BILLIE FAYE SCHUMACHER HAS GONE TO FIND ERNIE
I was privileged to
work for Billie Faye and Ernie Schumacher at the Sunray Lumber Yard after school
and on Saturdays most of my Jr. and Sr. year. Ernie was the mayor and had an
office on the left side and Billie Faye had the right-side office where she
handled the books with a smaller room just big enough for her Law desk and 2
chairs.
It was there that
people came to plead their case and pay fines. You see, she was also the Justice of the
Peace. I was in constant awe as I watched them conduct business! They both
would occasionally take me aside to explain a proceeding or why they made
decisions and judgments.
I was watching the
business of Sunray firsthand. On top of that, I learned about lumber and building
supplies, I mixed the paint and learned all the tools and other cool things
that a rural lumber yard would sell.
I had a pickup and
often made deliveries. My first delivery was sand for little Jeffery Keith's sandbox. Betty Keith was so complimentary that I got a dime an hour raise! That was a big deal back then. I even caddied for Sunray's blind mayor a couple of
times. Did you know he had 2 holes in ones after he went blind?
I was really on my
best behavior working there and over the years whenever Billie Faye would see me,
she would tell people that I was one of the best employees she ever had!
She was a tiny lady, but
she lived a gigantic life! Her story is remarkable and lasted nearly a century.
I kept in touch with her as much as I could
I visited her over
the years. When she sold the Lumber Yard, she became the County Judge, and I
was so proud of her. I made a point to drop by whenever I was in Dumas.
She was one of 9 and
one of a kind born in 1926 and living through the Dust Bowl, wars, and most of
Sunray’s history.
I saw her a couple of
years ago at the Moore County courthouse. Sure enough, we were talking to the
sheriff and she told him I was her all-time favorite employee. She had an
incredible strength of character and I know that she inspired hundreds maybe
thousands over her long life. I am so grateful to her and Ernie for those 2
years of incredible exposure to basic government and law while I learned so
much more.
Prepare
to be inspired by my Billie Faye
What a great article JB! It took me back to my memories of Billie Faye,Ernie and the Sunray Hardware store. I also worked for Billie Faye one summer when I was 16. I entered the receipts for all those fines paid, in her court docket books. I typed the weekly bulletin for the Methodist Church on an old manual typewriter and printed it on a hand cranked mimeograph machine! I remember Ernie and his dog hanging out at the Sunray Drug Store with Pat Hill and the coffee drinking buddies.I worked as a "soda jerk" at the drugstore soda fountain when I was in Jr High. Ernie always had the best smile!
ReplyDeleteI am sad to say farewell to Billie Faye, but thankful for the lessons learned and all the good memories of my life growing up in Sunray.
What a great article JB! It took me back to my memories of Billie Faye,Ernie and the Sunray Hardware store. I also worked for Billie Faye one summer when I was 16. I entered the receipts for all those fines paid, in her court docket books. I typed the weekly bulletin for the Methodist Church on an old manual typewriter and printed it on a hand cranked mimeograph machine! I remember Ernie and his dog hanging out at the Sunray Drug Store with Pat Hill and the coffee drinking buddies.I worked as a "soda jerk" at the drugstore soda fountain when I was in Jr High. Ernie always had the best smile!
ReplyDeleteI am sad to say farewell to Billie Faye, but thankful for the lessons learned and all the good memories of my life growing up in Sunray.