Cedarvale  - Bay City Cemetery

Photos courtesy of Faye Cunningham
 

Tina Marie Mann

Tina Marie Mann

December 19, 1962 – December 20, 1962

Services are pending for Tina Marie Mann, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Mann, Jr., Horn Road. The child, born December 19 at Matagorda General Hospital, died today. Arrangements will be at Taylor Brothers and Rev. Ferman Weedon will officiate.

Surviving, in addition to the parents, are two brothers, William Carter and John Floyd Mann.

The Daily Tribune, December 20, 1962                 Obituary courtesy of Susie Adkins
 

Cassie Ann Marsh & Samuel A. Marsh

Samuel A. Marsh

1869 - 1951

Mr. Samuel A. Marsh, age 82, resident of Bay City, 22 years, passed away Saturday. He was survived by one daughter, Mrs. Allie Ethel Stephenson.

Funeral services were held at 3:00 PM Sunday from Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, with Rev. C. M. Becton officiating, and Rev. R. L. Blankenship assisting.

Pallbearers were: Mr. Wayland Midgett, W. M. Kirkland, J. W. Starks, W. F. Stanford, Wade Blackwell, Howard Rutherford.

Interment was in the Cedarvale Cemetery.

The Daily Tribune, August 8, 1951           Obituary courtesy of Susie Adkins

Mrs. S. A. Marsh [Cassie Ann Craven Marsh]

Mrs. S. A. Marsh, age 64 years, 4 months, passed away very suddenly at her home northeast of Van Vleck yesterday at 12:30 p. m.

Mrs. Marsh was a pioneer resident of Matagorda County, having come here from San Angelo, Texas. She is survived by her husband, Mrs. S. A. Marsh, one daughter, Mrs. T. Nathan Stevens [Charles Nathaniel Stephens].

Funeral services were held at Cedarvale Cemetery this afternoon at 4:00 o’clock with Rev. R. L. Blankenship officiating. Walker-Matchett Funeral Home was in charge of the funeral arrangements.

Matagorda County Tribune, February 11, 1938
 

Rebecca Estelle Middleton

Rebecca Estelle Middleton
March 9, 1950 – March 9, 1950

Rebecca Estelle, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Middleton, passed away in the Matagorda County hospital Thursday evening at 8:20PM.

She is survived by: her parents, and one brother, Larry Middleton of Bay City.

Funeral services were held this afternoon at the Cedarvale Cemetery, with Rev. Barney Thames, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, officiating. Taylor Bros. Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

The Daily Tribune, March 10, 1950            Courtesy of Susie Adkins
 

Betty Lou Montague

Betty Lou Montague
1925 – 1967

Frank Orum Montague, Jr.
1920 - 1967

Pickup-Train Crash Kills Montague, Wife

A well-known Bay City couple was killed Tuesday night when the pickup in which they were riding collided with an 80-car freight train at the Missouri Pacific railroad crossing on south Ave. F.

Dead on arrival to Matagorda General Hospital were Frank O. Montague, a Bay City insurance executive, and his wife Betty. Montague was 46 years old and his wife 43.

The driver of the truck involved was identified by city police as Billy Halfen, a Collegeport resident. Halfen was seriously injured in the grinding crash and was transferred early this morning to Herman Hospital in Houston. A hospital spokesman told The Tribune that Halfen’s condition was described as “critical” when he left Bay City at 6:20 PM today.

The accident occurred at 9:05 PM. Chief of Police Barney Mason, who investigated the collision with Officer Lloyd Barr and the Department of Public Safety’s Cecil Taylor, said the pickup was traveling north on Ave. F while the train was westbound.

Mason said the pickup apparently failed to see the train and continued down Ave. F upon reaching the crossing. It appeared that the truck may have turned slightly left at the last moment, Mason said, but there were no skid marks at the scene.

Forty-four rail cars had passed the point of impact before the train could come to a complete halt, it was reported. J. D. Spellman of Houston was the train’s conductor and F. W. Morris, also a Houstonian, the engineer.

