James Malcolm "Mack" Price (1933 - 2007): Our Family History

1933 - 2007 (74 years)

Name	James Malcolm "Mack" Price
	It is possible, though not certain, that he was named "in honor of" his paternal grandfather James Mordecai Price (I446), albeit with a modernized version of the name Mordecai. That modernization led to his lifelong nickname of Mack.
Ω Residence Child	From 1933 to 1935	Canyon, Randall, Texas, United States [1]
	Lived in Canyon while wife Katie was finishing her Master's Degree in teaching. During this time they adopted Mack. Homer was the original Mr.Mom - cooking, cleaning, and taking care of Mackey while Katie went to school. Witness Role: Principal: [I190] Homer PRICE Witness Role: Child: [I2] James Malcolm PRICE Witness Role: Spouse: [I191] Katie Alma RIFFLE
Birth	14 Sep 1933	Home of Redeeming Love, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, United States [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
	Born at 1:40 P.M. Attending physician Walter W. Wills M. D. He got impetigo shortly after he was born. He was kept in isolation at the Deaconess Home for several months before he was allowed to go home with Homer and Katie Price. Impetigo is a staph infection, now easily cured by antibiotics. In 1933, there were no antibiotics.
	$birth_records\price-james-malcolm-birthcert.jpg$	birth_records\price-james-malcolm-birthcert.jpg
Gender	Male
Name	From 14 Sep 1933 to 7 Dec 1933 [1, 6, 7, 9]
	James Robert Lakey
	His name at birth was James Robert Lakey, and this wasn't changed legally until he was 4 years old, but he was never known by this name. He was never aware of this name until his adoption records were unsealed in 2004.
		birth_records/price_james_malcolm_as_lakey_james_robert-birthcert-oklahoma_1.jpg
Adopted	7 Dec 1933	Home of Redeeming Love, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, United States [1, 7, 10, 11]
	Homer and Katie took him from the Home of Redeeming Love to their home in Canyon, Texas in 1933. He was their child from that point. The legal part of the adoption process didn't happen until 1937, however. The timeline of the adoption: 09 Oct 1933: Alene makes the child a ward of the court 09 Oct 1933: Court assigns custody to Home of Redeeming Love 07 Dec 1933: Homer and Katie take the child home 17 Dec 1936: The Home of Redeeming Love signs consent for adoption 05 Jan 1937: Homer and Katie execute adoption papers 06 Sep 1937: Adoption declared valid and complete Witness Role: Adoptive Parent: [I190] Homer PRICE Witness Role: Adoptive Parent: [I191] Katie Alma RIFFLE
	$birth_records\lakey_james_robert-custody-to-deaconess$	birth_records\lakey_james_robert-custody-to-deaconess
	$birth_records\price_homer_and_katie-adoption_suitability_review$	birth_records\price_homer_and_katie-adoption_suitability_review
	$birth_records\price_james_malcolm_lakey_alene-deaconess_records$	birth_records\price_james_malcolm_lakey_alene-deaconess_records
	$birth_records\price_james_malcolm-deaconess_birth_parent_description$	birth_records\price_james_malcolm-deaconess_birth_parent_description
	$birth_records\price_james_malcolm-deaconess_consent_of_adoption$	birth_records\price_james_malcolm-deaconess_consent_of_adoption
Ω Census son	1 Apr 1940	Follett, Lipscomb, Texas, United States [12]
	Homer and Katie were back in Follett in 1940, per the census. Homer was running the dry cleaning plant, Katie was teaching. Homer's mother Kate Gentry lived with them - she reported that in 1935 she had been living in Amarillo. Kate Gentry's brother, Samuel Robert Williamson (Homer's "Uncle Bobby") lived next door. Witness Role: Principal: [I190] Homer PRICE Witness Role: head of household: [I190] Homer PRICE Witness Role: wife: [I191] Katie Alma RIFFLE Witness Role: son: [I2] James Malcolm PRICE Witness Role: Mother: [I446] Catherine Echols WILLIAMSON
Religion	1941	Methodist Church, Follett, Lipscomb, Texas, United States [13]
	Methodist
