James William Goree
&
Mary Ella Gowdy

James William Goree was the son of Robert Gilliam Goree and Frances Elizabeth Johnson (1836 - 1865).  He was born on June 26, 1862 in Georgia.  After his mother's death, he and his father moved to Fannin County, Texas and, then, later to Grayson County, Texas.  James' occupation was a railroad bridge builder and contractor. He married Mary Ella Gowdy on October 20, 1892.  Shortly after their marriage, James and Mary had one of the first greenhouses in north Texas.  The greenhouse was built out of old church windows for Mary to pursue her passion for growing plants and flowers which she shared with family and friends.  This first greenhouse developed into a successful greenhouse and florist business.  They moved the business to Paris, Lamar County, Texas in 1909. 

J. W. Goree Home and Greenhouse Whitewright, Texas

ca 1909
Postcard of Goree home inherited by daughter, Ruth Elizabeth Goree Eubanks.

J.W. Goree died of a stroke in 1917 when he was only 55.  James’ death certificate states that his funeral was held at the family residence, east of town (Paris) on 15 Aug 1917.  His occupation was that of “florist”.  Burial was held at Evergreen Cemetery in Paris, Lamar County, Texas.

Cost of funeral:
Casket size 6/3: $125.00
Embalming: $25.00
Hearse: $10.00
7 Autos: $35.00
Coach: $5.00
Flower Car: $3.00
Open grave: $5.00
Total: $208.00

Tuesday, August 14, 1917

The death of Mr. J.W. Goree at his home in the eastern part of the city at 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon has caused genuine sorrow in many of the homes of this city where he had shed the radiance of his splendid Christian character.  It is probably that no man who has ever lived in this city has made so many true friends as has Mr. Goree.
He was stricken with something like apoplexy Saturday night and never rallied, death ensuing at 4:30 Monday afternoon.  The end of his life came at a time when seemingly he was just starting on larger things for the city of Paris in incident to the installation of a modern system of greenhouses.  Mr. Goree had just recently returned from Chicago where he had purchased a large stock of plants, etc. for his new greenhouse, now being erected just south of the city.  While in Chicago he visited quite a number of the larger places in that city and section devoted to floriculture and had planned improvements in his system here in keeping with the  new features which he had found in his investigations.  It is sincerely hoped that the death of this good man will not necessarily mean the abandonment of the vast enterprise which he had planned.
Mr. Goree was born in Georgia, June 26, 1861 and moved to Texas in boyhood with his parents who located in Grayson county.  He married Miss Mary Gowdy in 1892 and started out in life as a railroad bridge builder, later he became engaged in the occupation of a florist and keeper of greenhouses and located at Whitewright, where he remained several years and built up a big business. Seeing an opportunity to enlarge however, although well established, he moved to Paris 9 years ago. 
He is survived by his wife and one son, John; and 4 daughters, Misses Ruth, Pearl, Mabel and Sarah. The funeral service will be held at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at his late residence, Rev. L.C. Kirkes of the Central Presbyterian church
officiating, assisted by a minister from Whitewright.  Burial will be at Evergreen cemetery.

Mary Ella Gowdy Goree

THE PARIS NEWS August 17, 1961 Funeral services for Mrs. James W. Goree, prominent Paris florist and member of a pioneer Grayson County family, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Fry & Gibbs Chapel, with the Rev. Melville D. Nesbit officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Mrs. Goree, 87, died Thursday at 10:45 a.m. at the Sanitarium of Paris, where she had been a patient for several weeks. She had been a florist here for nearly 60 years. Mary Ella was born 26 Oct 1873, at Whitewright, Texas, where her parents, John Gowdy and Sallie Porter, had settled after coming to Texas. The Gowdys gave part of the land to build the town of Whitewright. The former Mary Ella Gowdy married James W. Goree on 20 Oct 1892 at Whitewright. She had attended public schools there and also Grayson College. Before coming to Paris in 1904, Mr. & Mrs. Goree had been in the flower business in Whitewright. Prior to that, growing flowers had been a hobby for Mrs. Goree. Their first greenhouse was built out of windows salvaged from an old church. They opened their uptown store on Lamar Avenue in 1916. Mrs. Goree became manager when her husband died in 1917. The Goree greenhouses have been very successful. Goree flowers have been presented to two Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft; and other prominent persons, such as William Jennings Bryan and Philip Sousa. The greenhouses have always been a family affair. Collecting paper weights was a favorite hobby of Mrs. Goree. She had more than 200. She was a member of the Central Presbyterian Church, the Chamber of Commerce, and several florist associations. She was ever thoughtful and generous of her friends and numerous organizations in Paris. She gave flowers for many public affairs and charities, and to hospitals for distribution among the ill. On Easter, Mother's Day and Christmas many elder persons, shut-ins and the hospitals were remembered. Survivors include her children, Mrs. Ruth Eubank of Houston, John Goree, Mrs. Pearl Barnett, Mrs. Mable Hutchison and Miss Sarah Goree, all of Paris; grandchildren, James Hutchison and Saradene Goree; 3 great-grandchildren, Ray, Jan and Jerry Hutchison.

