Downtown~'77 or '78

Upon closely inspecting this picture, submitted by Eddie Hargrove, I realized that this is a time when the movie theater was still intact. It is also before the downtown fire which destroyed several buildings including the nostalgic skating rink, I think. The old water tower is also in that picture. Thank you for sharing these pieces of Goree's past.

A Tribute To Gary Hale

For Gary Hale~

The first day and first class of our sophomore year we were waiting for the teacher to come in when suddenly a new kid came sashaying into the room. We were all shocked as no one expected someone new.

This guy was a little short but stout, and had Glenn Campbell hair. You know - that not one hair out of place – look! Anyway he stopped near the teacher’s desk, with his head cocked a little and leaning on one hip. He just stood there for a long while gazing at each one of us, then came over and sat down behind me. I thought, “What’s this guy trying to pull?” His name was Gary Hale. Later in the year he admitted to Becky Hawkins and I that he was looking for someone to cheat off of that first day, and made a big mistake!

Gary turned into a good friend that year, though I didn’t care much for his music, except for the Johnny Cash stuff. I was quite shocked to hear of his passing the other day, didn’t know he had been in poor health. Gary had a confidence and manner about him that was quite commendable. My sympathy to Marsha and the family!

This is my third classmate to lose from two different small high schools and it’s always difficult. God bless us all!

David Kelley
-Arlington, Texas

Job Fair

The KCVG, Knox County Visioning Group, hosted a job fair this evening and our town was well-represented. Earlier this afternoon I was asked if our town was having a caucus following the primary. After looking up the definitions for caucus and primary, I deducted that there were no plans for having a caucus; but we were having a primary election. (Am I showin' my age?) I asked Miss Margaret, “Now, why do you want to have a caucus?” To which she replied, “I want someone like you to represent us and put Goree on the map.”

After tonight’s job fair, I can honestly say that a few more folks know that something is going on in Goree, Texas. And even though we are ‘off’ the map except for an exit sign or two, we will not be ignored. As you can see by our booth, we stirred up some ‘talk’ about our town.

Thank you KCVG for giving Goree a place to pitch our new vision and for your support in putting Goree back on the map.

In Loving Memory~Dub Shahan

J. W. Shahan

McCauley-Smith Funeral Home Friday, February 29, 2008
Goree, Texas - J.W. Shahan, 82, died Wednesday, February 27, 2008 in the Haskell Memorial Hospital in Haskell, Texas.Graveside services will be 11:00 am Saturday, March 1, 2008 in the Goree Cemetery in Goree, Texas, Adrin Fletcher will officiate. Burial will be under the direction of McCauley-Smith Funeral Home in Munday, Texas.

Mr. Shahan was born May 7, 1925 in Stevens County, Texas. He married Jimmie Faye Proffitt October 29, 1949 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. She preceded him in death. He was a farmer and a lifetime resident of the Hefner community.

Survivors: One Daughter: Jeanette Blake and husband Charles of Goree, Texas; Six sons: Joe and wife Glenna Shahan; Lloyd and wife Nancy Shahan, both of Munday, Texas; Harold and Lois Shahan of Woodson, Texas; Derrell and wife Sherry Shahan of Knox City, Texas; David and wife Shannon Shahan of Woodson, Texas and Lonnie and wife Christy Shahan of Goree, Texas.One Brother: Jimmy Joe Shahan of Graham, Texas; One Sister: Violet Sandefur of Marlow, Oklahoma; Fifteen grandchildren and Thirteen great grandchildren.

In Loving Memory~Gene Beaver

WAYMON GENE BEAVER

GOREE, Texas — Waymon Gene Beaver, 77, died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Munday Church of Christ with Adrin Fletcher officiating. Burial will be in Goree Cemetery under the direction of McCauley-Smith Funeral Home.

Mr. Beaver had served in the Air Force and was in the shoe repair business.

Survivors include his wife, Doris Decker Beaver of Goree; a son, David Gene Beaver of Brownfield, Texas; two daughters, Pattie Lynn Finley of Brownfield, and Brenda Carrol Patterson of Vera, Texas; seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

In Loving Memory~

Sammy M. Dobbs 64, of Honey Grove, Texas passed away Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, Tx. Services will be 10:00 A.M. Friday, Feb. 29, 2008, Honey Grove Church of Christ in Honey Grove, Tx. Mr Dean Kilmer and Mr. Bright Newhouse officiating burial will follow in Shiloh Cemetery.

