Obituary for Willie Ethel Bryce
Mrs. Willie Ethel Bryce, age 93, passed away at the Jackson County Memorial Hospital late Sunday night. Funeral services will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Wednesday morning at 10:00 A.M. with The Reverend John Welch officiating and Dean Bryce, of the Thomas Street Church of Christ assisting. Burial will be in the Altus City Cemetery under the direction of Lowell Funeral Home.
Mrs. Bryce was born to I. H. and Carrie (Grider) Watts on August 9th, 1891 near Arlington, TX. In 1904 part of her family led by her Uncle, Jim Grider, moved to what is now the Altus area, and after settling the remainder followed by leading all of their belongings, including livestock on a train for the long trip to their new home. Their trip was interrupted by a train wreck in which most of their possessions were lost. They arrived in Altus November 17, 1907, onew day after Oklahoma statehood. Willie, a 16-year-old girl, still in a depressed state of mind after the train wreck, was unimpressed with the blowing red dirt and left over trash from the Statehood Celebration. Her uncle, Jim Grider, whose name is still associated with an Altus landmark, (Griders Corner) was convinced that Altus had a future and passed his enthusiastic on to Willie and her family and they stayed to become one of the leading families in making Altus what it is today.
On February 15, 1909 she was married to W.F. Bryce who arrived in the area in 1889 with one of the first families to settle in this area. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in it's early days and has continued to serve in an active role all of her life. During World War II she lost a son and became a Gold Star Mother in 1945. In 1959 she and her husband celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. After raising her family and serving her Church and Community for over 58 years, she was named Kiwanis "Mother of the Year" in 1965.
She was preceded in death by: her husband, W.P. Bryce in 1963; three sons, James (1945), Thurmon (1955) and Owen (1983); a brother, Arthur Watts; two grandchildren.
Survivors include: three sons, Eugene and Warren "Corkey" Bryce, both of Altus and C. F. Bryce of Giddings, TX; two daughters, Sue Hartsell of Altus and Robinette Tucker of Oklahoma City; one sister, Marie Riddle of Altus; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.
06/26/1985
10:00 AM
Funeral
First United Methodist Church
Altus
OK
Read More
Mrs. Bryce was born to I. H. and Carrie (Grider) Watts on August 9th, 1891 near Arlington, TX. In 1904 part of her family led by her Uncle, Jim Grider, moved to what is now the Altus area, and after settling the remainder followed by leading all of their belongings, including livestock on a train for the long trip to their new home. Their trip was interrupted by a train wreck in which most of their possessions were lost. They arrived in Altus November 17, 1907, onew day after Oklahoma statehood. Willie, a 16-year-old girl, still in a depressed state of mind after the train wreck, was unimpressed with the blowing red dirt and left over trash from the Statehood Celebration. Her uncle, Jim Grider, whose name is still associated with an Altus landmark, (Griders Corner) was convinced that Altus had a future and passed his enthusiastic on to Willie and her family and they stayed to become one of the leading families in making Altus what it is today.
On February 15, 1909 she was married to W.F. Bryce who arrived in the area in 1889 with one of the first families to settle in this area. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in it's early days and has continued to serve in an active role all of her life. During World War II she lost a son and became a Gold Star Mother in 1945. In 1959 she and her husband celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. After raising her family and serving her Church and Community for over 58 years, she was named Kiwanis "Mother of the Year" in 1965.
She was preceded in death by: her husband, W.P. Bryce in 1963; three sons, James (1945), Thurmon (1955) and Owen (1983); a brother, Arthur Watts; two grandchildren.
Survivors include: three sons, Eugene and Warren "Corkey" Bryce, both of Altus and C. F. Bryce of Giddings, TX; two daughters, Sue Hartsell of Altus and Robinette Tucker of Oklahoma City; one sister, Marie Riddle of Altus; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.
06/26/1985
10:00 AM
Funeral
First United Methodist Church
Altus
OK
To send flowers in memory of Willie Ethel Bryce, visit the Tribute Store.
Thank you for sharing your
memory of Willie
Provide comfort for the family by sending flowers or planting a tree in memory of Willie Ethel Bryce.
Send Flowers
Loading...