b. September 7, 1912 Hamilton, Texas d. January 6, 2000 Waco, Texas
Vergie Lee Butler's parents were Alonzo and Laura Low Butler. Vergie was born at Hamilton, Texas and she was the youngest daughter, and next to the youngest child. Her sisters were Velma Butler Richardson, Mary Butler Tracy, and Lillie Butler Smith. Her brothers were Ambrie, Irving, Quincy, and Alba Butler. Alonzo Butler had been a horsebreaker and horsetrainer for several different ranches. He became a sharecropper after getting his back hurt while breaking horses. Vergie's grandparents were James Butler and Sarah Hill Butler and Fielding Low and Mary Jane Luce Allen Low. Not a lot is known about James Butler, but Sarah Hill's father was Josiah Hill and he was from North Carolina. Fielding Low, a Confederate soldier, was born in Tennessee and his wife, Mary Jane Luce, was born on the Old Black River, Missiouri. Her first husband was named Ambrose Allen, and he died just shortly after the Civil War. It is said that Mary Jane Luce was Cherokee. Vergie did not inherit any Cherokee features from her mother's family. Vergie was very light skinned, reddish blonde, and blue eyed.
Vergie went to the 11th grade in school, as was customary in her day. Her father became ill and all the girls that were still at home, had to go to work to support the family. Velma was married and Mary married shortly afterwards, so Lillie and Vergie became the wage earners. They worked in a candy factory and picked out nuts all day. Lillie married, but continued to bring part of her paycheck to her mother. Alba, the youngest son, was still in school, and he helped out with odd jobs.
The family moved a lot during the years before Alonzo's infirmirmy. They lived at Froze, near Mart, and on the Williams Creek. They had to move from near Williams Creek, due to the mosquitos. The family had continued sickness and they thought it was due to the mosquitos. They lived in East Waco and Alonzo grew a large garden to supplement the food, and to sell for profit. The girls all helped in the garden.
They attended Spring Street Church. Vergie met Arthur Argabright at Spring Street Church. They were married in 1933.
Their first home was in Belle's Hills in Waco. They moved to Chalk Bluff, back to Waco, then to Billington, to Watt, then to Bellmead, to Chalf Bluff area again, and lastly, Mart, Texas.
Vergie and Arthur lost their first child, a son. Arthur Glenn was born in 1936, Retha Lanelle in 1940, Linda in 1946, and Jenny in 1949.
Their grandchildren include: Donald Bryan Davis Terry Diane Davis Snook Steven Edward Davis Glenice Joyce Argabright Whitaker Randall Don Argabright Melea Lann Williams Benton Helissa Frances Eicholtz Grover Geoffrey Adair Burns Alison Meredith Burns Shaw Troy Earl Martin Heath Lee Martin Rachel Elizabeth Martin
At this time, there are 20 great grandchildren.
Vergie was a champion quilter. She won many awards for her quilting and was proud of winning a blue ribbon at the Heart of Texas Fair in Waco. She was also a champion at making jelly and jams. She won awards for this, also. She ran the Watt Store for many years, raised chickens and eggs, raised vegetables, held the elections, played piano for the Watt Baptist Church, and also worked in Vacation Bible School. She was a room mother for all her children's classes. She was always busy.
After moving from Watt to Waco, she worked for Fab Knit, making athletic jackets.
Vergie and Arthur retired to Mart. After his death, she moved to St Catherine's Retirement Home in Waco. St Catherine's is located on a hill and she could look out over Waco. She could see General Tire and Rubber Plant and could see a water tower at the Katy Railroad yard. She could see the water tower at Bellmead and Northcrest. She could also see the Christmas lights on top of the Alico Building on 4th Street. She enjoyed watching out the windows and looking at Waco.
At the end, she lost her sight, but she still liked to go the window and ask us to look for her. When she realized she had Alzheimer's, she asked her family to protect her from prying eyes. She said, "I have lived all my life with dignity, and I don't want this disease to rob me of my good name." She asked that we keep up on the latest developments, and she hoped that in her lifetime there would be a cure. We always told her it was just right around the corner. Unfortunately, it did not happen in her lifetime.
Her favorite song was, An Old Rugged Cross. She loved poetry and could recite many of the classics. She loved to read, sew, crochet, and to study the Bible. She liked to bake, cook big family meals, and have family get togethers. She liked to play dominoes. She was good in math. And I was always amazed at the things she knew. She knew how to whistle on a blade of grass and she knew a lot about stars. She could tell the weather by the sky. She knew a lot of home remedies. She was known for her apple pies.
Vergie died January 6, 2000 in Waco, Texas and is buried at Rosemound Cemetery.
Tommy and Vergie, Christmas 1999
Vergie admires Linda's Christmas shirt
