McCULLY, THOMAS LeROY AND IVA OPAL (CAMPBELL)

by Iva Opal McCully

Entry F283 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Thomas LeRoy, 7th of 10 children, was
born to Mary Catherine (Martin) and Lee
McCully on Feb. 6, 1889 at Bucklin, Mo. He
lived in Chillicothe, Mo. and Brownville,
Nebr. and came to Mullen, Nebr. in 1909 and
"proved up" on a 640 acre homestead north-
east of Hecla, Nebr. as documented in Land
Patent dated July 8, 1914, authorized by
President Woodrow Wilson. On his home-
stead he built a house, shed and drilled a well.
While living on the homestead he walked to
Mullen or ride the train and worked for Frank
Cleavenger in the Cement Block Plant. He
drove a freight wagon for the Standard Oil
Company, also worked at the Roseberry
General Store (known later as the Johnson
Store) .

Roy was baptized Dec. 11, 1932 by Rev.
B.H. Murten at the First Methodist Church
in Mullen and became a member. He was
instrumental in the building of the First
Methodist Church, a brick building that
stood on main street, having served as
treasurer in the year the building was erected,
as well as many other offices.

Roy was initiated into the Order of Eastern
Star on Feb. 23, 1922. He was a Charter
member of the Winifred Chapter #292 in
Mullen and served as Worthy Patron 8 times
and Associate Patron 5 times, Sentinel 4
times.

Roy was initiated into the Masonic Order
# 282 AM & FM on aug. 11, 1914. He held
the bronze Jordan Medal at the time of his
death. He was also a member of the I O O F
and the Mullen Rebekah Lodge # 315.

Roy was married to Marjorie Bush on Sept.
2, 1914 at Broken Bow, Nebr. and they were
divorced in 1935.

Roy was elected as Hooker County Clerk
on Nov. 2, 1920 and served in that office until
he was defeated in the Primary Election in
Aug. 1938, by Gay Miller. He then served as
Supt. for the State Hiway Dept.

Roy McCully and Iva Opal Campbell were
married on May 2, 1940 at North Platte,
Nebr. In 1943 they moved to a ranch on the
Middle Loup River 1 mile east of Thedford,
Nebr. They resided there until 1948 when
they returned to Mullen. In March 1949 he
was employed by the Nebr. State Tax
Commission as a field representative, travel-
ing throughout western Nebr. He retired in
1965 due to a heart condition.

He was engaged in ranching, south west of
Mullen; north of Mullen along the river (with
W.H. Bramer); east of Thedford and finally
to Cherry County, 25 miles north west of
Mullen. He served as a member of the Hooker
and Thomas county School Boards, the
Federal Land Bank Board, Boy Scout Coun-
cil and the Hooker County Fair Board.

Roy passed away Jan. 13, 1968 at the
Mullen Memorial Hospital and was buried in
the Cedar View Cemetery.

Thomas LeRoy and Iva McCully have 5
children -

Thomas Leroy married Ida Phillips who
lived at Valentine, Nebr. They have two
children Terry and Marlene. He later
married Veta Carr and now reside in Casper,
Wyo.

Mary Ellen married Richard Lee Meidell,
they have lived in Grand Island, Nebr., Blair,
Nebr. and now reside in Chadron, Nebr. They
have 2 children Sydney and Eric.

Marilyn Elaine married Leon Lester Mer-
edith. They live in Denver, Colo. and have
one daughter Jennifer.

Vernie Joe married Barbara Kay Phipps.
They have lived in Sidney, Nebr. and now live
on a ranch north of Mullen. They have three
children Kevin, Brenda and Brad.

Bobby Jay lived in Casper, Wyo. and now
lives in North Platte, Nebr. Bobby was
married Dec. 29, 1987 to Shirla (Kemp)
Nickleson.