Lenora Emma 'Nora' Waddill Richardson 1902-1976
Lenora Emma Waddill
compiled information by sister, Wilma Ruth Waddill Hester, compressed/edit by Nancy L. Townsend Buchan, cousin
Lenora was the first child born to John and Cora Townsend Waddill. She was born in the home of her father's aunt, in White Clay, Nebraska on June 14th, in 1902.
As the oldest, Lenora, simply 'Nora' to the family, was to have a very hard childhood. The family would move often and she'd be shouldering responsibilities for five siblings.
Of all the children, Nora probably had the most spunk and desire to succeed. She attended the local grade school and started high school, but at age 15 or 16 years, she 'took charge' of her future. The Waddill family was living on a farm in Hale County, Texas. Nora made the decision to move to Plainview. TX to continue her high school education. To help pay for this expense, Nora became a housekeeper, baby-sitter and cook for a local lawyer and his wife. She lived with this family for two years, until moving to Amarillo.Here Nora lived with her Uncle George Waddill and finished her high school education. At this time a high school degree allowed you to teach, and Nora did for the next 2-3 years. She was able to save enough money during this time so that when the State required teachers have additional education, she was able to go to West Texas State Teachers College, at Canyon, Texas. After graduation, Nora obtained a teaching position at Crosby, (Oldemma) Texas. The following year she taught in Rolls, Texas. Nora usually taught several elementary grades at a time.
In about 1926-27, Nora took time out again from her teaching, to return to school. This time Nora attended Waylon Baptist College at Plainview, Texas. After completing all the requirements to continue teaching, Nora returned to Rolls, Texas where she taught several more years.
Although Nora's first love was teaching, it didn't consume all of her time. While at Rolls, she met and was courted by a certain railroad man, Davis Thornton Richardson. Nora had found a new love and on June 8, 1929 Nora and Davis were married in Lubbock, Texas. Neither of their families were present to share this event with the happy couple.
Davis was transferred from Rolls, to the freight office in Lubbock so Nora also left her teaching job in Rolls. Soon after this transfer, Davis was transferred again, this time to the freight office in Lockney, Texas. A very pregnant Nora joined him there.
On July 19, 1930 in Lockney, Texas, their first child was born, Norma Deane. Grandma Cora came immediately to help the new mother and premature grandchild. Nora had developed uremic poisoning and was grateful for her mother's nursing and care.
After only several months, Davis was again transferred, this time to Bledsoe, Texas, to still another freight office. Davis worked here for 2-3 years and then retired from the railroad.
Davis, Nora and young Norma packed their bags once more and moved to East Texas, a town near Paris, Texas. Davis wanted to return to his family's homestead in Pecan Gap. The family farmed here for a short while and then moved onto a larger ranch near Synder, Texas and Davis became a full time rancher-farmer. Just how long the family lived here is not known but it wasn't too long before Davis moved his 'girls' again, when he went to work for an oil company near Whiteface, Texas. Davis "oil-leased" which involved bookkeeping, checking pumps etc., for one of the large oil companies. Nora was able to return to teaching while Norma Deane was in school. Davis worked on this oil lease for about ten years and then moved into town, and the lives of this family took another turn.
In Whiteface, Texas, Davis owned and managed a grocery store. Through the years Davis also acquired many rental properties, small houses as well as other pieces of real estate. After Davis retired he sold the store but continued to manage all of the rental properties. Nora continued to teach until her own retirement.
Looking back on all of her teaching years, Norma recalled that she enjoyed teaching the fourth grade the most, children at this age were her favorites. When Norma Deane was attending Texas Tech. University at Lubbock, Texas, Nora also returned to school. She completed all of the requirements in order to obtain her Masters Degree. Norma Deane followed in the footsteps of her mother and graduated in Elementary Education.
After her retirement, Nora kept herself busy housekeeping and doing needlework. Nora also enjoyed crocheting and was content to spend her time close to home, happy that her moving days were over.
During her lifetime Nora probably never had a very close girlfriend. Even though Nora was very well liked by her students, around her peers, Nora was very reserved. Nora was content just to take care of her husband, daughter and her home. Neither she nor Davis were beholding to anyone, they were always very careful to carry their own load.
Nora was average height for her family, about 5'5", medium frame, with very curly hair, which was snow white before she turned 40. She had blue-green eyes and broad shoulders, resembling her father's family, the Izzards. Of all of the children born to John and Cora Townsend Waddill, Nora was the most slender until middle age.
Sometime during her later years, Nora developed diabetes, although it wasn't diagnosed until it was in very advanced stages. Nora was placed into a nursing home in Levelland, Texas, where she could best receive the constant care that she needed. Later she was transferred to San Angelo, Texas. Davis was always at her side. Because of the distance of the nursing home from their home, Davis closed up the house and took a hotel room near Nora. Every morning he was beside her bed when Nora awoke. Davis helped her with her meals and stayed with her throughout the day. In the evening he tucked her in for the night and then stayed until she was sleeping before returning to his hotel room. This pattern was maintained for about a year until Nora's death, October 14, 1977. Nora was 75 years old.
Davis returned alone, to their home in Whiteface, Texas where he was still living in 1980. Davis was born June 21, 1899 and at the age of 81 years was still managing his rental properties and carrying his own load. Davis joined his beloved Nora on January 21, 1992 and was buried beside her in Ressthaven Cemetery, Lubbock, Texas. Davis was the son of Davis Thornton Richardson, Sr. and his wife, Mittie Frances Ross. He was born in Ben Franklin, Texas.
Davis and Nora celebrated the births of two grand daughters, Marka Shannon and Synda Kathryn Burks.
