Seventh Generation

3593. Hazel Louise TRAVIS was born on 28 January 1920 in Catawba County, North Carolina. She died on 31 October 1986 at the age of 66 in Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina.

Hazel Louise TRAVIS and Dewey Albert HOUSTON were married estimated 1939. Dewey Albert HOUSTON, son of Henry Thomas HOUSTON, was born on 4 November 1919 in Burke County, North Carolina. He died after a short period of rapidly declining health on 20 July 2004 at the age of 84 in Catawba Valley Medical Center, Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina. He was buried in Catawba Memorial Park, Hickory, Catawba County, NC. His obituary appeared as follows: CONOVER - When Conover resident Dewey Houston, 84, passed away Tuesday, July 20, 2004, at Catawba Valley Medical Center after a short period of rapidly declining health, his family lost the last member of his generation of Houstons. Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ lost a man whose contributions spanned 60 years, ranging from janitorial duties to the founding of a scholarship program. Twin-City Knitting Co. lost its founder and retired president, and friends lost their mentor and supporter. Born Nov. 4, 1919, in Burke County, North Carolina, Dewey Albert Houston was the youngest child of the late Henry T. and Vellor Dameron Houston. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother and sisters; Melvin Houston, Gladys Houston Eckard and Virginia Houston Deal Sigmon. Mr. Houston was also preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Hazel Travis Houston, as well as a son, Charles Dewey Houston, and a nephew, Dennis Houston. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Schronce York Houston of the home; three daughters and sons-in-laws, Nancy and Lester Dabbs of Ocoee, Fla., Janet and Jim Wilson of Conover and Pamela and Bill Kupetz of Harriman, Tenn.; three sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry Houston and Teresa of Providence, Neil and Cathy Houston of Conover and Joe Dale Sigmon Sr. and Judy Sigmon of Claremont; a daughter-in-law, Jeannie Killian Houston of Hickory; grandchildren, Leslie Dabbs Allen (Patrick), Joanna Dabbs Butler (Kevin), Natalie Dabbs Hatch (Wally), Jack Christian Dabbs II, Paula Houston Brawley (Allen), Sherri Wilson Elliott (Ken), Mark Kenneth Houston, Robert Allen Houston, Joe Dale Sigmon Jr., R. Lane Sigmon and Charity Sigmon; great-grandchildren, Zachary Allen, Jacob Allen, Emily Allen, Caroline Allen, Calla Butler, Garrett Butler, Kelton Butler, Delaney Hatch, Wilson Elliott, Hayes Elliott, Addison Elliott, Ciarra Parker, David Sigmon, Krysta Sigmon and Noah Sigmon; two nephews, Grady Deal and Howard Houston; three stepdaughters, Naomi York Smith of Hickory, Judy Kay York of Conover and Wanda Sue Ammerman of Conover; a stepson, R.J. York of Ohio; six stepgrandchildren; and 11 stepgreat-grandchildren. From growing up as a poor, hungry farm boy, whose formal schooling ended in mid-seventh grade, to becoming the founder and president of Twin-City Knitting Co. in Conover, N.C., is an achievement of such magnitude that few can believe it - a 20th century Horatio Alger story! A man with superior intellect, a strong work ethic, a desire to succeed, remarkable management skills and great confidence, Dewey Houston seized every opportunity to better himself and to build an abundant life for his family. His first place of employment was the Conover Glove Company, where he and his wife, Hazel, together earned 32 1/2 cents per hour. He also worked as Trinity Church’s custodian and later as a meat cutter in a grocery store, an insurance salesman and a diesel motor installer on landing barges. A tour of duty in the Merchant Marines during World War II took Mr. Houston to England, Africa, France and Belgium. Once again, to support his growing family, he took on extra jobs aboard the ship - cooking, cutting hair, painting and distributing linens. After several narrow escapes, the crew returned home in 1944. Upon returning to the Catawba County area after World War II, he found employment at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in the Hickory plant in 1947, where he began as a route salesman. Here he met a man, James Peden, who was to become his mentor and lifelong friend. Over the intervening years, Dewey’s loyalty and strong work ethic were recognized through promotions, culminating in his appointment as sales manager. In March 1961, Mr. Houston made the most daring move of his life. With a wife and six children, some nearing college-age to support, he and Wade Fox, also of Conover, became partners in a business venture - the establishment of Twin City Knitting Company. With a relatively small investment and at a time when other hosiery manufacturers were struggling, Mr. Houston combined his business acumen with his partner’s technical skill to make the business a success. Some of his many contributions include the construction of a residential cottage at the Abernethy Center retirement facility in Newton; the reopening of the hospital in Johnson County, Tenn.; the building of the Hazel T. Houston Cottage at Sipe’s Orchard Home as a home for girls, so that boys and girls from the same family could be cared for in the same facility; the establishment of endowment funds at various colleges and universities; and the Dewey A. Houston Scholarship Endowment Fund at Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ in Conover, where he is a member. Participation in government began with his election as mayor of Long View, N.C., in 1951, during which time a new fire station/city hall was built. He served on committees to elect state and national officials. Honors bestowed upon Mr. Houston included an opportunity by Gov. James B. Hunt to serve on OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the presentation by Gov. Hunt of the Order of the Longleaf Pine Award for outstanding contributions to the state of North Carolina, and his induction into the National Sporting Goods Association Hall of Fame in 1989. His legacy of hard work, loyalty and giving to his church and community will be sorely missed. His impact on his community is perhaps best expressed in a letter from a recent Dewey A. Houston Scholarship recipient, Lindsey Long: “After hearing how Mr. Houston started out his career, I am even more determined to enter medical school in two years. His life is such a testimonial as to how we need to give back to the community and church that has supported us in our efforts to succeed. Hopefully, I can someday return to Catawa County and the United Church of Christ congregation and do the same.” A service of remembrance will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 24, 2004, at Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ in Conover. The Rev. Merlin Batt will officiate and burial will follow in Catawba Memorial Park. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Pallbearers will be Joseph Lamb, Fran Davis and Paul Boyd, co-owners of Twin-City Knitting Co., and his grandsons, Jack Dabbs, Bob Houston and Mark Houston. Grady Deal and James Peden will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Drum Funeral Home & Cremations in Conover. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Sipe’s Orchard Home, 4421 County Home Road, Conover, N.C. 28613 or to Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, 217 Second Ave., NE, Conover, N.C. 28613. The Houston family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremations in Conover. [Hickory Daily Record - Wednesday, July 21, 2004]

Hazel Louise TRAVIS and Dewey Albert HOUSTON had the following children: