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Husband:
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HARRY HALSELL PORTWOOD
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Born:
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April 03, 1903
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in:
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DECATUR, WISE CO., TEXAS USA
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Died:
|
1990
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in:
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DALLAS, DALLAS CO., TEXAS USA
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Relationship with Father:
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WILLIAM HARLEDGE PORTWOOD - Natural
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Relationship with Mother:
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DOTTIE SUNDAY CARPENTER - Natural
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Reference number:
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270
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CLUBS:
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NO CLUBS JUST BARS
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COMPANIES:
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PORTWOOD RANCH & COMPANY, 71,000 arces of NW Texas
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Education:
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GOT THROUGH 3RD GRADE, THE REST WAS JUST SADDLE-SMARTS
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Friends:
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NO FRIENDS JUST BUSINESS CONNECTIONS
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HOBBIES:
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USED TO HANDPAINT ART GLASS & CHINA BEFORE HIS HAND WAS RUINED IN A KNIFE FIGHT
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IN MEMORIAM:
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NAMED AFTER WESTERN WRITER HARRY HALSELL
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Occupation:
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RANCHER, FARMER, LANDLORD, OILMAN
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PETS:
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KING 3 BARS WAS HIS FAVORITE HORSE,BONNIE WAS HIS POODLE-CHILD
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POLITICAL SER:
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BUYING LOCAL COUNTY JUDGES
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SPORTS:
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SCREWING WITH HIS KIDS AND GRANDKIDS HEADS
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Medical
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Cause of death:
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BLUNT TRAUMA TO THE HEAD BROUGHT ON BY SLIPPING IN KITCHEN
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Medical Information:
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PARALIZED RIGHT HAND DUE TO BARROOM KNIFE FIGHT OVER WHORE, HIS HAND WAS STABBED TO TABLETOP IN DEPRESSION ERA SPEAK EASY IN MINERAL WELLS, TX
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Notes
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IN THE EARLY 1920'S IN SEYMOUR, TEXAS A BLACK MAN WAS ACCUSED OF THE RAPE AND BEATING OF A WHITE WOMAN. HE WAS CAPTURED AND PUT IN THE LOCAL JAIL. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER HARRY AND HIS BROTHER PAUL WERE IN TOWN WHEN A MOB PULLED THE MAN FROM THE JAIL AND HUNG HIM FROM THE CORNER OF A STOREFRONT AWNING. BECAUSE THE MAN WAS SIMPLY PULLED UP TO MEET HIS DEATH IT WAS A SLOW CHOKING PROCESS. ACCORDING TO HARRY SOME OF THE MEN PRESENT DREW THEIR PISTOLS AND BEGAN TO SHOOT THE KICKING BODY. SOMEBODY IN THE DRUNKEN CROWD THEN THREW GASOLINE ON THE STILL STRUGGLING MAN AND SET HIM ABLAZE. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE STORE AND BEFORE THEY KNEW IT THREE BUSINESS' WERE BURNING.
ON APRIL 10, 1979 A DOUBLE TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH WICHITA FALLS CAUSING $300,000,000 IN DAMAGES AND KILLING 55. HARRY WAS IN SIKES CENTER NEAR HIS HOME ON CHASE ST. WHEN THE SHOPPING MALL WAS BLOWN APART. HE WAS CITED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR HIS COOL HEADED ACTIONS WHICH ARE CREDITED WITH HELPING TO SAVE LIVES AND PREVENT WHOLESALE PANIC. TWISTERS WERE NOTHING NEW TO HIM HOWEVER, IN THE SUMMER OF 1960 HE, MARY HELEN, LEE ANN, HELEN JANE, AND THEIR MAID LOUIZA DOVE UNDER BEDS AND TABLES AS A TORNADO TOOK THE ROOF OFF THE MAIN HOUSE AT ROUND TIMBERS. HELEN JANE WOULD HAVE CLOSE BRUSHES WITH THEM TWICE MORE IN HER LIFE. IN THE SPRING OF 1974 SHE, JAY AND HARRY KNOWLES