Wanda Self
F, #4416, b. 17 October 1923, d. 14 February 2011
Wanda Self|b. 17 Oct 1923\nd. 14 Feb 2011|p2659.htm|Willie Clyde Self|b. 25 Jan 1899\nd. 6 Jan 1986|p2654.htm|Willie McKinley Lawhorn|b. 5 Sep 1900\nd. 27 Dec 1988|p2653.htm|Mark L. Self||p9228.htm|Betty M. (Pigg) Self||p9229.htm|Leonidas C. Lawhorn|b. 22 Feb 1852\nd. 4 May 1935|p1040.htm|Mittie B. Coleman|b. 18 Dec 1871\nd. 23 Aug 1903|p1048.htm|
Wanda Self, daughter of Willie Clyde Self and Willie McKinley Lawhorn, was born 17 October 1923 in Thalia, Foard County, Texas.1 Wanda Self was the daughter of Willie Clyde Self and Willie McKinley Lawhorn. Wanda Self graduated from Thalia Public Schools in Thalia, Foard County, Texas, in 1941.2 During first grade Wanda met who would later become her husband, T. R. Cates, Jr. After high school graduation, she picked cotton that fall to earn tuition money to attend cosmetology school in Amarillo. After graduation from cosmetology school, Wanda moved to Vernon, Wilbarger County, Texas to put into practice her newly earned skills. It was there that Wanda and T. R. would resume their dating while she worked and he attended welding school. On 7 November 1942, Wanda and T. R. Cates, Jr. were married in Frederick, Oklahoma, a short distance from Vernon.
Shortly after their marriage, they came home to Thalia for the weekend. Wanda spent the weekend with her parents and he with his, for they had yet to tell their parents they were married. Some days later, Wanda's mother, Willie, was in Vernon and someone working in a store mentioned to her something about her "new son-in-law." So the secret marriage didn't last long. This was at the beginning of World War II.
In November of 1944, T. R. was drafted into military service and the couple was relocated to Camp Walters, Mineral Wells, Texas. While T. R. trained for military duty, Wanda continued to work as a beautician. Then in January of 1945, T. R. was called into active duty leaving for Europe. At this time, Wanda moved back home, and it was there, where the couple's first child was born. Rhetta June Cates was born 19 July 1945 in Vernon, Wilbarger County, Texas. When Rhetta was eleven months old, T. R. returned from Europe and the couple and their child began farming in the Thalia community.
They lived in a four-room house near Beaver Creek. While living there, their second child, Michael Maurice Cates was born, 26 June 1947. Later the family moved to the town of Thalia where their third child, Terri Elise was born 5 September 1951, and two years later Dennis Patrick arrived on 25 June 1953. In 1957, Wanda opened a beauty shop in her home, where she continued until 1967. During this time T. R. worked for the Texas Natural Gas Company and Foard County as a heavy equipment operator.
In 1966, Wanda again started work as a beautician in the shop of her friend, Thelma Lemmons, in Crowell, Texas and remained in this line of employment until 1979. In 1979, Wanda entered the Greenbelt Nursing School and earned her L.V.N. license. Si9nce that time she has been employed by the State of Texas as a psychiatric nurse. Wanda retired from MHMR on 30 July 1`991, after 11 years and 8 months of employment.
On 7 November 1992, Wanda and T. R. celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. This event was hosted by their children, in Garland, Texas.
After retirement from MHMR, Wanda worked about 1-u years at the Crowell Nursing Center, working the night shift - 11 PM to 7 AM. T. R. has been Pct. I commissioner in Foard County for 17 years but was defeated in the election of 1996. He is now completely retired and very active - works on lawn mowers and other small motors for a hobby and as a lucrative pastime2 She married Thornia Rufus Cates Jr., son of Thornia Rufus Cates Sr. and Eva Luna (Brown) Cates, on 7 November 1942 in Frederick, Tillman County, Oklahoma..2 Wanda Self died on 14 February 2011 in Vernon, Wilbarger County, Texas.3 She was buried on 18 February 2011 in the Wilbarger Memorial Park located seven miles southeast of Vernon, Wilbarger County, Texas.
