Cedarvale  - Bay City Cemetery

Photos courtesy of Faye Cunningham
 

E. A. Campbell

E. A. Campbell

E. A. Campbell, groceryman, age 60 years, 4 months and 17 days, died at his home here this morning at 4:20.

Mr. Campbell had been in the grocery business in the city for several years, and in those years he had made many friends and had built up a profitable business.

He is survived by his wife and daughter, Kathryn Sue, and one brother, T. E. Campbell of  Dallas; two sisters, Miss Emma Campbell of Dallas and Mrs. Mannie Burke of Dallas.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Walker-Matchett and services will be held from the Walker-Matchett funeral parlors this (Monday) afternoon at four-thirty o’clock.

Matagorda County Tribune, October 22, 1936
 

Una Jane Cartwright

Una Jane Cartwright, 90, a resident of Bay City passed away at the Gulf Coast Hospital in Wharton January 19. Survivors include: 3 daughters, Mrs. Ina Jones of Phoenix, Arizona, Mrs. Willa Mae Gordon of Wharton, and Mrs. Margaret Jo Daugherty of San Antonio; 5 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p. m. January 21 at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Wayland Elmore officiating. Interment was at the Cedarvale Cemetery with pallbearers being: Louis Wagner, Michael Jones, L. W. Richers, Emil Balusek, Jan Norris and John Paul Mielsch. Taylor Brothers Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Daily Tribune, January 22, 1973

Funeral Services Held Monday For W. N. Cartwright

W. N. Cartwright a resident of Bay City for many years passed away at his home near Alvin Saturday night at 10:50. He had been farming in this section for the past six years.

He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. C. Scott Jones, Mrs. Pier Gordon of Bay City, Mrs. Pat Doughterly, Kingsville, one sister, Mrs. J. A. James, Bay City; four brothers, E. D. Cartwright, of Bastrop, S. H. and S. A. Cartwright of Elgin and C. I. Cartwright of Lavern, Calif.

Funeral services were held from the Walker-Matchett Funeral Home with Rev. Rollo Rilling officiating.

The Herald (Bay City) July 30, 1942
 

Edgar Alfred Davidson           Sarah Elizabeth Davidson

Edgar Alfred Davidson Passes Away

Mr. Edgar Alfred Davidson, Sr., a resident of Bay City for over thirty years, died at his family residence here Sunday afternoon at 3:45, following an illness of several weeks.

He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Gladys Byars of San Antonio, three sons, Edgar Alfred, Jr., of Cuero, Walter of Washington, D. C. and Charles of Houston.

Funeral services, with Reverend Odis Rainer officiating, will be held this afternoon at 4 o’clock from the Baptist Church. Taylor Bros. are in charge of the funeral arrangements.

Active pallbearers are: J. R. Cookenboo, Oscar Barber, E. M. Bell, Lee Anderson, W. H. Poo_, and Connie Anderson.

Daily Tribune, July 11, 1938
 

Milam Lanier Davis

Milam L. Davis

Davis, Milam L., 55, passed away in Houston Thursday. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p. m. Saturday afternoon at Taylor Brothers Chapel with the Rev. C. J. Martin officiating. Interment will be at Cedar Vale Cemetery. Survivors include: his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. G. W. “Bill” Davis; 1 daughter, Debbie Davis; 1 son, Michael Davis; 1 sister, Mrs. Frances Brady. Pallbearers are: Kile Alford, Bill O’Neal, John Rakestraw, Don Haley, Billy Penny, and James Bradford.

Daily Tribune, April 10, 1970
 

Donie Erwin

Bodies of Drowning Victims Recovered
Bay Cityans Lose Lives While Boating In Carancahua Bay

The bodies of the drowning victims whose tragic deaths ended a pleasure trip to the summer home of the Ellis Hamills at Carancahua Bay were recovered last night and early this morning by the boat that catapulted the pleasure seekers into the choppy waters. The bodies of Ellis Hamill and Mrs. H. P. McGuirt were recovered at 7:30 last evening, seven hours after the tragic accident. The body of Mrs. Jack Erwin was recovered this morning at 4.

