Contributed by Virginia Hale
Josie Hale Gafford McCuan
Edmond Carter Gafford (Ed) and Josie Hale married October 10, 1893 in Hood County, Texas. Ed and Josie had eleven children, were residents of Lipan, and were members of the Methodist Church.
Ed was born May 28, 1865 in Johnson County to William Gafford and Evelyn Bond. William and Evelyn were married in February 1857 when Hood County was a part of Johnson County.
Josie was the first child born to Madison Right Hale and America Jane Iles Reynolds on October 13, 1878. Right and America were married in Hood County on November 23, 1876.
Ed died from typhoid fever on November 18, 1918. Sadly their 11-year old daughter, Pauline, died from the same fever two weeks later on December 1, 1918.
Josie remarried six years later to Jim McCuan on November 22, 1924. His son, John McCuan, married Ed and Josie’s daughter, Jewel.
Josie Hale Gafford McCuan died at age 77 on January 27, 1954.
Following are the descendants of Edmond Carter Gafford and Josie Hale:
| NAME | BIRTH | DEATH | SPOUSE | CHILDREN |
| William Doyle Gafford | Sep. 16, 1894 | Mar. 11, 1961 | Essie Mae VandergriffMarriedDec. 17, 1911 | Johnny Murphy GaffordBobby Don GaffordVivinee GaffordWilliam Dale GaffordJoe D. GaffordWanda Marie Gafford |
| Floyd Right Gafford | Mar. 17, 1896 | Mar. 1, 1944 | Myrtle Melva HelmsMarriedDec. 7, 1913 | Vollie Hugh GaffordGeorge GaffordRandolph GaffordDavid Conway GaffordJ. D. GaffordIma Jo Gafford |
| Florence Irene Gafford | Mar. 25, 1898 | May 9, 1940 | Walter Bryan GuinnMarriedMar. 2, 1919 | John Houston GuinnDozier Edward GuinnJames Byron Guinn |
| James Bartis Gafford | Jun. 8, 1900 | Apr. 17, 1975 | Mamie Earl GuinnMarriedDec. 20, 1918 | Melba GaffordNina May GaffordTheopal Ladonia GaffordJames Bartis Gafford, Jr.Ella Virginia Gafford |
| Lena Mae Gafford | Mar. 10, 1902 | Apr. 29, 1973 | Henry Mahlon SublettMarriedJul. 25, 1919 | Mary Lou SublettCharles Derwin SublettPat Mahlon SublettPatsy Mae Sublett |
| Jewel Verna Gafford | Feb. 4, 1904 | Mar. 22, 1988 | John McCuan | Elizabeth Ann McCuanJimmy Joe McCuanBilly Fred McCuan |
| Dollie Pauline Gafford | May 29, 1906 | Dec. 1, 1918 | ||
| Thomas Kern Gafford | Sep. 18, 1908 | May 28, 1959 | Ollie ReedMarriedJun. 17, 1926 | Peggy Nell GaffordBobbie Lee Gafford |
| Lois Latona Gafford | May 7, 1911 | Jan. 15, 1939 | Dan TuggleMarriedMar. 27, 1927 | Robert E. TuggleJerry Tuggle |
| Ida Bell Gafford | Aug. 27, 1913 | Ray A. Wharton | Nan WhartonBarbara WhartonConnie Wharton | |
| Joe Lynn Gafford | Oct. 13, 1916 | Aug. 11, 1980 | Mable | Judy Lynnette GaffordMartha Joe Gafford |
Most of the Gafford / Hale family was interred at Evergreen Cemetery, just east of Lipan.
Irene Gafford and Bartis Gafford both married into the Guinn family, marrying a brother and a sister.
Lena Mae Gafford and her husband, Henry Sublett, were the parents of twins, Pat and Patsy Sublett.
Jimmy Joe McCuan died in 1978. Due to Jimmy Joe’s outstanding service to the State of Texas as Director of the Industrial Accident Board, he was buried with honor at the State Cemetery in Austin, Texas.
Miss Ida Bell lives in Houston and is 85 years young. She is a beautiful woman and is close to her daughters and grandchildren, all residing in the Houston area. Miss Ida Bell returns to Lipan to attend funerals and to attend the annual Lipan Homecoming, held the first Sunday in June every year.