Shortly after their marriage, they came home to Thalia for the weekend. Wanda spent the weekend with her parents and he with his, for they had yet to tell their parents they were married. Some days later, Wanda's mother, Willie, was in Vernon and someone working in a store mentioned to her something about her "new son-in-law." So the secret marriage didn't last long. This was at the beginning of World War II.
In November of 1944, T. R. was drafted into military service and the couple was relocated to Camp Walters, Mineral Wells, Texas. While T. R. trained for military duty, Wanda continued to work as a beautician. Then in January of 1945, T. R. was called into active duty leaving for Europe. At this time, Wanda moved back home, and it was there, where the couple's first child was born. Rhetta June Cates was born 19 July 1945 in Vernon, Wilbarger County, Texas. When Rhetta was eleven months old, T. R. returned from Europe and the couple and their child began farming in the Thalia community.
They lived in a four-room house near Beaver Creek. While living there, their second child, Michael Maurice Cates was born, 26 June 1947. Later the family moved to the town of Thalia where their third child, Terri Elise was born 5 September 1951, and two years later Dennis Patrick arrived on 25 June 1953. In 1957, Wanda opened a beauty shop in her home, where she continued until 1967. During this time T. R. worked for the Texas Natural Gas Company and Foard County as a heavy equipment operator.
In 1966, Wanda again started work as a beautician in the shop of her friend, Thelma Lemmons, in Crowell, Texas and remained in this line of employment until 1979. In 1979, Wanda entered the Greenbelt Nursing School and earned her L.V.N. license. Si9nce that time she has been employed by the State of Texas as a psychiatric nurse. Wanda retired from MHMR on 30 July 1`991, after 11 years and 8 months of employment.
On 7 November 1992, Wanda and T. R. celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. This event was hosted by their children, in Garland, Texas.
After retirement from MHMR, Wanda worked about 1-u years at the Crowell Nursing Center, working the night shift - 11 PM to 7 AM. T. R. has been Pct. I commissioner in Foard County for 17 years but was defeated in the election of 1996. He is now completely retired and very active - works on lawn mowers and other small motors for a hobby and as a lucrative pastime2 She married Thornia Rufus Cates Jr., son of Thornia Rufus Cates Sr. and Eva Luna (Brown) Cates, on 7 November 1942 in Frederick, Tillman County, Oklahoma..2 Wanda Self died on 14 February 2011 in Vernon, Wilbarger County, Texas.3 She was buried on 18 February 2011 in the Wilbarger Memorial Park located seven miles southeast of Vernon, Wilbarger County, Texas.
VERNON - Wanda Self Cates, 87, formerly of Thalia, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2011.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Sullivan Funeral Home Chapel with Dave Winn officiating. Burial will be in Wilbarger Memorial Park.
Wanda was born Oct. 17, 1923, in Thalia to Willie Clyde Self and Willie Lawhorn Self. She married T.R. Cates Jr. on Nov. 7, 1942. He preceded her in death on April 3, 2005.
Wanda was a graduate of Thalia High School and the Greenbelt Nursing School. She worked at Vernon State Hospital and retired as a licensed vocational nurse. She was a member of Wilbarger Street Church of Christ.
She also was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Michael Cates, in 2002; and a daughter, Rhetta Cates Messick, in 2001.
Survivors include a daughter, Terri Cates of Garland; a son, Patrick Cates of Dallas; a sister, Myra Laurance of Arlington; a brother, Dan Coleman Self and wife Rita of Amarillo; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.3
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Sullivan Funeral Home Chapel with Dave Winn officiating. Burial will be in Wilbarger Memorial Park.
Wanda was born Oct. 17, 1923, in Thalia to Willie Clyde Self and Willie Lawhorn Self. She married T.R. Cates Jr. on Nov. 7, 1942. He preceded her in death on April 3, 2005.
Wanda was a graduate of Thalia High School and the Greenbelt Nursing School. She worked at Vernon State Hospital and retired as a licensed vocational nurse. She was a member of Wilbarger Street Church of Christ.
She also was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Michael Cates, in 2002; and a daughter, Rhetta Cates Messick, in 2001.
Survivors include a daughter, Terri Cates of Garland; a son, Patrick Cates of Dallas; a sister, Myra Laurance of Arlington; a brother, Dan Coleman Self and wife Rita of Amarillo; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.3
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