Viola Elizabeth Cauble Wickizer

Viola Elizabeth Cauble Wickizer, 97, a retired ranch woman, died Monday, December 29, 2003 in a Weatherford nursing home where she had resided for the last sisteen months following a hip fracture. Viola was born February 28, 1906 in Midland, Texas to pioneer ranchers Fred and May Cauble. As was customary in those days her father brought her mother to her doctor's home in Midland to deliver, in suspected difficult deliveries, since the ranch home was thirty-five miles from town. Mother and child remained at the doctor's home for six weeks before undertaking the trip, by buggy, back home to the headquarters of the Quien Sabe Ranch.Viola assisted her husband, Neil, raising and exhibiting registered hereford cattle for fifty years. Hereford cattle, king of cattle raised in Texas, were an important part of the development and improvement of the beef cattle industry as we know it today. Viola was the third generation of pioneer cattle growers in Texas. In her later years Viola felt suspended between two worlds. One fading from the memory of most people today except when recalled in books or movies and the world as we know it today which Viola was unable to be an active participant in or understand. Her mind was clear with perfect recall to the end. With most of her family and old pioneer friends already gone, Viola often stated, "I have no one to talk to about things I understand or am interested in. Those my age are unable to communicate coherently."Viola lived on the ranch with a live-in teacher until she left home to marry rancher, Neil W. Wickizer on October 24, 1921. She lived on a ranch until she and her husband retired and moved to Aledo, Texas. Viola was preceded in death by her husband in 1979; a brother, Barnes R. Cauble of Midland, Texas in 1999; a son, Albert L. Wickizer in 2002; and a grandson, John R. Wickizer of Aledo in 1953.Survivors include daughter, Mayola E. W. Lasater of Aledo; brother, Richard C. Cauble of Midland, Texas; daughter-in-law, Joe Alice Wickizer of Aledo; five grandchildren, James C. Lasater, Jr. of Aledo, Shary Lasater Anderson of Rowlette, Joey Wickizer of Aledo, Jon Neil Wickizer of Millsap, Jay Wickizer of Branson, MO; and five great grandchildren.