Family will receive friends 7 until 8 Thursday Evening in Cooper-Sorrells Chapel , Honey Grove. Pallbearers will be Joe Wishard, Jimmy Newhouse, Leland Tucker, John White, Bob Milford, Bob Wilkins, Clint Dobbs and Stewart Richardson. Mr. Dobbs was born April 24, 1943 to James Franklin & Mary Lou Newhouse Dobbs in Honey Grove, Tx. Sammy was married to Fran Warren in Goree, Texas on September 3, 1965.

Mr. Dobbs had worked as a Loan Officer for USDA Farm Service Agency, but had returned to farming and ranching. He had also served on the board of Directors of the Federal Land Bank Board. Mr. Dobbs had preached the Gospel to several different congregations for over 40 years and had served as an elder for a number of years. He was a member of the Western Heights Church of Christ in Sherman, Tx.

He is survived by wife Fran Dobbs of the home, Daughter & Son-in-law April & Preston Boles of Honey Grove, Grandson Tanner Luke Boles and Granddaughter Kendall Layne Boles, Brother & Sister-in-law Larry & Nancy Dobbs of Honey Grove, Mother-in-law Eva Warren of Paris, several cousins, nieces and nephews and a Host of Friends. For online tributes go to www.coopersorrells.com

Mailing Address for Fran Dobbs, 4809 Country Road 2815, Honey Grove, TX 75446

The Jail House

Landmark: Goree Jail. Some people still alive probably stayed here at least one night in this fine establishment. Would love to hear some of the stories about this still standing piece of our history...

My Home Town

I found your website today, It looks good. I'm impressed that Goree is undergoing a revitalization campaign. I hate the thought of it drying up and blowing away like so many small Texas towns have already done. I wish you much success. Even though I've been away from there 35 years, It will always be my Home Town.

I've attached a few aerial photos that you might like. I took these sometime in the late 70's , around 1977 or 1978, I can't remember for sure.

Eddie Hargrove

The First School House

The First School South of the Brazos River
By John H. Bates
1964

The minutes of the commissioners court of Knox County of May, 1888, on record in the county clerk’s office in Benjamin, record that the court appointed a Mr. Reeder (Grandfather of Knox City’s Joe Reeder) and J.H. Bates, (my grandfather) as school trustees for a district that included all of Knox County lying south of the Brazos River in Knox County.

Soon after the appointment, J.H. Bates and Newt Martin, who lived across the line in Baylor County made a trip to Albany, in wagons, and brought back two loads of lumber, which they used to construct a small one-room school house.

The new school house was built on the quarter-section west of what is now the E. A. Jones home place. This land is the northeast one-fourth of Section 19, Block 2, D & W Railways Company.

In 1890, Bill and Ab Benedict were operating a store and Post Office about one-fourth mile north of what is now the John Cure home place. The store was on the east side of Section 22, Block 2, D & W Railways. This section is know to early settlers of the community as the Benedict section, and is the section which they filed on when they came to Knox County in 1886.

T. M. Anderson was hired as the first teacher for the new school. Among the pupils were children of the Martins, Newsoms, Parks, Calthrops, Sherills, and Bates.

On opening day of school, Bud Holt came to the school house with a sulky plow, and plowed a furrow across the prairie to what is known as the Lawson place north of the present town of Goree. This furrow was for his children to follow in crossing the prairie.

Other teachers of this first school were Jeff Bowden and Miss Laura Bedford, who later became Mrs. E. C. Fancher of Seymour. Later, Miss Rebecca Bedford, sister of Mrs. Fancher, taught the school. In 1892, during the time Miss Rebecca taught, a tornado demolished the building. The community rebuilt the school, using some of the lumber that was not destroyed by the storm, but moved the school to the southeast corner of the Bedford section, later known as the John Cartwright farm, and today is land owned by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jones. The site of the school was on land that lies west of the present day Farm Road 266, and one mile south of Hefner. The building stayed there until at least 1902 and Lee Coffman taught one term there.

The building was finally sold to E. M. Coffman and used as a tenant house for many years.

Today, some of the lumber that J. H. Bates hauled from Albany in 1887 is in a house on the west edge of Goree on land owned by Mrs. Georgia Maples and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Calbert Hasken and children.

Obituary...

Joe Sanders
Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Joe Sanders, 79, of Wichita Falls, Texas passed away Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008 in Wichita Falls. Services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. John Dillard, officiating. Burial will be 2 Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008 at Union Cemetery in Crossroads, Texas under the direction of Lunn’s Colonial Funeral Home.

