Tensas gazette., 1911-02-17
pElIu Of NRs. Hlar YAlIEE.
Died At The Hsns II ksr Dssehtsr ID
Fst Werth, Tsxas, Aged 80 fears.

MIS-. mary talieo, e8eu 20 Year,,
died on Saturday. February IL. at
the home Of her daughter, Miss
Jennie Parr, in Fort Worth. Texas,
after q short illness. A Fort Worth
papsr gives the following hotiee Of
Mrs. Valley and her long aid event.
tul life:
Peacefully and smiling Upon her
daughter at her bedside, Mrs. Mary
Vallee, lacking less than two years
| Of the century mark, died Saturday
at dusk. The oldest woman in Fort
Worth, the boon companion OF Mrs.
jefferson Davis, the wife Of the
Confederate presidents body guards
man. and altogether one Of the most
picturesque characters, the old South
| or Fort Worth has ever known, she
quietly passed out Of the strenuous
world in which she had lived for 30
many years. e
Mrs. vallee was conscious until
her last breath.
She WIS remarkable woman,
talking business even until the last
with hef daughter, Miss Jennie Parr,
who operates q grocery store at their
home, 306 Laurel street. The aged
woman always insisted that she be
allowed to help her daughter with
the work OF the household. Miss
Parr herself is nearing the allotted
three score and ten.
Only Friday night Mrs. vallee
came to her daughter in the kitchen
and said:
my fingers are feeling numb,
Jennie. Let me help you wash the
dishes. I don't want these old fin
gers to grow stiff. I am going to
work and help you until / die. y
Miss Parr pretended her workiwas
done and put the hslf-washed dish
es away.
When she had to take her bed
Mrs. vallee was peaceful. pleasant
to friends who came to see her and
bring her fresh flowers and talked
with visible enjoyment Of the old
ldays back on the ''old sod, I" Of tAe
stirring times in and around New
Orleans during the civil war. 81 the
brilliant Mrs. Jefferson Davis and
the pioneer Southwest.
Little children were her delight.
To them she was always bright and
cheerful. Every child who brought
her flowers was sure to receive a
fervent blessing. and an invitation
to come again. Her one aversion
was the thought that she might be
q burden to her daughter or anyone
else. She liked to be considered as
vigorous as the young people in
whom she found 30 much joy and
comfort. ~
Mrs. vallee was born in County
Armagh. Ireland. May 16. 1912.
She came to America when she was
l23 years old and left New York
soon after for New Orleans, where
Ishe became the wife Of John Viii
liam Parr, q member Of the mil
Iitary household Of Jefferson Davis,
and she accompanied him on many
of his excursions with the<irst and
only president Of the Lost Cause.
After the death Of her first husband
she married John Baptiste Vallee,
a Normandy Frenchman rgof high
Icaste, whose father was a ajBoldier Of
1.-THE great Napoleon, q member Of
lthe Old Guard, who had beepSdriyen
into exile after Waterloo
New Orleans was too stfehuous
for the high strung MI vallee
The carpet baggers seized, all Of hel
property and she moved with hel
!, daughter, Miss Parr, I'd Northern
Louisiana, TO st. Joseph where she
and her daughter conducted d little
store until less than six ybafs ago,
Il A drummer told then1 Of For
Worth. Tired Of the sftinfs and
dreading break Of the lases, Nrs
Vallee suggested to hefE daughter
that they move here. Thsf sold ou
their property in st. Joseph and a
the age OF SO Mrs. Valles Became {
citizen Of Forth Worth. Here the,
J, began business anew.
j Mrs. Vallee was q devout Catho
lie. Requiem high mass win b
said at her funeral service in st
Mary's Catholic Church Monda,
morning at 10 O'Clock. Father Parl
will conduct the services snd tn
burial will take place in Cslvar.
; cemetery.