The accident happened at 12:30 yesterday noon when Ellis Hamill, Mesdames McGuirt, Jack Erwin, Arthur Collins, Eddie Willenberg, Micky Hart were pleasure riding in a Dodge boat, "We Step." The boat is fast and can be turned short at a fast speed. The bay was high and exceedingly rough and the supposition is that in taking a quick turn, the boat banked against a wave catapulting those in the front seat into the water. The boat did not capsize. Those occupying the front seat were Ellis Hamill, Mrs. McGuirt, Mrs. Collins and Mrs. Erwin. Mrs. Mickey Hart was sitting on top of the boat between the front seat and the rear seat. Mrs. Willenberg was occupying the rear seat alone.

The boat, in taking its sharp turn, lost its speed and evidently the gears were shifted to cause the boat to idle and some say that the engine was dead. The reports are not clear. Mrs. Micky Hart, sensing the danger immediately handed a rope to Mrs. Willenberg and told her to hold the rope and she, Mrs. Hart, leaped into the water and swam to Mrs. Arthur Collins Jr., and handed her the rope and Mrs. Willenberg pulled the two to the boat. They then attempted to reach Mrs. Jack Erwin, who was still afloat, but failed to get to her in time to save her.

Several others in the party were on the banks and were witnesses to the horrible accident, but were helpless to render aid as the boat was about 250 yards out in the bay.

From the time of the accident, boats began to search for the bodies. An airplane was used in the attempt to locate the bodies. Many waded near the scene of the drownings as the water was not much deeper than six feet. Seines were used in an attempt to find the bodies, but it was not until a long rope was brought into use and several large hooks were suspended at various points along the rope that the bodies were found. The bodies of Ellis Hamill and Mrs.. McGuirt were found at the same time just a few feet from where they had drowned. Their bodies were found at 7:30. It was not until 4 o'clock this morning that the body of Mrs. Erwin was located. It was also within a short distance from where it went down. The same boat on which they were riding when the accident happened was the boat used to locate them. The boat carried one end of the long rope and the other end was attached to a life belt. - The body of Mrs. McGuirt was prepared for burial and taken to Clayton, Texas, where burial will be held at 10 o'clock Sunday morning.

The funeral of Ellis Hamill will be held in Bay City, from the Baptist Church at 3 o'clock Sunday. Mrs. Jack Erwin's funeral will be held from the Methodist Church at 5 o'clock Sunday and burial will be in Cedarvale Cemetery. Taylor Brothers are in charge of the three funerals.

Daily Tribune, June 22, 1935

Drowning Victims Funerals Will Be Held Tomorrow

The funeral for Mr. Ellis Hamill, 39,  oil operator of this city and Mrs. Jack Erwin, 25, wife of Mr. Jack Erwin, assistant cashier of the Bay City Bank and Trust Company, drowning victims of yesterday in the Carancahua Bay, will be held tomorrow and burial will be in Cedarvale Cemetery.

The funeral of Mr. Hamill will be at 3 o'clock Sunday from the Baptist Church with Taylor Bros. in charge. The funeral for Mrs. Jack Erwin will be from the Methodist Church Sunday at 5 p.m. with Taylor Bros. in charge.

Mr. Hamill is survived by his wife of this city, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Hamill of Houston; two brothers, P. R. Hamill of Bay City and Claud of Houston; two sisters, Mrs. Merlin Vogelsang of Houston and Mrs.. E. G. Semple of London, England.

Mrs. Erwin is survived by her husband, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Cartwright, and three sisters, Mrs. C. S. Jones of this city; Mrs. Pierre Gordon, Dallas, and Margaret Jo Cartwright.

Daily Tribune, June 22, 1935

Mrs. Donie Cartwright Erwin

The funeral of Mrs. Donie Cartwright Erwin, wife of Jack Erwin, of this city and one of the three Bay City young people who lost their lives in Carancahua Bay last Friday noon was held Sunday afternoon from the Methodist Church in the presence of hundreds of sorrowing, grief-stricken friends. Huge banks of flowers from scores of loving friends evidenced the love and esteem and affection of all who knew her.

Mrs. Erwin, 25, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Cartwright of this city. She was educated in the Bay City schools and in 1928 became the wife of Jack. Erwin, assistant cashier of the Bay City Bank and Trust Company.

The funeral was in charge of Taylor Brothers with religious services at the Methodist Church conducted by the Reverend Pugsley, of East Bernard, and former pastor here, in the absence of her pastor, Rev. E. G. Cooke.

This splendid young woman, loved by all and held in high esteem was very popular with Bay City's younger set. Known to all as "Donie," and of a quiet, unassuming, lovable disposition, she received a hearty and wholesome welcome to every social event, and upon every occasion her presence was necessary to complete the enjoyment of all.

