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COLVIN-BRASHEAR
Barney was born 16 October 1898 at Boaz, the son of Fletcher and Rosa Graham Colvin. Lola Norine, the only
daughter of John and Carrie Maddux Brashear, was born 18 September 1904 at Tama.
Barney and Lola Colvin
Barney and Lola married on 30 September 1918 and lived with his parents until their
daughter, Nella Mae, was born 8 February 1920 during the flu epidemic. Lola and Barney had
the flu and Nella Mae was several days old before Lola realized she had a little 4 lb,
girl. Lola's parents took care of them.
They farmed a few years before moving to Killeen in 1926 and buying a grocery store. They
sold the store after Wilma Earl was born 14 January 1928 and were staying with Lola's
parents while Barney built a neighbor's house. On 29 July 1928 their house in Killeen
burned and they lost everything they owned. They moved to Ft Worth, but because there was
so much polio they decided to come back to the farm by Christmas. Their son, B. M. ,Jr was
born 12 September 1931 while they lived near Browns Creek.
In October 1932 they moved to Gatesville so their children would have a better school.
They built a house in 1933 during the worst of the Great Depression and paid cash for it.
Barney kept farming for 3 years and carpentering also. He helped build the CCC Camp and by
1936 the family thought they were rich. They bought a 1936 Chevrolet and went on vacation
to south Texas and even went to Mexico. That fall they went to the Texas Centennial in
Dallas and visited relatives in Callahan County at Thanksgiving. Their depression was
truly over. The family worked together, played together and stayed together.
During WW II they opened their home freely to soldier couples who needed rooms. At one
time 17 people lived in their home and a small rent house next door. They kept in contact
with many of them for as along as they lived.
Barney and Lola never missed a special occasion of their children or grandchildren. They
were always improving their home and had never ending projects. They had boundless energy
and no one ever thought of them as old. Their faith in God was strong and they helped
others in many ways.
They lost their dear Nella 22 August 1972 and Barney died on 16 May 1973 Nella's husband,
Woodrow, died in 1976 and their son, Kenneth, died in 1978. Lola practiced her faith,
loved her church, kept active and enjoyed the Senior Center. She was an RSVP (Retired
Senior Volunteer Program) volunteer for three years. In 1982 she wrote a 200 page book of
memoirs of her life for her family. It is a priceless legacy to her family. On 6 January
1984 she died and it still seems impossible that such a vital person can be gone.
Lola and Barney's grandchildren: Kenneth, Kevin and Mark, sons of Nella and Woodrow
Wilson; Pamela, Paul, Christy and Sylvia, children of Wilma and Stanley Edwards; Ricky,
Debbie and Melinda, children of B. M., Jr. and Joybelle Perry Colvin
-- Wilma Earl Colvin Edwards, daughter
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