Maranda by. Maranda at this time had two little boys, John Smith b. 7-1-1858 and Joe Brice b. 1859.

Alex went away to war as did 6 of the Wilmeth boys. In the Thurs. Jan. 30, 1862 entry of J.R. he mentions, "A. Thompson came by going to the Fort." [probably Fort Wachita] Maranda and Alex had moved to a farm southeast of McKinney by this time. On Sept. 5, 1862, Maranda gave birth to a baby girl, and died shortly after. JB and two of his sons [presumably J.R. who did not leave for war until Dec. 9, 1862 and Mac, who was just 14, were the two sons] took the wagon to bring home Maranda's body, the infant girl and two little boys. On the way home, they stopped in the shade of a beautiful pecan grove, and decided to bury her there. Later, others were buried there and it evolved into the historic Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney. Maranda's marker is long gone, but she is thought to buried near the current entrance. (bio compiled by Martha Carroll,gg granddaughter of JB and Nancy Wilmeth)