Terrence Austin Puckett - January 20, 1940 - March 1, 2003

Terrence Austin Puckett

January 20, 1940 - March 1, 2003

Photo taken in 1960

"Terrence Austin Puckett, 62, of Las Cruces, died in his sleep Saturday, March 1, 2003 at the Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission.

The Reverend Lester Heinzman will hold a memorial service for Terry at the Mission Chapel, 1050 West Amador, on Wednesday, March 5, 2003 at 7:00 p.m.

Terry served our community as Mission Manager from 1995 until he suffered his fourth stroke last November. He was slowly regaining his speech and physical skills through weekly therapy, but chronic congestive heart failure seems to have brought his life on earth to an end. Those who worked with him at the mission will sorely miss him. There are countless homeless whose lives were also blessed by knowing him.

Five children now living in Aurora, Colorado, and a brother who resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, survive him.

Final arrangements by Baca's Funeral Chapel are pending."

Terry's brother in Oklahoma writes, "My brother, Terrence (Terry) Austin Puckett's Obituary in the March 5th, 2003, edition of the Las Cruces Sun - News. Terry was the great-grandson of Richard and Mary (Polly) Ann Brooks Puckett, and grandson of Travis and Nancy Catherine Mayo Puckett, son of Richard Gerald and Mary Lillian May (Boteler) Puckett and my beloved brother!"

William Jasper Puckett and Annie Lewis Puckett

William Jasper Puckett, II and Annie Lewis Puckett

This picture of William Jasper and Annie was painted on a thick cardboard in 1931 by Heirlooms, Inc., in Ohio from a camera photo taken in the early 1920s, making Annie 44 years old at the time.

One of the first contacts I had with my great-grandfather, Harvey Vandegar Puckett's, distant family members was with Rita Rascoe Jones, who lived in Orange, Texas, at the time. Rita was from Many, Louisiana, the birthplace of my great-grandfather and his siblings. William Jasper, II was Harvey's nephew, his older brother being William Jasper, I. At the time Rita contacted me I had no knowledge of this brother. In fact, my notes from my grandmother only included three boys, Harvey Vandegar, Charles Rufus, and Travis Austin. As it turned out, several of my 2nd cousins and aunts and uncles knew there were other siblings.

I never will forget Rita's email - she said Thank goodness! I have been searching for these three brothers for years! We were both thrilled. She had names and information on eight siblings! I have several posts on the Pucketts here.

William Jasper Puckett II and Annie Lewis Puckett are Rita's grandparents. Rita was raised  by Annie.

William is the son of William Jasper Puckett I and Richard & Polly Brooks Puckett's grandson. He was born in March of 1880 in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. Annie was born Oct 25, 1876 and died in 1959. Her father was William J. Lewis and her mother was Catherine Dees.

Children of C. Richard Puckett and Polly Brooks Puckett are:

• William Jasper Puckett I, born 1857 in Jasper County, Texas; died 1880 in Fisher, Louisiana, Sabine Parish.
• Martha Jane Puckett, born March 14, 1859 in Sabine Parrish, Louisiana; died February 18, 1945 in Sabine Parrish, Louisiana.
• Roxie Ann Puckett, born June 14, 1862 in Texas; died February 13, 1904 in Fisher, Sabine Parish, Louisiana.  She married Columbus Foster Lewing February 10, 1876; born February 28, 1853.
• Louisiana Puckett, born Abt. 1866 in Texas.
• Barbara Puckett, born April 01, 1870 in Louisiana; died September 13, 1926.  She married Joseph Pinkney Lewing March 05, 1888; born June 21, 1858.
• Harvey Vandegar Puckett, born May 27, 1871 in Many, Sabine Parrish, Louisiana; died February 19, 1958 in Aledo, Parker Co., Texas. 
• Charles Rufus Puckett, born February 26, 1874 in Many, Sabine Parish, Louisiana; died September 22, 1941 in Blanchard, Oklahoma.
• Travis Austin Puckett, born August 19, 1876 in Sabine Parish, Louisiana; died November 03, 1929 in Blanchard, Oklahoma.