FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
Troup centenarian celebrates her special day
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Eula Mae Cameron Soape

Many things have happened in the past 100 years. The list is just too long to mention. Someone who has been around to experience it is Eula Mae Cameron Soape of Troup.

Eula Mae was born on April 25, 1907 in Tulia. That's a little wide spot between Plainview and Canyon. Eula Mae was the sixth of 10 children, seven girls and three boys, of Charlie Lee and Lillie Cameron who were West Texas sod-buster homesteaders in the early 1900s. Living a life reminiscent of Laura Ingalls, their first few years were spent in a sod-house with grass roof in Swisher County.

The family moved to Jacksonville after Mr. Cameron felt called to preach. He became a circuit-riding preacher usually paid in chickens and produce. The family took root there and farmed.

Eula Mae graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1921 and Jacksonville College in 1925. She hand-milked three to five dairy cows before and after school each day and worked in the fields during spring and summer months. In that day and time, everybody did their part to keep the family fed.

Eula Mae Cameron was a 1921 graduate of Jacksonville High School. She went on to graduate from Jacksonville College in 1925. Even with times as tough as they were for everyone, education remained a high priority to Eula Mae.

It was while attending Jacksonville College that a certain young man caught her eye. Together they taught in a twoteacher, one-room school and received room and board from a school board member in the "Flatwoods" area on the Texas- Louisiana border for two years. On Sept. 28, 1928 she married that certain young man, Ralph Emerson (R.E.) Soape.

Not long after they married the Soapes bought 40 acres of land from R.E.'s Uncle Glenn for 25 cents an acre. Due to the depression it took him about 20 years to get it paid off. The story goes that the entire deal was made with just a handshake and many times his uncle told him not to worry about getting the note paid if he didn't have the money. Needless to say, a man's word was his bond and the debt was paid. That 40 acres is still in the Soape family.

Eula Mae gave birth to five boys. Unfortunately three of those sons did not see adulthood. Joe Schuyler died at birth, R.E. Jr. died after a horse fell on him at age 13 and Archie Glenn was taken by spinal meningitis at the age of eight.

Son Hugh lives in Burton and is the Integrated Farm Program Specialist and Farm Manager at Prairie View A&M University. Charlie Soape resides in Troup and works for the prison system in Henderson.

During the Great Depression, the Soapes lived near his parents' farm in Carthage and made a living canning meat for neighbors and receiving a percentage of the canned meat in lieu of money for pay.

"She always said that the barter system was the main way of paying for needed items during the depression since no one had cash money," Hugh said. "She also set wires in a horsepowered hay press while seven months pregnant with her third child, Archie Glenn."

Eula Mae and Ralph lived in Carrollton for a couple of years where he taught agriculture at Carrollton High School.

They moved to New Summerfield in the early 1940s where she taught Sunday school at First Baptist Church and he taught Ag for seven years.

The Soapes moved to Troup in 1949 and Ralph taught agriculture at Troup High School for the last 18 of the 37 years he taught school.

"Eula Mae likes to maintain a low, back-seat profile; however, she and Ralph had a lot of influence in many young peoples' lives and are well respected in all places they have lived," Hugh said.

Eula Mae taught Sunday school for 50 years at First Baptist Church in Troup and was well into her 90s when she retired from teaching Sunday school.

Eula Mae truly enjoyed spending time with her boys. She was Den Mother for Cub Scout Troop 323 in Troup for many years while Hugh and Charlie were Scouts. Danny Regan and Joe Shaw were two of her Scout Leaders. During this time, Eula Mae helped take the Cub Scouts on many field trips including hauling an overload of youth in a two-pony wagon Ralph had built. She also helped the Scouts in Troup conduct exhibits honoring both Scouting and Agriculture at the East Texas Fair during the 1950s and 1960s.

Eula Mae was one of the founding members of the East Texas Shetland Pony Association and supported the family in showing ponies at the East Texas Fair for as long as they hosted the pony show. She assisted in locating a pony each year for the ETSPA to give a child during a drawing at the end of the fair each year.

Eula loved hosting the Cameron Family Reunion at their home in Troup and did so for as long as she was able to.

"I have seen her and Daddy feed as many as 75 and 100 at a time in our front yard, including four Hughs and five Charlies," Hugh said.

She has many kin all over the United States including a grandson who is currently serving as a Drill Sergeant Instructor for the three-year-old Afghanistan army. Over the years, Eula has had many nieces and nephews beg to spend the summer months with them.

Eula Mae Soape has been a giver and never a taker throughout her lifetime. She gave personal care for her bed-ridden mother for several years and later her father-in-law before their deaths in the 1960s and 1970s. Even as a member of Park Place Nursing Facility, she has been know to try to assist other residents and the staff with various care-giving activities. She still exhibits a sharp, yet dry wit and is always an encourager.

The Soape family invites all of her friends and family to a reception on Saturday, April 28 from 2-4 p.m. at Park Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility in Tyler.

If you cannot attend but would like to wish Eula Mae a happy 100th, send her a card to Eula Mae Soape, 2450 E. Fifth St. Room 113-A, Tyler, Texas, 75701.

Happy birthday Eula Mae and many more!