	$education_records\price_mack_b1933_churchschool$	education_records\price_mack_b1933_churchschool
Name	UNTIL 1951
	Mackie
	He was called Mackie through most of school, shortening it to Mack once he got to college.
Graduation	May 1951	Follett High School, Follett, Lipscomb, Texas, United States [14]
		follett-high-seniors-1951-yearbookpage Keywords: Picture
Graduation	28 May 1956	Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, United States [15]
	BA in Journalism
	$education_records\price_mack-college_graduation_program$	education_records\price_mack-college_graduation_program
Military Service	From 1957 to 1961 [15]
	Cold War, US Navy
	Mack attended Naval OCS and then served in the US Navy during the Cold War, after which he remained in the Naval Reserves. His first assignment, immediately upon receiving his commission, was aboard USNS Kelly on a cruise to Newfoundland.
Graduation	1 Mar 1957	Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, United States [15]
	He graduated from Naval Officer Candidate School, receiving his commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy.
Occupation	From 1961 to 1962	Monterrey High School, Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, United States
	teacher
		price-mack-teacher-profile
		price-mack-teacher-profile2
Residence	1961	2102 33rd St. Apt 72, Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, United States
	Mack and Debbie's first home Witness Role: Spouse: [I3] Deborah CHAMBERLAIN
Occupation	From 1963 to 1965	Tarleton State College, Stephenville, Erath, Texas, United States
	teacher
	He was Director of Public Information and Assistant Proecssor of Journalism
		price-mack-tarleton
Residence	Feb 1964	Follett, Lipscomb, Texas, United States [16, 17]
	Mack and Debbie moved to Follett Witness Role: Spouse: [I3] Deborah CHAMBERLAIN where they went into the newspaper business
Occupation	From 1965 to 1966	The Houston Post, Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	writer
	Occasional feature writer at the Houston Post. He wrote a how-to on building a patio - for $26!!!! Photos are of Mack, his wife, and his daughter Kathy, and the patio is the one at their house. He wrote a Father's Day article about the then-new idea of being present at the birth of his daughter Leslie.
	$indiv_histories\price_mack-building_a_patio-1$	indiv_histories\price_mack-building_a_patio-1
	$indiv_histories\price_mack-building_a_patio-2$	indiv_histories\price_mack-building_a_patio-2
	$indiv_histories\price_mack-easier-on-father-too-1$	indiv_histories\price_mack-easier-on-father-too-1
	$indiv_histories\price_mack-easier-on-father-too-2$	indiv_histories\price_mack-easier-on-father-too-2
Occupation	1968	Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	public relations manager
	He worked for Trunkline Natural Gas, which became part of Panhandle Eastern.
Ω Baptism Witness	13 Apr 1968	St. George's Episcopal Church, Houston, Harris, Texas, United States [18]
	Reverend Earle Martin officiating. Godparents: Lynne Woodward and Barbara Page. There is also a Baptismal Candle in possession of Leslie Price, with date written on the box. The writing was done by Leslie's mother, on or near the date of the baptism. Witness Role: Principal: [I1] Leslie Diane PRICE Witness Role: Godparent: [I772] Barbara CHAMBERLAIN Witness Role: Witness: [I3] Deborah CHAMBERLAIN Witness Role: Godparent: [I768] Lynne Taber CHAMBERLAIN Witness Role: Witness: [I2] James Malcolm PRICE Witness Role: Witness: [I196] Kathryn Elizabeth PRICE
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
FACTfamily	Abt 1972	Houston, Harris, Texas, United States [19]
	visit to Jimmie's cousin in Houston
