James O'Ree Munnerlyn
( 23 Oct 1901 - 31 Aug 1991)

James O'Ree Munnerlyn was born in Patroon, Texas, 23 October, 1901 the son of Benjamin Holt Munnerlyn (b. 1865) and Mary Eugene Miller. James went by his middle name O'Ree.  His middle name was meant to be spelled Horry, for either Horry County South Carolina, or one of the Horrys in the Revolutionary War. At the time his name was given, the spelling of Horry was not known, so it became O'Ree. O'Ree grew up in a large family the eldest son of ten children, and the second eldest child. Although O'Ree didn't graduate from high school, he attended classes at a Tyler Commercial College, graduating from that institution in 1922.   September 29, 1924 he went to work for as a maintenance man for Benton, one of United Gas's forerunning organizations. Later that same year he moved to Latex as a truck truck driver for Magnolia Gas Company and remained there until 1926. From 1926 through 1930 he was engaged in construction work at Logansprot, Mineola, Sarepta, and Magasco, and in 1930 he became compressor station engineer at Waskom. Magnolia Gas Company was acquired by United Gas Company, which was also about the time O'Ree changed from truck driving to working in compressor pump stations for the gas company. His family called his occupation a stationary engineer. On June 26, 1928, O'Ree married Lucille Woolen. O'Ree and Lucille lived in many small east Texas towns while he worked for the gas company.  After retiring in 1966 from United Gas Company which was about the time the gas company was acquired by Pennzoil, O'Ree finally made his home in Center, Texas. O'Ree and Lucille had two sons, James Harmon and Charles Ray, and a total of six grandsons and one granddaughter. He was a member of the Methodist church, and a Mason. O'Ree enjoyed his favorite past time gardening where he provided vegetables to many in his neighborhood. O'Ree worked his garden until his death in 1991.  O'Ree is buried in Oaklawn Cemetery in Center, Texas.  

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Descendant Relation:
James Sr.>Loftis Redlee>Thomas Mixon>Benjamin Holt, Sr.>Benjamin Holt, Jr.>James O'Ree MUNNERLYN

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