WERE ATTENDING A COMICBOOK CONVENTION IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA WHEN A TORNADO CAME BEARING DOWN ON THEIR HOTEL CAUSING MUCH DAMAGE ALONG THE INTERSTATE. THEY WATCHED HOUSES FLY AWAY AS DEALERS RAN FOR THE HOTEL VAULT WITH THEIR RARER COMICS. HELEN AND FAMILY WOULD HAVE ANOTHER CLOSE CALL ON AUGUST 10, 1980 WHEN A TWISTER SPAWNED BY HURRICANE ALLEN WENT DOWN 48TH STREET IN AUSTIN DESTROYING HOUSES, CHURCHES, AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AIRCRAFT. THEY WERE IN THEIR HOUSE ON 46TH WATCHING " THE CHAMP " ON TV, UNAWARE OF THE NEARBY DANGER. A TORNADO HAD SUCKED A LARGE LIVE OAK FROM JAY'S BACKYARD IN 1967 AS A RESULT OF A HURRICANE CARLA. JAY'S FATHER, JAY W. KNOWLES, HAD BEEN PLAYING IN A SOFTBALL TOURAMENT IN WACO, TEXAS ON MAY 11, 1953 WHEN TEXAS' WORSE KILLER TORNADO STRUCK, KILLING 114 PEOPLE. HIS TEAM'S HOTEL WAS THE ONLY STRUCTURE LEFT STANDING IN A SEVERAL BLOCK RADIUS AND THE BALLCLUB EVEN WON THEIR GAME.DROPPING BACK EVEN FURTHER INTO OUR FAMILY'S HISTORY WE FIND THE LEGENDARY BIRTHRIGHT TORNADO OF 1907. SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS WERE LUCKY TO ESCAPE THAT FATEFUL DAY WITH THEIR LIVES. THAT TORNADO 1ST DIPPED DOWN IN WHO'D A THOUGH IT, TEXAS A SHORT DISTANCE FROM TIRA WERE DOZENS OF OUR KIN LIVED. IT TORE A DEADLY PATH TO CANEY WERE STILL MORE RELATIVES RESIDED, AND THEN IT BOREDOWN ON JEFF LINDLEY & SOME OF HIS FARMHANDS IN A WAGON OUT ON THE ROAD TO BIRTHRIGHT. THEY TOOK SHELTER IN A BARN WHICH WAS TORN APART. ALL OF THE MEN SURVIVED, BUT ONE OF THEIR MULES WAS KILLED BY A FLYING BEAM. THE POWERFUL TWISTER THEN RIPPED INTO BIRTHRIGHT HOME OF MANY FAMILIES RELATED TO US. MANY DIED THAT DAY AND THE TOWN WAS LAID WASTE, BUT LUCK WAS ON OUR FAMILY'S SIDE AND WE LOST NOT A SINGLE KINSMAN. IN 1997 A LEVEL 5 (THE MOST POWERFUL) TORNADO ERASED JARRELL FROM THE MAP AND 40 DIED, IT ROSE BACK INTO THE SKY AND HEADED SOUTH DOWN I 35 TOWARD AUSTIN, NEWS REPORTS SPOTTED IT SNAKING THROUGH THE SKY OVER N. LAMAR NEAR JAY, HARRY, & DANNIE'S HOME. BUT IT STAYED AIRBORN AND TURNED WEST AT 183 A BLOCK NORTH OF THE KNOWLES HOUSE. IT TOUCHED DOWN 1 1/2 MILES AWAY IN CEDAR PARK AND DISTROYED IT'S DOWNTOWN. IT CLIMBED BACK INTO THE CLOUDS, TURNED SOUTH AND HEADED OVER LAKE TRAVIS RAINING CLOTHES, BOOKS, AND THOUSANDS OF VIDEO TAPES OVER THE COUNTYSIDE. THE DEADLY STORM DESENDED A FINAL FATAL TIME JUST SOUTH OF THE LAKEWIPINGOUT ANOTHER HILLCOUNTRY COMMUNITY.
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Marriage Information
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Name:
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MARY HELEN PAGE
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Married:
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September 07, 1928
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Beginning status:
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Married
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CHANNING, HARTLEY CO., TEXAS USA
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Marriage Notes
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Wife:
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MARY HELEN PAGE
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Born:
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October 28, 1912
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in:
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UMBERGER, RANDALL CO., TEXAS USA
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Died:
|
1987
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in:
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WICHITA FALLS, WICHITA CO., TEXAS USA
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Relationship with Father:
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ELZA ALLAN PAGE - Natural
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Relationship with Mother:
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ESTER O'BRIEN - Natural
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Reference number:
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271
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Education:
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8TH GRADE GRAD.
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|
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Medical
|
|
Cause of death:
|
COMPLICATIONS CAUSED BY A STROKE THAT FROZE HALF HER BRAIN
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Notes
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IN 1969 HELEN PULLED HER PISTOL AND FIRED TWO SHOTS AT THE TEENAGED NIECE OF HER BROTHER-IN-LAW DON BUCKALEW WHILE SEATED BEHIND THE WHEEL OF HER CADDIE IN DOWNTOWN OLNEY, TEXAS.
