Wednesday, September 10, 2014

A GIRL FROM DALLAS





As some of you know from previous posts, I'm a sixth generation Texan on my mother's side. My ancestors helped to settle Dallas in 1845 and stayed in the area. I am proud to be a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Matelyn Roddy and Phillip Carr met in Dallas in 1942. She was 14 and he was a much older man of 18. They dated, with my grandmother's permission, until he enlisted in the Army in February 1943. A very determined young girl, my mother boarded the train a few days after her 15th birthday and headed  for North Carolina to say, "I do".

Matelyn and Phil Carr c.1943


Gloria Lynn Carr (Cope) aka Carra Copelin about 9 months old in this snap.
I'm proud to say I've managed to maintain my girlish figure. 








I came to Dallas on December 6, 1947 at 11:55 am, via Florence Nightingale Hospital.










My first abode - 1022 Kings Highway







My parents lived with her family in a beautiful old home in Oak Cliff, a suburb of Dallas.











Mother and Daddy bought their first house in 1951, in the newer neighborhood, where my brother made his appearance in 1952. We lived there until 1956 when we moved to Arlington.


Carra in 3rd grade

 I attended school there from 2nd grade through the 12th and I graduated from Sam Houston High School.

Jerry Cope about 10 months



Now, oddly enough, I met my future husband, Jerry Cope, at the local A&P Grocery and as folks do we got to talking. He was born at Florence Nightingale Hospital, lived in Oak Cliff and moved to Arlington in 1953. Turns out we've always lived within five miles of each other.




Jerry in 3rd grade

Jerry and I married in May, 1967 and started building our home in 1969, in Arlington. Where else? It remains our home today.



Our daughter, Amye, came along in 1972 on Thanksgiving morning and our son, Brady, was born in 1976 in the Bicentennial year. 

I worked as a Medical Laboratory Technologist from 1965 (I did start in high school) until the clinic I worked for sold the lab in 2008. Since Jerry was already retired, I decided to stay home, too. Why should he have all the fun?

Writing became my focus and my first book, Code of Honor, Texas Code Series, Book One ,was published in July 2013. Three other titles followed with a fifth due out soon. I'm a member of RWA and serve as President of Yellow Rose Romance Writers.


Jerry and I this past summer on our Arkansas vacation.
I enjoy getting together with friends, critique partners and my bridge group. Our grandkids come over frequently, oh and Jerry is now a chicken farmer. He has twelve chickens out back in their area we call, Cackleberry Farms. Save your cartons, we should be gathering eggs by November.


Katie and the Irish Texan, a novella, is the first book in the Brides of Texas Code Series. It's available on Amazon Kindle and soon to be at Apple iBooks.

Blurb:

Dermot McTiernan is determined to move on with his life after losing his one and only love to another man. He decides to try his hand at ranching in North Central Texas with his friend, Ian Benning. He figures if that doesn't work out, there are many other opportunities in the booming post-war state. When the luscious red-head from County Cork, Ireland shows up in Dallas, can he retain the courage of his convictions and move on without her?

Kathleen O'Donnell made a monumental mistake marrying, Kelsey Gilhooley. Her decision for entering the union, no matter how honorable, had made her life a living hell. Even though still married, she holds out hope for finding the man of her dreams. When she comes across her tall, dark-eyed Irishman in Dallas, Texas, will she be able to abandon happiness and walk away a second time?

Link to Amazon Kindle:  http://tinyurl.com/n8wg34k for $1.99.

Thanks for visiting, Carra

10 comments:

  1. Carra, you've been living the magical life everyone hopes for. I enjoyed reading this blog about your life and the blessings you've received. The pictures were so much fun to look at. What a cute house.
    I wish you all the best.

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  2. Carra--I am compelled to an an "e" on the end of your name. I caught a couple of them....so if one got through, I apologize. I hate to have my name misspelled, and I'm sure everyone is. Everybody in the world wants to put an 'l' in Yeary--"Yearly."

    I love those photos. You have the most distinctive gorgeous eyes I think I've ever seen. The house? I love that classic style. Our aunt and uncle who lived in Fort Worth had a house like that. The style seems to be prevalent in North Texas--I still see some remaining in Mineral Wells when I go there.
    Thanks for sharing your life--and good luck on sales of books!

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  3. Gloria, fun learning more about you. I also have maintained my girlish figure even though I have to work at it constantly.☺ I'm eager to read more of Matelyn's book.

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  4. Carra, I love your photos! Also enjoyed learning more about you, especially how you and Jerry met. Say hide to the chicken farmer for me. I have bring an egg carton for him.;)

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  5. I enjoyed your photos and getting to know you better. I was born and raised in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas too. It was a great place to grow up, and I still have many friends made in childhood.
    Best of luck with your upcoming release. I'm looking forward to reading it.

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  6. I enjoyed reading this, especially since I'm not too far from you, down here in Houston. I laughed at that cute, exposed baby belly. You've had a blessed life. :)

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  7. Oh poo my comment disappeared. So let's try this again.

    I love Arlington! I've lived here 5 years now and my rental home is finally starting to fall apart on us and I'm terrified of possibly having to leave Arlington. I live it here.

    I never heard of you before but an Author I follow mentioned you so I'm definitely checking you out. Plus hello Texas. Lol I never knew so maby wonderful Authors were right around the corner from me.

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  8. Hi Carra, what a wonderful post and great pictures. Sixth generation, my my! You must have tons of family lore at hand for your books! Congrats on the release...I know I'm gonna love it!

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  9. Gloria, I love your pictures, especially your girlish figure baby picture. :) It's always fun to get to know our online friends better. And best of luck with your new release. It sounds terrific!

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  10. Hi Gloria!

    I'm a day late and a dollar short so to speak but I wanted to pop in and say how much I have enjoyed reading about you and getting to know you a little bit better! I love these pictures you shared, too. Your new release sounds wonderful!
    Cheryl

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