Not within the history of Bay City have we experienced a more heartbreaking tragedy than the one of last Friday which took three of our best loved young and promising people from us. No words can describe the effect upon the minds and hearts of everybody as the news came to us that fate had snatched from us Ellis, Ruth, Donie, just in the prime of their lives and while enjoying the full and robust, as well as the wholesome, enjoyment to which they were entitled.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Erwin is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Cartwright, and three sisters, Mrs. C. S. Jones of Bay City; Mrs. Pierre Gordon of Bay City, and Miss Margaret Jo Cartwright of this city.

The pallbearers were Arthur Collins, Claude Lawhon, Jack Woods, Eddie Ryan, Bill Luder and L. B. Luder.

Matagorda County Tribune, June 27, 1935
 

Willa Mae Gordon

Daughter of Founding Family Dies – Willa Mae Gordon

Mrs. Pierre (Willa Mae) Gordon, a resident of Bay City for approximately 65 years, died this morning at the Gulf Coast Medical Center in Wharton.

Mrs. Gordon was the daughter of longtime residents Mr. and Mrs. William Cartwright who were local rice farmers and reportedly responsible for putting the first gas lines laid in Bay City, and instrumental in the founding of the Bay City Hospital.

Gordon belonged to the Fellowship Class of the First United Methodist Church and the Social Order of the Beauceant. She was a lifetime supporter of various activities working in a volunteer capacity.

She and her husband Pierre owned and operated the Milam Motel in Wharton where they lived for 13 years until their return to Bay City.

Services will be held Friday, February 2, at 11 a. m. at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Merle Waters officiating. Interment will be at the Cedarvale Cemetery.

Daily Tribune?, February 1?, 1979
 

James Presley Graham

Oil Field Contractor “Prep” Graham Dies

Funeral services for J. P. “Prep” Graham, 76, of Bay City are scheduled for 2 p. m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Bay City with the Revs. Jim Welch, Horace McMillan and Mike Zimmerman officiating. Burial will be at Cedarvale Cemetery, Bay City.

Mr. Graham was born March 19, 1916 in Bay City to George Jefferson and Lessie Marie Presley Graham and he died Feb. 4, 1993 at the Methodist Hospital in Houston.

A lifelong resident of Bay City, Graham returned after service in the U. S. Army during World War II and he married the former Eva Adeline Hale on May 4, 1946. In the late 1940s, he founded J. P. Graham Well Service, an oil field service and contracting firm, and continued to serve as the firm’s chief executive officer until he closed his business in January 1990.

In years past, he was an active member of the Lions Club of Bay City and a member of the Association of Oil Field Servicing Contractors (AOSC). He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bay City and attended the Wesley Class.

Survivors include his wife, Eva Adeline Hale Graham; three daughters and sons-in-law, Betty Gene and Tom McAferty of Grapevine, Beverly Kaye and Robin D. Orr and Margaret Rebecca and Barry L. Nauman of Bay City; a sister, Louise Lowery of Sweeny; a brother, E. S. “Shep” Graham of Bay City and five grandchildren, Thomas Graham and Cheryl McAfterty of Charlotte, N. C., Michael David McAfterty of Dallas and Alan Lee Nauman and Addie Lynn Nauman of Bay City.

Mr. Graham was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, J. B. “Jack” Graham.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Ken Culbreth, Bernard Graham, Bruce Graham, Pete Hale Jr., Presley Hale, George Shoultz, Frank Susik and Fred Walker.

Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Gregoria Casar, Paul Dorman, John Faseler, Bill Heller, George Holt, Dr. Juan Olivera, Clay Penny, Dr. Frank Rickman, Frances Savage, Galen Savage, Dr. Ray Verm, Jim Warnock, Dr. Henry Zaleske and the members of the Wesley Class at First United Methodist Church in Bay City.

Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home in Bay City.

Daily Tribune, February 5?, 1993
 

Pete Hale, Sr.

Pete Hale Sr.

Funeral services for Pete Hale Sr., 67, of Bay City will be held 2 p. m. Wednesday at the Taylor Brothers Funeral Home chapel with Dr. W. D. Baker officiating. Burial will follow at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City.

Mr. Hale was born Jan. 28, 1923, to Frank and Maggie Gault Hale in Midfield and died Aug 27, 1990, at his home.

He was a lifelong resident of Matagorda County, holding a bachelor’s degree in agriculture arts and industry and was a deputy constable in Precinct 4. He was also a member of First United Methodist Church in Bay City.