	Jimmie, Sybil, Dan, Debbie, and Drew came to Houston for a visit with Jimmie's cousin Mack Price and his family. Their car was full of clothes, parked in the driveway - and was broken into while they were there, most of the clothes stolen. Witness Role: Principal: [I203] James Bartley PRICE Witness Role: Witness: [I202] Sybil Marie ABSHER Witness Role: Witness: [I3] Deborah CHAMBERLAIN Witness Role: Witness: [I193] Dan Terry PRICE Witness Role: Witness: [I195] Debbra Ann PRICE Witness Role: Witness: [I199] Drew Garrick PRICE Witness Role: Witness: [I2] James Malcolm PRICE Witness Role: Witness: [I196] Kathryn Elizabeth PRICE Witness Role: Witness: [I1] Leslie Diane PRICE
Travel	Aug 1974	Teton, Wyoming, United States
	Pack Trip through the Tetons
	The Price Family went on a Pack Trip through the Grand Tetons, while making a film for the Wyoming Travel Commission. Witness Role: Companion: [I3] Deborah CHAMBERLAIN Witness Role: Companion: [I196] Kathryn Elizabeth PRICE Witness Role: Companion: [I1] Leslie Diane PRICE
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
Letters	18 Nov 1984	Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	Letter from Barbara Riffle to Mack and Debbie Price
	$letters\riffle_barbara_to_price_mack_18_nov_1984_[transcript]$	letters\riffle_barbara_to_price_mack_18_nov_1984_[transcript] Keywords: Document
	$letters\riffle_barbara_to_price_mack_sent_18_nov_1984$	letters\riffle_barbara_to_price_mack_sent_18_nov_1984 Keywords: Document
Residence	1988	Houston, Harris, Texas, United States [4]
Residence	1993	Houston, Harris, Texas, United States [20]
Anecdote	Feb 1995	Houston, Harris, Texas, United States [21]
	was awarded the Plaque of Merit
	The Plaque of Merit is an award from the U.S. Coast Guard. This is the highest award given by the Coast Guard to its Auxiliary
Anecdote	2002 [1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 22]
	began a search for his birth parents
	Mack had always been curious about the circumstances of his birth, and his birth parents. His adoption was never a secret, and he had no complaints about his adoptive parents, it was just a natural curiosity about his biological heritage. He contracted with a Private Detective agency specializing in this sort of thing, and over a period of years they searched, and then helped him with the legal paperwork to get the files unsealed. The search was successful, the files were opened, the adoption home sent their records. All of the resulting information will be attached to this event so it can be easily referenced.
Family Search ID	LX3Z-D84
Find A Grave ID	202195238
Letters	3 Aug 2004	Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	From Marie Kennedy
	$letters\kennedy_marie_to_price_mack_3_aug_2004$	letters\kennedy_marie_to_price_mack_3_aug_2004
Photos	Go to Photo Gallery for James Malcolm Price
Ω Graduation Witness	26 May 2007	Mayde Creek High School, Houston, Harris, Texas, United States [23]
	Casey was elected President of Student Council his senior year. As such, he led the Pledge of Allegiance and Introducton of Guests at the Commencement Ceremony. Witness Role: Principal: [I198] Curtis Wilford CLERKLEY Witness Role: Witness: [I635] Brandon James CLERKLEY Witness Role: Witness: [I197] Curtis Wilford CLERKLEY Witness Role: Witness: [I2] James Malcolm PRICE Witness Role: Witness: [I196] Kathryn Elizabeth PRICE Witness Role: Witness: [I1] Leslie Diane PRICE
Occupation	Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	writer
	He was always writing something. Attached here are samples
	$indiv_histories\price_mack_wild_grey_yonder$	indiv_histories\price_mack_wild_grey_yonder
	$indiv_histories\price_mack_wild_grey_yonder_cutlines$	indiv_histories\price_mack_wild_grey_yonder_cutlines
_UID	BD46215AB1E0497BA1334643CCB5A551A7AD
Death	16 Dec 2007	Houston, Harris, Texas, United States [3, 24]
	Cause: cardiopulmonary arrest due to COPD and CHF
	$death_records\price_james_malcom-memorial_service$	death_records\price_james_malcom-memorial_service
	$death_records\price_james_malcolm-obituary_[transcript]$	death_records\price_james_malcolm-obituary_[transcript] Keywords: Document
Burial	Aft 16 Dec 2007 [25]
	Buried at sea.
Person ID	I2	My Genealogy
Last Modified	27 Apr 2025