Joe was born Jan. 8, 1929 in Nacogdoches, Texas to Joseph W. and Sally Hopkins Sanders. Joe graduated from Goree High School in Goree, Texas. He and Doris Winona Pace were married on May 30, 1952 in Dallas, Texas. Joe served in the U.S.Air Force from 1948 to 1952 where he fought in the Korean Conflict. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. Joe worked for Chance Voght Aircraft for 2 years before going to work for IBM where he worked for 34 years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Wichita Falls and belonged to the Winsome Sunday School class. He also belonged to the 84 domino club and was involved in exercise classes at Rolling Meadows. His favorite pastime was spending time at the ranch with friends and family. He especially enjoyed hunting turkey, deer, quail, dove, hogs and ducks and being outdoors, reading and traveling.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Greg Sanders; sisters, Izora Russell, Stella Peterson, and Inez Martin.

Survivors include his wife, Winona; a son, Gary Sanders and daughter, Glenda Peters; 4 sisters, Merle Foster, Ida Lewis, Opal Tipton and Wanda Cunningham; 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A family visitation will be held Tuesday from 7 to 8 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to American Heart Association, 2630 West Freeway Suite 250, Ft. Worth, TX 76102 or American Lung Association 8150 Brookriver Dr., Suite S102, Dallas, TX 75247or First United Methodist Church.

Tributes may be sent to the family at www.lunnscolonial.com

Obituary...

Gary Lee Hale
Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Abilene, Texas - Gary Lee Hale, 55, died Monday, February 18, 2008, in Abilene.His funeral service with Pat Andrews officiating will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 21, at the Northwest Church of Christ, 1141 N. Willis with burial following in the Goree Cemetery in Goree. Viewing and visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 HWY 277 South.

Gary was born in Haskell on September 23, 1952 the son of Robert Neil Hale and Carolyn Wallace Hale. He grew up in Abilene and married Marsha Carol Watson in Goree on May 13, 1969. He enjoyed selling cars and going to auctions and was self employed in the car business most of his life, winning the salesman of the year award in the 70's. Gary was a talented musician. He sang, played the guitar, cut several records and had many fond memories of playing at the Stephenville Opry and participating in numerous Country Music Showdowns. He enjoyed fishing, camping and boating.

Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Marsha Hale of Abilene; three daughters, Marcie Tomlinson and husband, Jody of Abilene, Donna Gaynor of Abilene, Leslie Fisher and husband, Harry of Pampa; his mother and step-father, Carolyn and Lloyd Reeves of Hawley; his brother, Ronnie Hale of Hawley; grandchildren, Robert and Jeremy Oaks, Whitney Harward, Sherry Elizabeth, Paige, and Tanner Gaynor, Ashton and Paisley Fisher, Trinity Fisher, and Ryan and Jaden Tomlinson; and close friend of the family, Jack McCaffrey of Colorado Springs, Colorado.His father and a daughter, Carolyn Elizabeth Hale preceded him in death.Gary loved his friends and family and spent his life helping and caring about others. He will be missed.

Pallbearers for the service will be Barry Byrd, Stan Rodriguez, Darrell Breland, Cody Morrow, Steve Coates and Kurt Johnson; honorary pallbearers are, Vince Coates, J.D. Stoddard and Herb Pittman.

Online condolences may be left for the family at
http://www.elmwoodfuneral.com/

Millard Neal McSwain Guest Book

The Guest Book for Millard Neal McSwain will remain online until February 22, 2008, after which it will no longer be available for reading and adding entries. We want you to be aware of this should you wish to visit, print or sponsor the Guest Book prior to it going offline.Family and friends take comfort from Guest Books and value them as a lasting way to honor loved ones. A sponsored Guest Book allows visitors to continue to add entries on anniversaries, holidays, and other occasions. To learn how to keep this Guest Book online, click on the link below or cut and paste it into your browser address bar.

http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?I=GO000101736790

To receive or gift a hardcover or softcover printed version of the Guest Book, please click on the link below or cut and paste it into your browser address bar.
http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?I=PG000101736790

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Legacy.com at info@legacy.com

USS New York

USS New York

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center. That fact amazes me and proves the scripture that God brings good from bad situations. I love scraps! Screendoors, windows, barbwire, buckets...you name it and we're gonna turn it into something beautiful. We want to restore the Goree Memorial Building Garage Sale and give it a wonderful twist. Soon, very soon, we will begin accepting hand-me-down donations again in order that we can restore what the rain destroyed. God will bring good from our disfortune.

