Percy Warren Leland (1906-1971)

Percy Warren Leland Jr. was born in Texas in 1906. He lived there until about 1919 when his mother, Mabel, moved Percy and his four siblings to Kinder, Louisiana. After graduation from Kinder High, Percy began work in the oil industry for many years. Around 1950 he was elected mayor of Kinder and served a single term. Afterwards, "Geddy" continued his work in the oil industry and traveled all over the world. He died of lung cancer in 1971 and is buried in the McRill Cemetery in Kinder, Louisiana.

Percy around 1940/1941.
Percy at work.
Percy on the bumper around 1942.
Article on Percy's travels.
Letter of Recommendation for Percy.

Nona Maydelle Reynolds was born in Kinder, Louisiana in 1906. She was raised there with her 6 siblings, and ended up living there all of her life. "Grammy" taught school in Kinder for 43 years and retired in the early 1970s. She married Percy around 1940 and they had one child together. She died in 1977 after a long battle with breast cancer and is buried in the McRill Cemetery in Kinder, Louisiana.

A letter offering Nona a job in 1925.
Nona from a school photo.
Another school photo of Nona.

Percy was born in Gilmer, Texas, the second son of John D. Leland and Laura Jane Sims Leland. He was raised there with 4 siblings. He died in a refinery explosion in Gladewater, Texas in 1934 and is buried in Old Gilmer Cemetery in Gilmer, Texas.

An article on Percy's death.
Percy's headstone. (the year of birth is in question)

Mabel was born in Willis, Texas, the daughter of Reuben McDonald Bridges and Sallie Wooldridge. She was raised there with 5 siblings. She married Percy around 1903 and they had 5 children together. Mabel took the kids around 1919 and moved to Kinder, Louisiana, where she was postmaster for many years. She died in 1947 and is buried in the Old Waverly Cemetery in Waverly, Texas.

Photo of Mabel.