Father	Homer Price, b. 9 Feb 1894, Eureka Springs, Carroll, Arkansas, United States d. 30 Nov 1960, Follett, Lipscomb, Texas, United States (Age 66 years)
Relationship	Adopted
Mother	Katie Alma Riffle, b. 17 Aug 1901, Forreston, Ellis, Texas, United States d. 23 Oct 1994, Hereford, Deaf Smith, Texas, United States (Age 93 years)
Relationship	Adopted
Marriage	20 Jun 1926	Follett, Lipscomb, Texas, United States [26]
	The Homer and Katie love story --- They were dating and in love - they postponed marriage until Homer could provide for Katie. Katie tells that whenever they walked down the street Homer would reach out for her hand, reassurance that she was by his side. Then WWI came along. Before Homer left he gave Katie a lovely necklace and asked her to wait for him - she was quite beautiful, I'm sure Homer didn't want one of the other boys to "steal" her. Upon his return from the wilds of war (spent entirely in San Antonio, TX), they were married. Interesting to note - Homer's son also married a beautiful woman he was very much in love with, she also became a teacher, they, too were prone to holding hands. Both romances, Homer's and Mack's, were cut short by unexpected death - Homer himself died suddenly of heart attack and Debbie (Mack's wife) died suddenly as well. Throughout their marriage, Homer and Katie were active members of the American Legion, and regular supporters of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch. Katie was a member of the American Red Cross, Homer participated in the Boy Scouts
	$marriage_records\price_homer-b1894-marriagelicense1$	marriage_records\price_homer-b1894-marriagelicense1
	$marriage_records\price_homer-b1894-weddingannouncement$	marriage_records\price_homer-b1894-weddingannouncement
	$marriage_records\price_homer-b1894-marriagelicense2$	marriage_records\price_homer-b1894-marriagelicense2
Family ID	F2	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Father	Harry Cruce Cordum, b. 23 Nov 1912, Oklahoma, United States d. 3 Dec 2004, Noble, Richland, Illinois, United States (Age 92 years)
Relationship	Birth
Mother	Eunice Madeline Lackey, b. 24 Sep 1913, Hopewell, Baxter, Arkansas, United States d. 8 Dec 1990, Harris, Texas, United States (Age 77 years)
Relationship	Birth
Notes	DNA led us to Eunice Madeline Lackey as the birth mother. This has been confirmed, agreed upon, and made public with Eunice's family. DNA leads us to Harry Cruce Cordum as the birth father. Confirmation pending.
Family ID	F1267	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Wife 1 Deborah Chamberlain, b. 7 May 1940, Presbyterian Hospital, Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States d. 16 Jan 1990, Houston, Harris, Texas, United States (Age 49 years)