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Child:
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HELEN LEE PORTWOOD
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Born:
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September 13, 1929
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in:
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ROUND TIMBERS, TEXAS USA
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Relationship with Father:
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HARRY HALSELL PORTWOOD - Natural
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Relationship with Mother:
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MARY HELEN PAGE - Natural
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Reference number:
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272
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COMPANIES:
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PORTWOOD RANCH & COMPANY,
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Education:
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FRESHMAN YEAR AT TCU IN ART
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Friends:
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THENA MAE FARR, MARIE TERI NORA
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HOBBIES:
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ART
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Occupation:
|
RANCH & OIL INTERESTS
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SPORTS:
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PROFESSION RODEO TRICK RIDING
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Medical
|
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Medical Information:
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LESBIAN
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Notes
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THENA MAE FARR, 4 TIMES MISS SEYMOUR AND FOUNDER OF THE TRI STATE ALL GIRL RODEO IN 1947, WAS THE COWGIRL BEAUTY THAT SEDUCED HELEN LEE TO THE LESBIAN LIFESTYLE. THEY REMAINED OFF & ON AGAIN LOVERS-FRIENDS UNTIL FARR'S DEATH IN 1985. HELEN LEE WAS A FEATURED PERFORMER WITH THE SHOW FROM 1947- 1951, TAKING PART IN ABOUT 30 OF THE RODEOS A YEAR DURING THAT TIME. (see JERRY ANN PORTWOOD FOR MORE ON THIS)
HELEN LEE TRIED TO SHOOT HER DADDY (HARRY) IN 1969 ON CEDAR ELM STREET IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT THE FIESTY OLDTIME BARROOM FIGHTER BLOCKED THE SHOT FROM HER 30-30 SADDLE RIFLE WITH AN OAK COFFEE TABLE IN HELEN LEE'S LIVING ROOM. AT THE TIME D. JAY BROOKRESON AND HIS BROTHER CHARLIE, LEE ANN, AND D. JAY'S LOVER FITO PENA LIVED WITH HER. LATER THAT NIGHT HELEN JANE BROUGHT HER BOYFRIEND JAY KNOWLES OVER TO MEET HER AUNT. IT WAS A VERY STRANGE EVENING, TO SAY THE LEAST. JAY'S PARENTS (JAY W. & MILDRED) LIVED ONE BLOCK NORTH AND 2 BLOCKS EAST OF HELEN LEE ON JANET LEE DRIVE. EARLIER AT DINNER (ABOUT THE TIME OF THE SHOOT-OUT) JAY HAD INFORMED HIS PARENTS OF HIS & HELEN'S ENGAGEMENT. HELEN JANE & JAY USED THE BULLET SCARRED COFFEE TABLE IN THEIR HOME IN AUSTIN FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
WITHIN WEEKS HELEN LEE MOVED OUT OF THE S.A. HOUSE (IT'S TITLE WAS IN OLD HARRY'S NAME) TO AUSTIN. SHE GAVE HELEN JANE & JAY, WHO WERE LIVING TOGETHER, THE BULLET RIDDLED TABLE FOR THEIR APARTMENT ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE. SHE BECAME LOVERS WITH MARIE TERRI NORA, A BULL-DYKE IN THE AUSTIN UNDERWORLD WHO MANAGED A STRING OF GAY BARS FOR BATCO CORP., A MAFIA FRONT USED TO LAUNDER DRUG MONEY. IT WAS THROUGH THIS CONNECTION THAT JAY & HELEN JANE WOULD GET THEIR 1ST LONG TERM NIGHTCLUB GIG FOR THEIR MIND'S I LIGHTSHOW AND THEIR 1ST COMMERCIAL FILM PRODUCTION CONTRACTS.
AFTER HELEN LEE'S BREAKUP WITH MARIE A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER SHE WOULD PACKUP LEE ANN AND RUNAWAY TO THE VILLAGE IN NEW YORK CITY. HARRY PORTWOOD HIRED SOME PINKERTON DETECTIVES WHO TRACKED HER DOWN AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. HE PULLED SOME STRINGS WITH OLD BUDDYS IN THE TEXAS RANGERS AND HAD HER BROUGHT BACK TO TEXAS IN CHAINS AND A STRAITJACKET. HE HAD HER COMMITTED TO THE STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL AND HAD HER UNDERGO A SERIES OF ELECTRIC SHOCK TREATMENTS. HELEN LEE WAS RELEASED AFTER A PAINFUL BUT SHORT TIME, BUT SHE COULD NEVER LIVE OFF PORTWOOD PROPERTY AGAIN. SHE LIVED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM HARRY AND HER SISTER AT THE ROUND TIMBERS COMPOUND. SHE WOULD LATER LIVE IN TOTAL ISOLATION OUT ON THE REMOTE BLOCH RANCH AND FINIALY SHE WOULD MOVE IN WITH HER AUNT DANNIE AT THE OLD FAMILY HOUSE IN SEYMOUR WERE SHE STAYED UNTIL HER DADDY DIED. SHE THEN MOVED INTO HIS HOUSE ON CHASE STREET IN WICHITA FALLS.