Davis survived to share the joy of three great-grandchildren, Carrie Shannon Holida, Erin Page Dempsey and Justin Deane Wilson.
compiled information by sister, Wilma Ruth Waddill Hester, compressed/edit by Nancy L. Townsend Buchan, cousin
Lenora was the first child born to John and Cora Townsend Waddill. She was born in the home of her father's aunt, in White Clay, Nebraska on June 14th, in 1902.
As the oldest, Lenora, simply 'Nora' to the family, was to have a very hard childhood. The family would move often and she'd be shouldering responsibilities for five siblings.
Of all the children, Nora probably had the most spunk and desire to succeed. She attended the local grade school and started high school, but at age 15 or 16 years, she 'took charge' of her future. The Waddill family was living on a farm in Hale County, Texas. Nora made the decision to move to Plainview. TX to continue her high school education. To help pay for this expense, Nora became a housekeeper, baby-sitter and cook for a local lawyer and his wife. She lived with this family for two years, until moving to Amarillo.Here Nora lived with her Uncle George Waddill and finished her high school education. At this time a high school degree allowed you to teach, and Nora did for the next 2-3 years. She was able to save enough money during this time so that when the State required teachers have additional education, she was able to go to West Texas State Teachers College, at Canyon, Texas. After graduation, Nora obtained a teaching position at Crosby, (Oldemma) Texas. The following year she taught in Rolls, Texas. Nora usually taught several elementary grades at a time.
In about 1926-27, Nora took time out again from her teaching, to return to school. This time Nora attended Waylon Baptist College at Plainview, Texas. After completing all the requirements to continue teaching, Nora returned to Rolls, Texas where she taught several more years.
Although Nora's first love was teaching, it didn't consume all of her time. While at Rolls, she met and was courted by a certain railroad man, Davis Thornton Richardson. Nora had found a new love and on June 8, 1929 Nora and Davis were married in Lubbock, Texas. Neither of their families were present to share this event with the happy couple.
Davis was transferred from Rolls, to the freight office in Lubbock so Nora also left her teaching job in Rolls. Soon after this transfer, Davis was transferred again, this time to the freight office in Lockney, Texas. A very pregnant Nora joined him there.
On July 19, 1930 in Lockney, Texas, their first child was born, Norma Deane. Grandma Cora came immediately to help the new mother and premature grandchild. Nora had developed uremic poisoning and was grateful for her mother's nursing and care.
After only several months, Davis was again transferred, this time to Bledsoe, Texas, to still another freight office. Davis worked here for 2-3 years and then retired from the railroad.
Davis, Nora and young Norma packed their bags once more and moved to East Texas, a town near Paris, Texas. Davis wanted to return to his family's homestead in Pecan Gap. The family farmed here for a short while and then moved onto a larger ranch near Synder, Texas and Davis became a full time rancher-farmer. Just how long the family lived here is not known but it wasn't too long before Davis moved his 'girls' again, when he went to work for an oil company near Whiteface, Texas. Davis "oil-leased" which involved bookkeeping, checking pumps etc., for one of the large oil companies. Nora was able to return to teaching while Norma Deane was in school. Davis worked on this oil lease for about ten years and then moved into town, and the lives of this family took another turn.
In Whiteface, Texas, Davis owned and managed a grocery store. Through the years Davis also acquired many rental properties, small houses as well as other pieces of real estate. After Davis retired he sold the store but continued to manage all of the rental properties. Nora continued to teach until her own retirement.
Looking back on all of her teaching years, Norma recalled that she enjoyed teaching the fourth grade the most, children at this age were her favorites. When Norma Deane was attending Texas Tech. University at Lubbock, Texas, Nora also returned to school. She completed all of the requirements in order to obtain her Masters Degree. Norma Deane followed in the footsteps of her mother and graduated in Elementary Education.
After her retirement, Nora kept herself busy housekeeping and doing needlework. Nora also enjoyed crocheting and was content to spend her time close to home, happy that her moving days were over.
During her lifetime Nora probably never had a very close girlfriend. Even though Nora was very well liked by her students, around her peers, Nora was very reserved. Nora was content just to take care of her husband, daughter and her home. Neither she nor Davis were beholding to anyone, they were always very careful to carry their own load.
Nora was average height for her family, about 5'5", medium frame, with very curly hair, which was snow white before she turned 40. She had blue-green eyes and broad shoulders, resembling her father's family, the Izzards. Of all of the children born to John and Cora Townsend Waddill, Nora was the most slender until middle age.
Sometime during her later years, Nora developed diabetes, although it wasn't diagnosed until it was in very advanced stages. Nora was placed into a nursing home in Levelland, Texas, where she could best receive the constant care that she needed. Later she was transferred to San Angelo, Texas. Davis was always at her side. Because of the distance of the nursing home from their home, Davis closed up the house and took a hotel room near Nora. Every morning he was beside her bed when Nora awoke. Davis helped her with her meals and stayed with her throughout the day. In the evening he tucked her in for the night and then stayed until she was sleeping before returning to his hotel room. This pattern was maintained for about a year until Nora's death, October 14, 1977. Nora was 75 years old.
Davis returned alone, to their home in Whiteface, Texas where he was still living in 1980. Davis was born June 21, 1899 and at the age of 81 years was still managing his rental properties and carrying his own load. Davis joined his beloved Nora on January 21, 1992 and was buried beside her in Ressthaven Cemetery, Lubbock, Texas. Davis was the son of Davis Thornton Richardson, Sr. and his wife, Mittie Frances Ross. He was born in Ben Franklin, Texas.
Davis and Nora celebrated the births of two grand daughters, Marka Shannon and Synda Kathryn Burks.
Davis survived to share the joy of three great-grandchildren, Carrie Shannon Holida, Erin Page Dempsey and Justin Deane Wilson.
Date & Place:
Not specified or unknown.