His bride was 17 - year - old Melva Miller , a cousin of Roger Miller , who would later become a successful song writer and actor himself .
Wooley married for the first time in 1940 .
Wooley 's bride was 17 - year - old Melva Miller , a cousin of Roger Miller , who would later become a successful song writer and actor himself .
Wooley married for the first time in 1940 .