Individual Details

“Taking life as it comes” is the philosophy and secret of a long, productive life for McKinney resident, John A. Furr who was 81 years old Easter Sunday. Mr. Furr is still working as night clerk at Wood’s Motel. The wages he earns there and social security benefits to him and Mrs. Furr provide them with a comfortable income. Since Mr. Furr is over 72 years old, he can receive his social security benefits no matter how much he earns, “I never had been sick enough to use my Medicare yet,” said Mr. Furr, “but it sure came handy when my wife was in the hospital 3 times.” John Furr was born in Albamora, North Carolina on April 11, 1890 to James M. and Martha Ann Furr. He relates that his father was on jury duty and could not get released for the birth of his son. A midwife named Pearline Brooks attended his mother at his birth and stayed with her two weeks afterwards. Then she told his father she would have to go home. His father asked what he owed her, her reply was five dollars, Mr. Furr grins as he relates the story and adds: “You can’t beat 81 years for five dollars.” James Furr moved his family to Collin County on Christmas Eve 1896 and other than a short two-year period, the family lived in Collin County from that time. John Furr met Mary Jane (Mamie) O’Neal, one of the four O'Neal girls, and after a whirlwind courtship (3 or 4 years), he asked her father for her hand in marriage. Mr. O'Neal agreed to the marriage although he said it broke up his girl’s quartet. Mr. Furr farmed until 1951 and then he moved to town where he went to work for the old Tennessee Dairy, later the Foremost Dairy. This is where he earned enough credits to receive social security benefits. His employer allowed him to work three months over the time when he could have retired so that he could get the last quarter of coverage he needed for social security. During the fifteen years he has worked at Woods Motel, John Furr has met and conversed with such prominent Men as former Governor Connally, Governor Preston Smith, and the late Sam Rayburn. When he was asked about his hobbies, Mr. Furr said he likes to talk and to visit. He also enjoys activities in his church, King Memorial Baptist Church, in which he is a deacon. His fondness for his family is evidenced by the many pictures he has in his living room of his two sons, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Also prominently displayed is the picture of himself and Mrs. Furr taken at their fiftieth wedding anniversary. John Furr has always taken his civic duties seriously, has served on the Grand Jury, responded to jury duty when called, and has performed other duties of a responsible citizen. With a background such as his, Mr. Furr can well say: “You can’t beat 81 years for five dollars.”
The Courier-Gazette, McKinney, Texas, April 22, 1971

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Birth	11 Apr 1890	Albemarle, Stanly County, NC
Marriage	13 Dec 1916	Collin County, TX - Mary Jane "Mamie" O'NEAL
Occupation	1920 - 1950	farmer - Collin County, TX
Death	12 Mar 1974	Dallas, Dallas County, TX
Soc Sec No		452-52-3855
Burial		Pecan Grove Cemetery, McKinney, Collin County, TX

Spouse	Mary Jane "Mamie" O'NEAL (1891 - 1981)
Child	James William FURR (1917 - 1942)
Child	Living
Child	John Raymond FURR (1919 - 1989)

Father	James Martin "Jim" FURR (1858 - 1951)
Mother	Martha Ann DRY (1861 - 1943)
Sibling	R. L. FURR ( - 1881)
Sibling	P. L. FURR (1881 - 1882)
Sibling	Rufus Alexander FURR (1882 - 1940)
Sibling	Frederick Jason FURR (1884 - 1972)
Sibling	Ila Joan FURR (1886 - 1974)
Sibling	Hattie Arrilla FURR (1888 - 1971)
Sibling	Robert Nathaniel FURR (1891 - 1974)
Sibling	Mary Lottie FURR (1893 - 1982)
Sibling	Andrew Lee FURR (1895 - 1984)
Sibling	Croney Fletcher "Shorty" FURR (1897 - 1954)
Sibling	Dewitt Talmadge FURR (1899 - 1983)
Sibling	Clarence Leroy FURR (1901 - 1984)
Sibling	Ruby Maye FURR (1904 - 1996)

Notes