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Marriage Information
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|
|
Name:
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BILL EMERSON
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Beginning status:
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Married
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Marriage Notes
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Child:
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PAULA ANN PORTWOOD
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Born:
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December 11, 1936
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in:
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WICHITA FALLS, WICHITA CO., TEXAS USA
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Died:
|
March 08, 2000
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in:
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Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas USA
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Relationship with Father:
|
HARRY HALSELL PORTWOOD - Natural
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Relationship with Mother:
|
MARY HELEN PAGE - Natural
|
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Reference number:
|
267
|
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Burial:
|
March 11, 2000
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in:
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Seymour, Baylor County, Texas
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COMPANIES:
|
PORTWOOD RANCH & COMPANY,
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Education:
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FINISHED 9TH GRADE, RECEIVED GED
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HOBBIES:
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FISHING
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Occupation:
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RED WINE ABSTRACT COMPANY
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PETS:
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FOLLOWING POODLES: BABY, WIMPY, COCO MURPHY, COQUETTE,
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|
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Medical
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|
Height:
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4 ft. 10 in.
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Weight:
|
98 lb. 0 oz.
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Cause of death:
|
CANCER OF THE Pancreaus
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|
Medical Information:
|
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENT, GRAN MAL EPILIPSY, EMPHASEAMA, MANIC DEPRESSION, INSTITUTIONALIZED AT AGE 52
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Notes
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ORAL FAMILY HISTORY REALLY GETS A WORKOUT WHEN YOU TALK TO PAULA. HERE ARE SEVERAL OF HER STORIES. THE READER SHOULD REMEMBER THAT NO MATTER HOW FAR-FETCHED, ORAL STORIES USUALLY HAVE SOME BASIS IN FACT. ALMOST ALL THESE STORIES WERE RELATED TO THE WRITER IN THE EARLY 1970'S LONG BEFORE PAULA WAS TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED.
HER FATHER SAVED HER LIFE WHEN HER MOTHER AND SISTER TRIED TO FLUSH HER DOWN A TOILET WHEN SHE WAS BORN.
HELEN JANE WAS THE RESULT OF BEING RAPED AT HER 13TH BIRTHDAY PARTY.
IN 1956 ELVIS PLAYED A DANCE IN SEYMOUR, TEXAS, PICKED UP PAULA AND ENTERTAINED HER AND HELEN JANE IN HIS MOTEL ROOM ALL NIGHT, BOUNCING THE 5 YEAR OLD HELEN ON HIS KNEE TIL SHE FELL TO SLEEP IN HIS ARMS.
SAMMIE DAVIS JR. INSULTED PAULA AT A PARTY IN DALLAS' TURTLECREEK AREA, SO PAULA SMASHED A BEER BOTTLE AGAINST HIS HEAD COSTING HIM HIS EYE.
A MAFIA UNDERLING TRIED TO TAKE PAULA AGAINST HER WILL AND DALLAS MOB BOSS BENNIE BINYON HAD HIM BLOWNUP WHEN HE OPENED HIS MAIL BOX ONE MORNING.
PAULA TOOK HELEN JANE AGAINST HARRY PORTWOOD'S WISHES TO A 50'S FORT WORTH RODEO. WHEN THEY RETURNED 2 DAYS LATER HER HOUSE HAD BEEN PICKED UP AND MOVED SEVERAL MILES TO HARRY'S FRONT YARD WHERE HE COULD KEEP AN EYE ON THEM. THE HOUSE SITS THERE TODAY.
PAULA WAS THREATING TO MARRY A 4TH RATE RODEO COWBOY THAT HARRY STRONGLY DISAPPROVED OF, THE MAN DISAPPEARED IN THE BRAZOS RIVER QUICKSANDS OF THE ROUND TIMBERS RANCH.
CUT OFF FROM ANY FAMILY MONEY PAULA AND HER LOVER, DANNY, ROBBED A MAFIA POKER PARTY IN ARIZONA OF $10,000 IN THE LATE 1950'S. WHILE PAULA HID OUT WITH THE MONEY IN NOGALES, MEXICO THE MOB TRACKED DOWN DANNY AND CUT HIM IN HALF WITH MACHINEGUN FIRE. BENNIE BINYON PUT PAULA UNDER HIS PROTECTION.
