Roy Verlon Plemmons
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Roy Verlon Plemmons was born 9 February 1890 in Sevierville, Tennessee. He was the third child of seven born to Jessie Sylvester Ray and Lourie LuVema Luther Plemmons. On 3 January 1912, he married Minnie May McKey in Centreville, Mississippi. Two children were born: Nora Lee (6 September 1912) and David Cage (14 March 1914). During this time he worked in off-shore well drilling. He was away most of the time, and Grandma wouldn't travel with him. Shortly after this, they were divorced. David never knew his father, and it wasn't until about five years before Roy died that Nora got to know him. He lived in Jackson for several years before she was aware he was there.
Roy died 26 December 1960 at Mountain Home Veteran's Hospital near Johnson City in Washington County, Tennessee. He is buried in the Veteran's Cemetery there. from Our Blalock Beginnings
by Dorothy Mae Blalock Hadley The following are excerpts from several letters written by Rachel Treadway Robinette, a niece of Roy Verlon Plemmons, which contain pertinent genealogical information on this line.
(24 January 1991)
About Uncle Roy and Grandfather Plemmons, Mamma told us stories of when they were children at home. She said once her parents (J.S.R. and Lou L.) went to the country store and left her (Arlena) and Uncle Roy alone and he got the gun, a .22 rifle, and shot the end of his finger off (the ring finger of the left hand to the first joint). She tied it up with a rag and took care of it. They didn't tell their parents; he just told them he hurt his finger. Grandfather Plemmons was a very strict man and made his children work on the farm. Uncle Roy hated farm work, and when he was sixteen, he swung a freight train and ran away from home. He never came back. He use to write Mamma (Arlena) when I was a little girl. He went to South America and worked in oil fields. Then he joined the army in World War I. I never heard him talk of the war. Few returning soldiers talk of the war. His brother, Charles Herman, was in France during WWI. He contacted TB and was in the Oteen, North Carolina Hospital from 1918-1920. But he survived, and Uncle Herman's widow, Aunt Ada, still lives over in Sweet Water, Tennessee, alone on their farm. She's ninety years old. I haven't seen her for two years, but I talk to her daughter, Betty, sometimes. She lives here in Roane County. Uncle Roy came to our house in the late 40's. I believe it was 1947. He was sick. He went to bed at Mamma's (Arlena's) house, and our family doctor had us take him to a hospital in Knoxville where they removed one half of a lung. He came back and seemed well for a while. Then in 1951 he got down sick again, and our family doctor had us take him to Upland Sanitarium out at Pleasant Hill, Tennessee. He had active TB germs again. He was at Upland's for 18 months to 2 years. Then I took him to the Veteran's Hospital at Mountain Home, Tennessee up near Johnson City. He lived there from 1953 until 1960, and died of heart disease. He had told me to bury him with his buddies there at the National Cemetery, so we did. This was the last week in December 1960. (He died 26 December, 1960.) Two of your brothers came to the funeral. They were young and so nice. They spent the night at my brother Paul's house. I go to Uncle Roy's grave when I'm in that area. He is not forgotten. I loved Uncle Roy. He was a fun person. He laughed and told us funny things. He had no enemies. Uncle Roy had a happy disposition. His worst fault was smoking cigarettes. None of us can stand smoke. I'm sure the smoke weakened his lungs and heart. So many years he used tobacco. That's what killed my brother, Paul, also. Uncle Roy told us of going to his daughter's house, your mother (Nora). There were children there. He came from there up here to Mamma's house. (January 7, 1989) Uncle Roy came to our house in 1950 and was sick. We took him to the doctor, and he had TB. My doctor told me I'd have to take him to the sanitarium. I took him to Upland's Sanitarium which is located about 40 miles from Rockwood out on Cumberland Mountain. He stayed there until 1953, and they told him he was cured but needed to be in a hospital or rest home. So I took him to Mountain Home, a government hospital for veterans that is near Johnson City, Tennessee in upper east Tennessee. He lived seven years there and died of heart failure. I visited Uncle Roy often, and I still visit his grave when I go to Johnson City. He told me to bury him with his buddies in the National Cemetery, and I did. Two of your brothers came up to the funeral and spent the night at my brother Paul's house. Paul died. Paul died in May of 1979. When your two brothers were here, they copied all the Plemmons Bible information as far as names and dates. I have the old family Bible here at my house now. It has Grandfather's handwriting where he wrote down his and Grandmother's wedding, etc., then names of all their children. (March 13, 1989) Mamma use to tell me so many happenings of her family when she was young. She told me of the time Uncle Roy shot the end of his finger off. Their parents told them to stay home and not to touch the rifle while they went to trade. As soon as they were out of sight, Uncle Roy got the rifle down off the rack and was looking it over and he shot his finger, the one on the left hand next to the little finger - first joint off. It bled so, and Mamma wrapped it up. It quit bleeding before they came back, and he had it all tied up and made Mamma promise not to tell. The parents asked him what was wrong with his finger. He said he hurt it. Mamma took care of it and dressed it until it was well. from Our Blalock Beginnings
by Dorothy Mae Blalock Hadley |