Marriage 23 Nov 1961 St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas, United States [27, 28, 29]

Thanksgiving Day

$marriage_records\price-james-chamberlain-deborah-marrlicense1.jpg$

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$marriage_records\chamberlain-debbie-wedding-announcement$

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$marriage_records\chamberlain-deborah-price-james-marriage-announcement$

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$marriage_records\price-james-chamberlain-deborah-marrlicense2.jpg$

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Children

+	1. Living
	2. Living

Family ID F1 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 5 Jun 2022

Wife 2	Goldie Hemry
Family ID	F863	Group Sheet \| Family Chart
Last Modified	22 Aug 2023

Event Map

	Ω Residence Child - From 1933 to 1935 - Canyon, Randall, Texas, United States
	Birth - 14 Sep 1933 - Home of Redeeming Love, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, United States
	Adopted - 7 Dec 1933 - Home of Redeeming Love, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, United States
	Ω Census son - 1 Apr 1940 - Follett, Lipscomb, Texas, United States
	Religion - Methodist - 1941 - Methodist Church, Follett, Lipscomb, Texas, United States
	Graduation - May 1951 - Follett High School, Follett, Lipscomb, Texas, United States
	Graduation - 28 May 1956 - Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, United States
	Graduation - 1 Mar 1957 - Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, United States
	Occupation - teacher - From 1961 to 1962 - Monterrey High School, Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, United States
	Residence - 1961 - 2102 33rd St. Apt 72, Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, United States
	Marriage - 23 Nov 1961 - St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas, United States
	Occupation - teacher - From 1963 to 1965 - Tarleton State College, Stephenville, Erath, Texas, United States
	Residence - Feb 1964 - Follett, Lipscomb, Texas, United States
	Occupation - writer - From 1965 to 1966 - The Houston Post, Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	Occupation - public relations manager - 1968 - Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	Ω Baptism Witness - 13 Apr 1968 - St. George's Episcopal Church, Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	FACTfamily - visit to Jimmie's cousin in Houston - Abt 1972 - Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	Travel - Pack Trip through the Tetons - Aug 1974 - Teton, Wyoming, United States
	Letters - 18 Nov 1984 - Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	Residence - 1988 - Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	Residence - 1993 - Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	Anecdote - was awarded the Plaque of Merit - Feb 1995 - Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	Letters - 3 Aug 2004 - Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	Ω Graduation Witness - 26 May 2007 - Mayde Creek High School, Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	Occupation - writer - - Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
	Death - Cause: cardiopulmonary arrest due to COPD and CHF - 16 Dec 2007 - Houston, Harris, Texas, United States

= Link to Google Earth

Photos
$headshots\PRICE James Malcolm$ headshots\PRICE James Malcolm

Sources

[S535] AdoptDecree - Price James Malcolm by Homer and Katie Price.
[S22] BirthCert - Price James Malcolm.
[S194] Social Security Death Index, Number: 464-44-7578; Issue State: Texas; Issue Date: Before 1951.
Birth date: 14 Sep 1933Birth place: Death date: 16 Dec 2007Death place: Houston, Harris, Texas, United States of America
[S195] U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1.
Birth date: 14 Sep 1933Birth place: Residence date: 1988Residence place: Houston, TX
[S24] Description of Natural Parents.
[S528] BirthCert - Lakey James Robert.
[S534] AdoptPetition - Lakey James Robert custody to Home of Redeeming Love.
[S538] BirthReg - Price James Malcolm.
[S536] RecordMed – Alene Lakey.
[S539] AdoptConsent - Home of Redeeming Love.
[S540] AdoptPetition - Records opened.
[S1164] Cens1940 - TX Lipscomb Follett ed148-4.
[S1176] Education - Price, Mackie - Vacation Church School.
[S71] Follett High Graduation Notes, 5 out of 12 called him "swell", one called him a "bookkeeping brain", one said he was the "best extemporaneous speaker", and one called him a "woman chaser" !!.
[S1485] News - Price James Naval Commission.
[S85] Mack Price Interview.
[S86] Letters to Mack Price.
[S545] Baptism - Certificate Price Leslie Diane.
[S167] Correspondence - Mack Price to Leslie Price.
[S195] U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1.
Birth date: 14 Sep 1933Birth place: Residence date: 1993Residence place: Houston, TX
[S76] PipeLines.
[S537] AdoptPetition - Price James Malcolm to open file.
[S103] MCHS Graduation.
[S1322] DeathCert - Price James Malcolm.
[S1033] Find a Grave: James Malcolm "Mack" Price.
[S1175] MarrCert - Price Homer to Riffle Katie.
[S839] MarrAnnc - Price James to Chamberlain Deborah.
[S840] MarrAnnc - Price James to Chamberlain Deborah Lubbock Paper.
[S1174] MarrCert - Price James to Chamberlain Deborah.