AFTER AN ARGUMENT WITH HER FATHER ONE OF HER LOVERS DIED WHEN THE LUGS FELL OFF ALL FOUR WHEELS OF HIS TRUCK WHILE IT WAS LOADED DOWN WITH PORTWOOD HAY.
SHE WAS ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S RIDING DOUBLE IN " GIANT " AND SHE HAD A FLING WITH JAMES DEAN IN MARFA, TEXAS.
JOHN WAYNE TRIED TO COMEON TO PAULA WHILE SHE WAS PLAYING A MEXICAN WHORE IN THE FILM " THE ALAMO ".
SHE MADE IT WITH LAURENCE HARVEY WHILE FILMING " THE ALAMO ". HE COULD ONLY "PERFORM" AFTER SHE WHIPPED HIM WITH A RIDING CROP.
HER SISTER AND A ONE LEGGED EX-RODEO QUEEN SEDUCED HER TO THE SAPPHIC ARTS.
QUANNAH PARKER GOLD IS BURIED ON THE RANCH.. ... JESSE JAMES GOLD IS BURIED ON THE RANCH..... BONNIE AND CLYDE'S TREASURE IS BURIED ON THE RANCH..... DOZENS OF INDIANS ARE BURIED ON THE RANCH..... DINOSAURS ARE BURIED ON THE RANCH..... BOYFRIENDS OF PAULA ARE BURIED ON THE RANCH.
ALLEN GINSBURG WROTE POETRY TO PAULA..... JACK KEROUAC WROTE STORIES FOR PAULA IN MEXICO...... WILLIAM BURROUGHS ATTENDED A BEATNIK FAGGOT PARTY WITH PAULA.
PAULA'S STEPSON JAY TRIED TO KILL HER ON THE DAY OF HIS FATHER'S BURIAL BY SLIPPING 14 HITS OF LSD INTO HER HAMBURGER.
HER DAUGHTER HELEN JANE WAS REALLY TWINS, ONE GOOD AND ONE EVIL. THE BAD HELEN EVENTUALLY KILLED AND DISMEMBERED THE NICE HELEN FEEDING HER TO THE HOGS.
HELEN JANE TRIED TO BEAT HER TO DEATH..... HELEN JANE TRIED TO SHOOT HER..... HELEN JANE TRIED TO POISON HER, OR RATHER THE EVIL TWIN DID.
WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT. IF IT'S ALL TRUE, IT GREAT STUFF, THE STUFF OF LEGEND..... IF IT'S NOT..... WELL, IT'S STILL GREAT BULL!
IN 1987 PAULA ENGAGED IN A PROLONGED GUNFIGHT WITH HER DAUGHTER HELEN JANE OUT AT THE ROUND TIMBERS RANCH COMPOUND. THE TWO WOMEN EACH STOOD IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSES ABOUT 50 YARDS APART AND EMPTIED THEIR RESPECTIVE 357 MAG. PISTOLS AT EACH OTHER. HARRY & DANNIE KNOWLES WITNESSED THE GUN PLAY FROM BEHIND A LARGE ROLL OF CARPET IN HELEN JANE"S GARAGE. THE YEAR BEFORE PAULA HAD ENTERED INTO A KNOCK DOWN DRAG OUT BRAWL WITH HER DAUGHTER IN PAULA"S LIVINGROOM, RESULTING IN PAULA RECEIVING 3 BROKEN RIBS AND A BRUISED LAYRIX. THIS BATTLE OCCURRED IN FRONT OF A 5 YEAR OLD DANNIE.
SOME DEFINING FILM MOMENTS:
"TULSA" 1940'S
"GIANT" 1950'S
"HUD" 1960'S
"LASTPICTURE SHOW" 1971
"LONE STAR" 1996
"HUSH,HUSH,SWEET CHARLOTTE" 1960'S
"WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE" 1960'S
"LOST WEEKEND"
"DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES"
"THE SNAKE PIT" 1940'S
"SHOCK CORRIDOR" 1963
"WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?" 1966
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|
Marriage Information
|
|
|
Name:
|
JACK F. (BUD) HARRISON
|
|
Married:
|
January 30, 1950
|
|
Beginning status:
|
Unknown
|
|
CIUDAD ACUNA, MEXICO
|
|
Ending status:
|
Annulment
|
|
seyMOUR, TEXAS USA
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|
|
Marriage Notes
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