Reeder - Wykes

History and Genealogy

Wedding Memoir of Royaldean Reeder Wykes

Early Wednesday morning, March 28, 1934, Murray called me and said that we could be married - at last!* I left home Thursday evening after a hurried packing of all my worldly goods - in one trunk and a bag. I brought Ping with me because I couldn't bear to leave her. (Editorial note: Ping was her dog.) Murray met me in Temple on Friday at noon in Rountree's new Chevi and we drove over to Lampasas - a 60 mile drive.

We went to Lucille and John Rountree's where I bathed and rested from my trip. There was a flurrie and a hustle getting things ready for the big hour. At the stroke of seven the wedding march was begun and we took the vows of holy matrimony. Married after three and a half years of waiting!!!!!! We were congratulated and kissed from every side - Ping in the very midst of it all.

Dorothy Smith (and Ping) was my bridesmaid while Edgar Smith, Jr. was the best man. Little Helen Marie Smith and Kuhn Rountree were the flower girls carrying between them a Lily of the Valley. I was given away by E. Babe, Sr.

The altar was draped with white and adorned with yellow tapers and a low branch of sweet peas. The room was decorated with sweet peas and candles.

I wore an ankle length dress of green crepe and carried an arm bouquet of pink rose buds. Murray wore a light suit.

Remembering the old saying, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue," I wore a gold bracelet belonging to Lucille, new hose purchased for the occasion, mother's pearls, and a small piece of blue ribbon from Dotty's corsage.

After the ceremony we tried to get away without the rice and old shoes awaiting us but were called back for refreshments. Lucille and Dotty had baked a lovely gold cake of three tiers. I cut the first slice and turned the knife over to Mrs. Stapp. We were served cake, chicken salad, bread and butter sandwiches, and coffee (of which Murray and I didn't partake - we had enough to keep us awake without it.)

We finally escaped through the back door (without the rice and shoes) only to find that someone (Edgar, Freddy and Roy) had tied cans to the car. They had also covered it with "Just Married" signs.

We went out to Uncle Babe's ranch to spend a short honeymoon of four days. On Tuesday we came over to the 7L Ranch and have been her since.

Our host and hostess were Mr. & Mrs. John Rountree. Guests were: Mr. & Mrs. E. Babe Smith, Sr.; Mr. & Mrs. E. Babe Smith, Jr. and Helen Marie; Mr. & Mrs. L.L. Wykes and Lessie Roy, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Juby and Fred Jr., Ruby and Millie; Mrs. C.H. Wykes, Sr.; C.H. Wykes Jr.; Elizabeth Baker; Mr. & Mrs. Charles Stapp and Bunny; Mrs. Landrum; Glen Terry; Helen Northington; Mr. & Mrs. Elza Smith; Morine Treesaw; Dorothy Smith & Ping.

Rev. Kirkpatrick, of the Presbyterian Church, officiated, Rev. Davis, of the M.E. Church being out of town.

Gifts:

1. Silver ladle - Mr. & Mrs. E. Babe Smith, Jr.

2. Comforter - Mr. & Mrs. Charles Stapp

3. Silverware set - Mr. & Mrs. L.L. Wykes

4. Silverware set - Mr. R.J. Reeder

5. Ovenware - Mr. & Mrs. J.F. Petross

6. Teacup set - Mr. & Mrs. David Dabbs

7. Bath towels - Mr. & Mrs. Hubert Carnes

8. Pillow slips - Mr. & Mrs. W.J. Moore

9. Blazer jacket - Mrs. Gladys Barber

10. Sheets - Mrs. L.L. Wykes

11. Sheets - Mrs. C.H. Wykes, Sr.

12. Sheets - Mrs. J.F. Petross

13. Covered dish - Mrs. Oscar Langford & Amalie Jernigan

14. Salad dish - Mrs. L.L. Wykes

15. Dessert dishes - Mrs. David Dabbs

16. Pyrex pie plates & server - Mr. & Mrs. L.F. Misegaelus (spelling?)

*Jean Mildred Norwood Wykes, wife of James Lee Wykes, eldest son of Murray Lee Wykes and Royaldean Reeder Wykes remembers the following story that adds to Royaldean's written memoirs:

The morning that Murray called Royaldean to ask her to marry him, they had a bad connection and she could not hear him well. It was also a party line, and everyone was listening in, because that was how they kept up on gossip. She kept asking him what he was saying. Finally the operator interrupted and said, "He's asking you to marry him." And Royaldean said, "Yes!"

Jean is also the one who clarified for us that Ping was Royaldean's dog. She also recalled that the reason Royaldean had loved a glass statuette of a dog which she had kept through the years was that it reminded her of Ping.

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