"Olis"

James "Olis" HILLIS [ 04 Oct 1889 - 19 Dec 1939 ] was born in Pulaski, Tennessee, and eventually settled in Atoka County, Oklahoma til at least 1923-24, when he moved on to other areas of Oklahoma. In his younger days, he had also lived in Texas."Olis"

He married his first wife, Bulah May SUTHERLAND, in January 1906, in Atoka County, Oklahoma. Together they had 9 children... Lena, Cullom Elmer, Oscar, Obert [who later began going by "Albert"], Eva, Pearl, Josephine "Juanita", Wadie/Wade, and Lillie. Bulah died Oct 1921, and is buried in the Tushka Cemetery in Tushka, Atoka County, Oklahoma. After her death, several of the younger children were "farmed out" to other families.

"Olis" married a second time, to Mary Eliza SIMMONS WILKERSON in Mar 1922, in Atoka County, Oklahoma. She had 2 children from a previous marriage, Carl and Addie.

Olis and Mary had 10 children together... Lorene, Earl, Sewell, Ola Mae, Geanetta, Billie Jean & Betty June [twins], Cecil [died at 6 years old], Melba, and Mary Lavonne. Many of the descendants of this marriage ended up going out west... most to California.

Olis died at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he had gone to work, and is buried in Elgin Cemetery in Elgin, Oklahoma. Mary died January 1964 in Cyril, Oklahoma, and is also buried in Elgin Cemetery.

In total, Olis had 19 children of his own!