Children
of
James William Goree & Mary Ella Gowdy

ca 1908

Left to Right:
Ruth, age 15; Pearl, age 13, John, age 10; Sarah, age 5; Mabel, age 1

Ruth Goree Eubank 1893 - 1986	LAMAR COUNTY ECHO December 4, 1986 Ruth Goree Eubank, widow of S. J. Eubank, 2464 Cherry St., died at McCuistion Regional Medical Center at 10:57 p.m. Friday, 29 Nov 1986. Services were held Monday, December 1st, at Evergreen Cemetery with Dr. George Faison officiating. Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home had charge of arrangements. Ruth was born in Whitewright, Texas, a daughter of James William Goree and Mary Ella Gowdy. She attended Paris schools and married Sira J. Eubank on  June 6, 1931. She lived in Houston until the death of her husband when she returned to Paris. She was a member of the Central Presbyterian Church and the Mary Baker Sunday School Class. Preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sira J. Eubank on September 17, 1975; brother, John Robert Goree in 1966. Surviving are three sisters, Pearl Barnett of Paris, Sarah Goree of Paris and Mable (Manson) Hutchison of Paris; nephew, James Hutchison of Rt. #6, Paris; one niece, Sarah Dene Goree of Paris; and several great nieces and nephews.
Mary Pearl Goree Barnett 1895 - 1993	THE PARIS NEWS 1993 Pearl Barnett, 97, 2464 E Cherry, died Sunday, Aug 23, at her home. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, at Evergreen Cemetery with the Rev. Cline Davis officiating. Fry and Gibbs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The family will be at the home of Mrs. Barnett. Mrs. Barnett was born Oct. 18, 1895, in Whitewright, a daughter of James William and Mary Ella Gowdy Goree. She attended schools in Paris and was a member of Central Presbyterian Church. She married Frank Barnett in 1923. He died Dec. 19, 1951. She was a longtime partner with the former Goree Greenhouses of Paris. Surviving are two nephews, James Hutchison of Paris and Charles Joiner of Leonard; one niece, Sarah Dene Goree of Paris; and a number of great nieces and nephews.
John Robert Goree 1898 - 1966	THE PARIS NEWS November 15, 1966 John Robert Goree, 68, member of a family of longtime Paris florists, died Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at McCuistion Hospital after three years of ill health. He lived at 262 25th NE. Services are set for Thursday at 2:00 p.m. and will be conducted at Fry & Gibbs Chapel by Jack Grant of Lamar Avenue Church of Christ. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Son of the late James W. Goree and Mary Ella Gowdy, John was born at Whitewright, 29 Mar 1898, but had lived here since the family moved to Paris in 1904. He married Miss Laura Parchman of Deport, 11 July 1923. Associated with the family florist and greenhouse business until it was disposed of a few years ago, he had since then operated his own business. He was a Presbyterian. Survivors include his wife, Laura; daughter, Sarah Dene Goree, a city school teacher in Wichita Falls; four sisters, Mrs. Ruth (S. J.) Eubank of Houston, Mrs. Pearl (Frank) Barnett of Paris, Miss Sarah Goree and Mrs. Mable (Manson) Hutchison of Paris; nephew, James Hutchison of Rt. #6, Paris.
Sarah William Goree 1903 - 1989	LAMAR COUNTY ECHO October 16, 1989 Sarah Goree, 2464 E. Cherry, died at McCuistion Medical Center at 11:20 p.m. Sunday, 15 Oct 1989. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, 17 Oct, at Evergreen Cemetery with the Rev. Cline Davis officiating. Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends at the Goree home. Sarah was born in Whitewright, a daughter of James William Goree and Mary Ella Gowdy. She was a longtime florist here. She attended Paris schools and worked at Goree's Greenhouse until the business was sold and she retired. She was a member of Central Presbyterian Church and its Anchor Sunday School Class and a member of Circle III of the Presbyterian Women. She was a former member of the Paris Business and Professional Women's Club and was a member of FTD for a number of years. Surviving are two sisters, Pearl Barnett of Paris and Mable (Manson) Hutchison of Paris; one nephew, James Hutchison of Rt.#6, Paris; one niece, Sarah Dene Goree of Paris; a great-nephew and two great-nieces.
Mabel Fender Goree Hutchison 1907 - 1993	THE PARIS NEWS Wednesday, April 7, 1993 pg. 16A "...85, 2485 E. Cherry, died Tuesday, April 6, at McCuistion Regional Medical Center.  Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home to conduct graveside services at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 8, with Rev. Cline Davis officiating.  Born in Whitewright, a daughter of James William & Mary Ella Gowdy Goree, she married Manson Hutchison Sept. 25, 1925.  She was a partner in the family business, the former Goree Greenhouses and was a member of Central Presbyterian Church.   Surviving are her husband; a son James Hutchison, Rt. 6, Paris; three grandchildren, Ray Hutchison of Paris, Jan West of Ft. Worth, and Jerri Attanasio of Knoxville, Tennessee; four great-grandchildren; a sister Pearl Barnett of Paris."

     
Sallie Porter Gowdy and granddaughter Ruth Goree
ca 1894
J. F. Northern Photography, Whitewright, Texas

Seated (L-R): Mabel F. Goree Hutchinson; Mary Ella Gowdy Goree
Standing (L-R): Mary Pearl Goree Barnett; Sarah W.Goree

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Biography Index

Susan Hawkins
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