07/26/04

George McLarty

George was born in Nashville, Arkansas on Feb. 6^th, 1935.  He was the first of three sons born to Archie and Ila McLarty.  Later his brothers Tommey and Carroll were born into the family.

George attended elementary, middle school and high school in Nashville, Arkansas graduating in 1953.  He then went to Chicago for 6 months in Diesel/Electrical training and came to Houston, Texas on December 1, 1953 to work for Southern Pacific Railroad. 

He married Mary Louise Elzy on July 17^th, 1954 and they have resided in Houston since that time.  George attended the University of Houston for awhile, but decided that college was not for him.  His love was for the railroad.   He worked with Southern Pacific Railroad for 43 ½ years first as an electrician apprentice then as an electrician.  Later he became Mechanical/Electrical Supervisor and then Supervisor of Quality Control for 20 years.  He enjoyed riding locomotives to troubleshoot when problems arose, and purchasing locomotives at General Electric and General Motors manufacturing plants.   He retired from Southern Pacific Railroad on May 31, 1997.

Since that time he has devoted his time to home, family and church.  During their marriage George and Louise were privileged to have three wonderful sons.  From their marriages came 10 grandchildren, 9 boys and 1 girl.  George’s happiest moments have been spent with his family.  George has served as a deacon at West University Baptist Church for 23 years and has been an usher for many more years than that.  Since he retired he spends many hours at church assisting with money counting, completing mail-outs for church papers and various other items mailed out.  He and his wife are Directors of their Sunday School Class and he supervises the ushering at the 11:00 Sunday Morning Service.  

George enjoys going to their mobile home in Coldspring, Texas to relax as well as to work outdoors.  There are always leaves to rake and burn and grass to mow with his riding mower.  Louise’s sister and her husband, who was George’s good friend since high school live there too, so visiting is an important part of every trip.

Louise McLarty

Louise was born in Murfreesboro, Arkansas on January 4, 1937.  She attended Murfreesboro elementary, middle and high schools and graduated in May of 1954.  Louise met George Edwin McLarty on a blind date in 1952.  After finishing a hard game of tennis with a good friend they were walking home and spied a “pretty car” going past.  Suddenly it began to back up and Louise saw her good friend Polly Jean in the car with two boys.  It seems George was invited to go on a double date if he would drive his car to Murfreesboro.  Louise was the “blind date” chosen for him by Polly Jean. 

Although she had never met George Edwin she felt it was safe to go on the date since her friend knew him well.  It was a few dates later that George had a very bad wreck on a hill going into Murfreesboro to get Louise.  A friend told Louise that her boyfriend had a bad wreck just outside of Murfreesboro.   It was then that Louise realized how much she cared for George and she was so scared he was killed in the wreck.  Fortunately he was OK and called from the hospital to let her know what happened.  After that George and Louise dated exclusively and became engaged in December of 1953.  George was away in Chicago for training for 6 months and then took a job in Houston, Texas.  A wedding was planned in July.  Plans were for marriage the Fourth Of July weekend but due to Louise’s dad passing away close to that date the wedding was postponed until July 17^th.  They decided, out of respect for her dad’s death, not to have the reception planned.  Their honeymoon was on the way to Houston, and they have lived in Houston for the last 50 years.

Louise began college after her youngest son went into Kindergarten and graduated Suma Cum Laud from the University Of Houston after attending one year at Houston Baptist College.  Later she got her masters degree from The University of Houston also.  She became a teacher in Houston ISD and taught there for 30 years retiring in 2002.  She taught First Grade, Special Education Resource, and Computer Technology during her years spent mostly at Alcott Elementary School.  During her teaching career she was privileged to be Alcott’s Teacher of the Year and to become a finalist for the District as Teacher of the Year.

After retirement Louise worked part time at Alcott Elementary for one year helping with Special Education Referrals.  Due to a hospital stay of 5 weeks she decided to give up that work this year.  She spends most of her time now with church and family helping with money counting and mail-outs at church and working as a co-director of the King’s Class in Sunday School.  She is currently enjoying scrap-booking in Open Door at church and is working to create a memory book for all ten grandchildren.  She also works with a church group at an Apartment one afternoon a week bringing a Bible School to 4 and 5 year old children.  She and George spend some time at their Coldspring mobile home and visiting with her sister who lives on adjoining property.  There is always plenty of outdoor work to do there.

The McLarty Family

George and Louise's marriage resulted in three wonderful sons, Paul Edwin, Richard Mason and Steven Alan.  Paul is an Assistant Supt. in charge of finance in the Clear Creek Independent School District.  His wife, Patty, works for a bank in the Galleria area.  Richard manages mainframe and communications operations for the City of Houston Police Department.  His wife, Denise, works in Commercial Property Management.  Steve is a police officer with Austin Independent School District.  His wife, Stacey, is a second year law student at The University Of Texas.

As a product of their son’s marriages ten grandchildren blessed their family.  Brian Paul is a senior at Texas A&M University majoring in Aeronautical Engineering.  He will be married in November to Jessica Nute.  The next grandson, Michael Todd is now a Navy Sonar technician stationed in Hawaii.  Next Travis Mason was born and he is now a third year student at Texas Tech University.  Christopher Alan, the next grandson, is now in the United States Marines stationed in 29 Palms, California training in electronics.  Kyle Patrick was born next.  He is a senior at Clear Creek High School and plans to go to Texas A & M University next year.  Jeremy Adam is the next born grandson and he lives in Las Vegas and attends high school there.  He enjoys the band, especially the drum line.   Brandon Taylor attends Dulles Middle School in Sugarland, Texas and enjoys swimming, singing and recently tried pole vaulting.  The next born grandchild was actually a girl.  Jessica Michelle attends middle school in Austin, Texas.  She enjoys drama and is in an organization called The Thespians.  She is looking forward to a trip to Colorado with the group in the Spring.  Sean Scott, her brother, was born next.  He is a whiz with Computer Games and wants to produce some of his own one day.  He also attends middle school in Austin, Texas.  The last born was Cameron Tyler.  He is our history “buff” and knows more about early American wars than anyone in the family.  He also is a great speaker and enjoys being in school plays.  He is in fifth grade this year.