Record details
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Although I have traveled and lived in other places, East Texas will always be my home. I grew up outside of Arp in a large and loving family. I was number two of seven children, but our family grew to ten children when my parents adopted my three cousins after my mother’s sister passed away. My best friends and playmates were my nine siblings, and we even had our own baseball team with our own lighted field! The refineries near our house burned off gas at night so we had light to play by all night long!
During WWII my best friend’s brother, Martin Eugene Pettis, served in the Army in Europe. He came home right after I graduated from Arp H.S. and the war in Europe had ended. Martin was planning to be called back to serve in the Pacific, but we were madly in love so we married quickly before he had to go back to war. Then Hiroshima happened and there was no need for foot soldiers to invade Japan.
It was a rough start for two young people in love but out of money. We moved to West Texas where Martin worked in the oil fields. It was like “a whole ‘nother country” out there with winds so strong we had to shovel our driveway, not to clear snow, but to clear sand away just to get our car out of the garage! It was hard work but we had our youth to give us the energy and stamina we needed, and we were happy. It was an adventurous time, and we stayed there for 10 years while derricks popped up all over the fields.
Then one day, Martin was killed in a tragic car accident. Our young son, little Rick, and I moved back to East Texas where I registered for nursing classes at Tyler Junior College. I bought my books, and was all set to go when I ended up in the hospital with a health issue and missed starting my classes. God does work in ways we don’t understand, and I met Bob Rogers at our church. We fell in love and were soon married. Bob had three children, I had one, and in time we had three more (even though the doctors said I couldn’t have any more!). We became one big, happy family of his, mine and ours, all of whom we raised as ours. There never was any step-brother/sister differentiation in raising our children and never will be for me.
Bob had the same adventurous spirit that I did. While most people with a family to raise and with as many obligations as we had might have been very cautious, Bob and I were born risk takers. We were willing to work hard and bet everything we had (and everything we could borrow!) on our own talents, skills and ambition.
When Ted Turner launched his local Atlanta TV station to become a “super station” we foresaw an opportunity to bring cable television to East Texas and Oklahoma. We worked long hours and there were many hair-raising moments. One time, when I was in charge of the crossings for the cable installation, I set a lawn on fire. Another time, Bob had to climb a tower at night to change a light so planes would not hit it in the dark while I waited over in the pasture with cows lowing softly, hoping that I would not hear the sound of any approaching aircraft or a husband falling from the tower! Eventually, we sold our company to Cox Cable which in turn sold to Suddenlink.
Bob and I subsequently divorced and then 17 years ago in 1992, I married Joseph Ornelas. Joseph has been a good husband and life partner who also happens to be an entrepreneur. We have had the time of our lives traveling, staying active in East Texas, and enjoying family and friends.
I have been blessed in many ways but I count my greatest blessings as my family members. All of my children are fine, loving people who are good Christians and care about others. I am blessed with 17 grandchildren (seven of whom were adopted from a Russian orphanage). I’ve been honored many times too, but the greatest honors I’ve received are the letters and notes from my children thanking me for raising them the way I did—starting the day with a prayer, then reading the Bible and sending them off to school with a hot meal in their stomachs. In fact, I’ve never felt richer than I did when my purse was empty and my arms were filled with my wonderful children.
- Biography
- TJC Hero and Friend, Louise H. Ornelas, did eventually graduate from Tyler Junior College after she was awarded an honorary degree in nursing in May, 2000. Mrs. Ornelas has been and continues to be one of East Texas’ most generous citizens, helping fund educational programs and community services that create a brighter future for all of East Texas. At TJC alone her generosity has made possible the Rogers Student Center, the Joseph Z. and Louise H. Ornelas Health and Physical Education Center, the Louise H. and Joseph Z. Ornelas Residential Complex and the establishment of women’s sports teams including the TJC women’s soccer team which won the national championship this year, in only its second year of existence.
