Candy Barr: Encyclopedia II - Candy Barr - Early life

Candy Barr - Early life

She was born Juanita Dale Slusher in Edna, Texas, the youngest of five children born to Elvin Forest "Doc" Slusher (August 19, 1909-May 2, 1969) and Sadie Mae Sumner (October 1, 1908-March 11, 1945). Her siblings were Leota Slusher (born 1927); Keleta Pauline "Kay" Slusher (born 1928); Gary Slusher (1931-1972); and Forest Slusher (1933-2003).

After her mother's tragic death, falling from a moving car on the highway in nearby Victoria County, when Juanita was age 9, her father married Etta Agnes Holden (June 18, 1908-January 19, 1988). Etta was divorced from Guy Goggans and had four children, Solon Goggans (born 1927); Nila Fae Goggans (1929-2003); Ruby Yvonne Goggans (1933-2005); and Charles Edward Goggans (1937-2003). Doc and Etta Slusher then had two children together, Travis Leroy Slusher (born 1946) and Katherine Pauline "Kathy" Slusher (born 1948).

Juanita's early years were reportedly scarred by the trauma of sexual abuse from a neighbor and baby-sitter. At 13 years of age, she ran away from home and went to Dallas, where she landed in a den of prostitution and white slavery. At age 14, she reportedly married her first husband, Billy Joe Debbs (or Dabbs), an alleged safecracker, but the marriage lasted only a brief time. She also worked as a cocktail waitress and cigarette girl.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Early life", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki