 Rufus Evans McAfee, the son of Hugh Embury
& Elizabeth Rice "Bettie" (Groves) McAfee, was born February
22, 1901 at Emmett, Navarro County, Texas. On April 10, 1927 in
Navarro County, he married Gladyce Helen Littlejohn, the daughter of
Henry G. and Mary (Thompson) Littlejohn on April 10, 1927 at Frost,
Navarro Co., TX.
Rufus was an educator for 37 years. He
taught at Penelope for 17 years. He also served as school
superintendent at Irene. He was Penelope superintendent 18 years
and coached the girls basket ball team at
Blooming Grove. He coached the Penelope girls to the state basketball championship in 1954 and four fourth place state
finishes. He retired after 31 years.
Gladyes was a teacher and former principal of Covington High School.
Rufus died on March 15, 1986 in a Hillsboro
Hospital. Gladyce died on March 1, 1997 at Emmett in the home
of her daughter, Pat Stroder. Rufus and Gladyce are buried at the Prairie
Grove Cemetery at Emmett, Navarro Co., TX.
PENELOPE COACH IS FORMER RESIDENT OF EMMETT COMMUNITY
Penelope Wolverines, Hill county and district girls’
basketball champions are coached by R. E. McAfee, veteran school
executive and coach, a native and former resident of Emmett, Navarro
county.
The Wolverines have been defeated only once in the 34 games played
this season. Mesquite High upset the Penelope sextette in the only
setback of the year.
Penelope has carried off top honors in six tournaments. That
combination will play the Hillsboro Junior College Squaws in a
benefit game Tuesday night in Hillsboro.
The team has been entered in the state high school girls’
basketball league of Texas tournament in Hillsboro, March 12-15.
Notes:
Rufus McAfee Honored by
Ex-Students
Rufus E. McAfee, well known in school and athletic circles over central
Texas, was honored by ex-students at the Penelope School homecoming on
June 14. He was superintendent of the school from 1943 to 1961.
McAfee is known as a most successful girl basketball coach, with teams
playing in state finals in 1947, 1953 and 1956. His team won the state
championship in 1953.
He was presented a basketball which had been autographed by many of his
former players.
Notes:
- Submitted by Karen Rost
- The Blooming Grove Times - July 1, 1970
 |
OBITUARY
R. E. McAfee
HILLSBORO - R. E. McAfee, 85, of Frost, formerly of Hillsboro, died Saturday at
a Hillsboro hospital. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at
Emmett Baptist Church
in Emmett, the Rev. Mike Lochrer officiating. Burial will be at Emmett Cemetery.
Mr. McAfee was born Feb 22 1901 in Emmett, son of Hugh and Elizabeth Groves
McAfee. He was married to Gladyce Littlejohn on April 10, 1927, at Frost.
He taught school for 37 years, 17 in Penelope. He also served as school
superintendent at Irene and as a coach at Blooming Grove.
He was a member of the Frost Methodist Church in Hillsboro.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Pat Stroder of Emmett and Mrs.
Mary Hill of Dallas; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Edens Funeral Home of Hillsboro is in charge of arrangements. |
FUNERAL HOME PROGRAM
IN MEMORY OF R. E. McAfee 1901-1986
Mr. R. E. McAfee, 85, of Frost died Saturday morning, March 15, at a Hillsboro
hospital. He was born February 22, 1901 in Emmett, Texas, the son of Hugh Embury
and Elizabeth Groves McAfee. He was in the teaching profession 37 years,
teaching in Penelope for 17 years, as a coach in Blooming Grove, and was a
former Superintendent in Irene. He married Gladyce Littlejohn April 10, 1927 in
Frost. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hillsboro.
Survivors include: his wife, Gladyce McAfee of Emmett; two daughters, Mrs. Pat
Stroder of Emmett, and Mrs. Mary Hill and son-in-law, Jerry, of Dallas; six
grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services were held Sunday, March 16, at 3:00 p.m. at the Emmett Baptist
Church with Rev. Mike Loehrer officiating. Interment was at the
Emmett Cemetery.
Pallbearers were: Paul L. Rappe, Kenneth Stroder, Kris K. Moore, L. T. Melton,
Mica W. Stroder, and Basil Daughenbaugh.
Edens Funeral Home in Hillsboro was in charge of services.
Edens Funeral Home 2495 Corsicana Highway, Hillsboro, Texas 582-8404
 |
OBITUARY Gladyce McAfee Funeral services where held in Emmett Sunday
for long-time Texas public school teacher, Gladyce McAfee who passes
away at the home of her daughter, Pat Stroder of Emmett after a
lengthy illness. Born Jan. 21, 1907, in Mertens, Gladyce
Littlejohn married Rufus McAfee of Emmett in 1927. Her teaching
career spanned almost four decades primarily in the following schools:
Irene, Emmett, Penelope and Covington. Graveside services
were held at 4 p.m. and she was buried beside her husband in the
Emmett Cemetery. Memorial service were later conducted at the
Emmett Baptist Church at 6 p.m. by her grandson, Matt Stroder,
assisted by McAfee Daniels and Mike Loehrer. She is survived
by two daughters, Pat Stroder of Emmett and Mary Hill of Wichita
Falls; a brother Chrles Littlejohn of Austin; a sister, Reva Moore of
Emmett; six grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Griffin Roughton Funeral Home. |
Prairie
Grove Cemetery, Emmett, Navarro County,
TX
Photo by
Edward L. Williams
|
Navarro County TXGenWeb