Mason said the red warning lights were on and working at the crossing at the time of the accident. So great was the impact, that it took workmen some 40 minutes to remove Montague from the pickup. Police said he was riding on the right-hand side of the truck. Mason said today that his office’s investigation was still underway.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Friday at the First Christian Church for both Mr. and Mrs. Frank O. Montague. Interment will be in Cedarvale Cemetery. Rev. Don Larick will officiate.

Immediate survivors to Mrs. Montague are two daughters, Sandra and Shirley Watson of Bay City, and one son, Randy Watson of Florida. Also surviving Mrs. Montague are her father, Val B. Werner of Houston; mother, Mrs. L. S. Fishback of Emett, Arkansas, and two sisters, Mrs. Roy Harpold, Jr. of Houston and Mrs. Jack W. Read of Houston.

The immediate survivors to Mr. Montague are his son Frank O. Montague III of Bay City and Mrs. Jerry Lloyd of Houston. Other survivors include his mother, Mrs. Sadie W. Montague of Bay City, one sister, Dr. Mary Ella Montague of Huntsville and two brothers, Rev. William S. Montague of San Antonio and John W. Montague of San Antonio.

The Daily Tribune, February 8, 1967            Courtesy of Susie Adkins
 

Emma C. Morehead



 

Emma Celesta Morehead

February 4, 1857 – June 7, 1933

Mrs. E. C. Morehead, better known as Grandmother Morehead, of Bay City, Texas, passed away from this life on June 7, 1933, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. T. Shearer.

She was born February 4, 1857, in Pike County, Alabama to Mrs. D. A. Kelley at the age of 15 years near Weimar. Her maiden name was Emma Celesta. She was united in marriage to H. H. Morehead at Columbus, Texas, April 14, 1879. To this union were born eleven children, eight of whom are now living. She was converted at the age of 13 years and has always been an active Christian. Served her country in the capacity of nurse and home missionary. Besides mothering her own family, she was “Mother” to all who knew her. She has been an invalid for 12 years, having both limbs broken.

Much of the time she was active and alert, though part of the time confined to a wheel chair. Her last days were her sweetest, for she was so cheerful and patient, even to death. It was a great pleasure to her to have her minister son-in-law, Rev. H. T. Shearer, sing to her the sweet songs of heaven, early in the morning, while serving her breakfast.  Her favorite song was “I want to go there”, and she talked for some time about going to her reward and desired to go.

Her greatest ambition was to help the cause of Christ, and minister to the sick. Her Christian life was a beacon of light and she left behind words of comfort to many of her loved ones who thronged about her for her last words. The atmosphere was sweeter than the fragrance of a summer rose.

Funeral services were held at the Walker-Matchett Funeral Home, conducted by the Presbyterian minister, Rev. Ernest Deutsch. Her request was granted by being cared for by her children, in her last hours. Her grandsons who are Tommy Morehead, Billie Morehead, Jimmie Shearer, Johnnie Shearer, Leslie Stewart, and Dew Davis acted as pallbearers.  Her granddaughters who are Mrs. Villa Mae Morehead, Miss Freda Morehead, Mrs. Beatrice Morehead Stewart, Mrs. Mary Shearer Mount, and Miss Alarah Morehead furnished the music for the services.

Her body was laid to rest in the Cedarvale Cemetery. She is survived by eight children:  M. D., W. H., T. B., H. A., and J. D. Morehead, and Mrs. H. F. Shearer, all of this city; Mrs. G. W. Schrader of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Mrs. O. E. Hartman of Sealy, Texas; three brothers who are Oscar Kelley of Houston, Texas, T. O. Kelley of Conroe, Texas, and D. B. Kelley of Gonzales, Texas; five sisters who are Mrs. Hattie Manus and Mrs. Mollie Nelms of Cuero, Texas, Mrs. George Wade of Gonzales, Mrs. Vila Howard and Mrs. Mae Benbow of Yoakum, Texas, and many other relatives.