Terry's Blog

Terry Patterson now has a blog that we can keep in touch with up to date information on his healing. There is a link in the sidebar that will remain there until his full recovery. Keep praying because it is working.

A Grandson's Love

I received this from Terry's daughter this AM. Bentley is Terry's grandson...
Cindy Hunt McWhorter

I have to tell you the cutest story and one that Dad will love (we have to start writing these down for him to read soon).

Bentley and Dad have always played baseball. He had that kid hitting with a metal bat when he was 18 months old. Bentley brought about 30 baseballs, his bat and TWO gloves...one for Poppy, one for him and his batting helmet with him when they came in Sunday night. He has been so upset not to be able to see his Poppy. Yesterday I noticed something in the bed with him.....it was a baseball! Adam had brought it to Dad b/c Bentley knew Poppy would want it. It is the cutest thing. The nurses put it in Dad's hand and it stayed there all night long. Bentley even signed it...."Bentley", "I love you Poppy" and "Let's play!"

Downtown~

This fun picture was submitted by Jan Roberts. Lonnie McSwain in December of 1956 in front of Trainham Grocery with his new bicycle. Trainhams' 1955 Ford is in front of grocery store. Thanks so much Jan!!!

(Notice that the theater building still existed in this 1956 picture of downtown.)

Prayer Alert~

Hey, I just spoke with Mandy. She asked everyone to pray for Terry. They are pulling him off the ventilator & waking him up. They want to see how he does on his own. There's still problems with his kidneys. His creatin level is too high at this point. Please pray!
Cindy

HISTORY: Goree Football 1964

HISTORY: Goree Football 1964
by Jan Roberts (Class of '65)

Friday Night Lights were shining bright on November 13, 1964, as Senior Quarterback Terry Patterson led the Goree Wildcats to a District Championship in 8-man football by beating Bryson 42-12. This was the beginning of bringing home many football trophies to GHS.

After clinching District the Wildcats went on the next Friday night to play Harrold and Terry broke his collarbone in that game and therefore couldn't play in the Bi-District game at Sterling City. Tommy Cloud who played center took over as quarterback. Sterling City won 28-6, but it was a good game. Thanks for the memories, Wildcats of 1964.

Goree Football

Team members were: Dickie Green (All District Guard), Wayne Birkenfeld, Don Hicks, Jose Andrade, Eddie Giles (All District Second Team), Mike Hord, Chuck Roberts, Roy Lee Russell, Tommy Cloud, Charles Kidd, James Allen, Donny Land, Ray Hudson, King Hardeman and Terry Patterson (All District Quarterback). Coach Arlon Alexander.
This article is written in memory of Coach Alexander, Eddie Giles, James Allen and Wayne Birkenfeld and dedicated to team members that have had certain health and career challenges in their lives. Thanks for the Friday Night memories and for giving me a course in Football 101 instead of Algebra. Watching college and pro football has been a hobby of mine through the years and some people ask me how I know so much about football. Well, I tell them living in Goree going to football games was what we did from the first grade through twelfth. Not much anything else to do in Goree except sports. I wouldn't change a thing.

(Let's keep the history of Goree football alive; write yours and submit it to the Goree Blog.)

Prayer Alert~

Terry Patterson, Jonell's son, had an aortic aneurism last night. They performed surgery at 2:00 a.m. Please pray!

Terry Patterson is the son of Lee & Jonell Patterson. He graduated from G.H.S. in 1965. They lived north of Goree down on the river. My mother, Lorene Hunt, & Jonell are sisters. Their mother is Mamie Fitzgerald. I was just talking to my sister, Sharon Hunt Fox (1958) & she remembers you, Reba. She got out her 1953 annual when you were a Jr. I hope this sheds some light for all of you trying to figure out who Terry is. Thank you for being concerned & for all your prayers. If there are no other problems that arise, they say Terry is doing good. His recovery will be long. He has 9 months before Goree Homecoming! We believe that he will be there better than before!
Cindy Hunt McWhorter

Meet & Greet!

On Monday, February 18th at 7:00 p.m., we will be having a "Meet, Greet & Eat" townhall meeting. We have the wonderful priviledge of welcoming our Knox County Economic Development Director, Remelle Farrar, to our little part of Knox County. She will also be our guest speaker for the evening. She wants to hear our vision for Goree's future and she wants to share her goals and agenda. Come, participate and keep Goree alive.