It is fitting to add this poem, composed by her daughter, Mrs. George W. Schrader of Oklahoma City and dedicated to her on Mother’s Day.

*Poem unavailable.

Matagorda County Tribune, June 15, 1933                                 Courtesy of Susie Adkins

Hattie Lee Patterson Page

Hattie Lee Page

Graveside services for Hattie Lee Page, 88, of Van will be held 3 p. m Thursday at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City with the Rev. Billy F. Norton and Rev. J. D. Moore officiating.

Mrs. Page was born Oct. 4, 1904 in Bay City to Matthew and Bea Beulah Yates Patterson and died Sunday at a Tyler hospital.

She was a graduate of Baylor University and taught for many years. She began teaching in a one-room school in Matagorda County at the age of 17.

She was a member of the Baptist church, taught Sunday School and was a choir member.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Dorsie and Glenna Page Jr. of Alexandria, Va.; three daughters and sons-in-law, Kathleen Marie and Adolph E. Janik of Houston, Betty Page and Ronald Wilson of Van, Mariana Page and Tom Choate of Conroe; a brother, Henry Allen Patterson of Waco, a sister, Leila Marie Patterson Finch of Bay City; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Memorial Scholarship Fund, Baylor University, P.O. Box 97026, Waco, TX 76798-7026.

Arrangements are with Hilliard Funeral Home in Van.

The Daily Tribune, January 2, 1993
 

William Lee Penny & Mollie Belle Penny

William L. Penny Funeral Wednesday

William Lee Penny, 39, active vice president and general manager of the Kenyon Dredging Company, whose home was at 911 Harold Avenue, died at a local hospital early Tuesday morning.

He is survived by his wife; two children, Billie and Sallie; his mother, Mrs. Sophy Penny, and one brother, A. V. Penny, all of Houston.

Funeral services will be held at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Main and Holman, at 11 a. m. Wednesday. Rev. Claude W. Sprouse and Bishop C. S. Quin will officiate. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of the Settegast-Kopf Undertaking Company.

Active pallbearers will be: W. A. Parrish, Sam Pondrom, John T. Sprouse, A. H. Blake, L. A. Smith Jr. and William Syms. Honorary pallbearers will be: J. A. Pondrom, Howard Kenyon, J. E. Broussard, M. J. Bever, S. A. Robbins, T. H. Lawson, R. H. Hanna, S. M. McAshan, B. J. Warner, A. P. Rowlins, Duncan Welder, Dr. C. C. Cruise and Dr. N. N. Allen.—Houston Post-Dispatch.

The Matagorda County Tribune, January 22, 1926

Mollie Belle Matthews Penny

Mollie Belle Matthews Penny died June 28, 1977, at 8 p. m. at the Matagorda House in Bay City. She was born August 6, 1892 at the Caney Community east of Bay City.

A member of a pioneer Matagorda County family, she was the daughter of Judge Jesse Matthews and Sallie Lawson Matthews. Her grandparent were Mr. and Mrs. John Matthews of Caney and Mr. and Mrs. I. A. Lawson of Matagorda, She was an active member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and a member of the Altar Guild, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the Republic of Texas, formerly active in the Pink Ladies at the Matagorda General Hospital and the Ladies Golf Association at the Bay City Country Club. She is survived by a son, William M. Penny; three grandchildren, William M. Penny Jr., Elizabeth Penny Schmid and Penny Upton Garner; and three great grandchildren. Services will be at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church at 3 p. m. Thursday, June 30, 1977, with the Rev. Milton McWilliams officiating. Interment will be at Cedarvale Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Frank H. Lewis, W. A. Thompson, Francis Savage, J. A. Guilbeau, W. B. Wiginton and Hugh Strickland. Honorary pallbearers will be J. C. Lewis, P. R. Hamill, Rowland Rugeley, Layton Moore, Raleigh Sanborn, Judge J. J. Spurgeon, Dr. Lane Barbour and Dr. H. C. Matthews [Matthes]. Arrangements are under the direction of Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune, June 29, 1977