He is survived by his wife, Nettie Hale of Bay City; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Pete and Lela Hale Jr., and Presley Hale, all of Bay City; three sisters, Daisy Newton, Louise Sims and Eva Graham, all of Bay City; and two granddaughters, Jennifer and Kayleen Hale, both of Bay City.

Pallbearers include James Sowell, Woody Riedel, Robbins Odom, Gordon Hardegree, Wayne Michael and Bill Ehlert.

Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home, Bay City.

Daily Tribune, August 28?, 1990
 

Gordon R. Hamilton          Tommie E. Hamilton

Tommie Elizabeth Woolsey Hamilton

Funeral services for Tommie Elizabeth Woolsey Hamilton, 92, of Houston will be held at 10 a. m. Wednesday at Settegast-Kopf Co., 3320 Kirby Drive, Houston. Burial will be at 1 p. m. Wednesday at Cedarvale Cemetery, Bay City.

Visitation will be after 7 p. m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Survivors include her husband, Gordon R. Hamilton of Houston; two stepdaughters, Barbara Casey of Dallas and Diane Peck and her husband, Norman E. of Houston; two stepgrandchildren, Jeannette Peck of Houston, Karen Casey of Aubrey, Texas; a brother, V. G Woolsey of Corpus Christi; seven nieces, Laurine Short of Seguin, Lewis McVea of Seguin, Mrs. James Ferguson of Comfort, Texas, Dr. Minnie Lee Lancaster of Grapevine, Texas, Ann Allen of Houston, Mrs. Ray Breedlove of Tyler, and Wanda Faye Cannon of Corpus Christi; seven nephews, John F. Woolsey of Bay City, John E. Woolsey of Houston, Tom Woolsey of Houston, Sterling Woolsey, Robert Woolsey and William Woolsey, all of Corpus Christi, Robert Thomas Woolsey of McAllen; and numerous other family members.

The family suggests contributions be made to Holly Hall, 8304 Knight Road, Houston, 77054.

Arrangements are with Settegast-Kopf Co., Houston.

Daily Tribune, April 13, 1987
 

James C. Harris          Jean "Bunny" Harris

James C. Harris

Funeral services for James C. Harris, 67, of Bay City were scheduled for 2 p. m. today at First Baptist Church with Dr. W. D. Baker officiating. Burial was scheduled for Cedarvale Cemetery, Bay City.

Mr. Harris was born Oct. 30,1920, in Catlettsburg, Ky., to William McKinley and Carlie Queen Harris and died Nov. 29, 1987, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Houston.

He was a member of First Baptist Church where he taught the Men’s Sunday School class for many years. He was also a member of the Gulf Coast Radio Club and Gulf Coasters Travel Club.

He was the owner of Bay City Dental Lab before he retired. He served in the Army Dental Corps during World War II.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Harris of Bay City; a son and daughter-in-law, James B. and Jackie Harris of Dumfries, Va.; three daughters, and sons-in-law, Pat and Jimmie Pool of Teague, Texas, Carolyn and Jimmie Bartlett of Wadsworth, and Sno Jo and Arno McCall of Richmond, Texas;  a sister, Rebecca Ball of Catlettsburg, Ky.; and seven grandchildren.

Pallbearers include Gordon Hardegree, Andy Anderson, Raymond Pena, Gaston Morton, Jim Powers, Bill Ehlert, W. G. “Curly” Grimes and Gerald Rowland.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Christian Ministries Center of the First Baptist Church.

Services were under the direction of Dick R. Elkins, Bay City Funeral Home.

Daily Tribune, November 1987

Jean Harris

Funeral services for Mrs. James C. Harris (Jean), 71, longtime resident of Bay City, will be held Sunday, September 3, 3:00 PM at the Bay City Funeral Home. Rev. Mike Zimmerman officiating. Burial will follow at the Cedarvale Cemetery.

Mrs. Harris was born to Bessie Fay and Charles Kirtly on April 15, 1924 in Huntington, West Virginia and died on Thursday, August 31, 1996 at Autumn Hills Nursing Home in Richmond, Texas. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bay City and a dedicated mother.

Survivors include brother Charles Kirtley Jr., sister Evelyn Wireman and sister-in-law Becky Ball of Kentucky, son and daughter-in-law, James B. and Jackie Harris of Manassas, VA, daughters and sons-in-law Pat and Jimmy Pool of Tyler, TX, Sno and Arno McCall of Richmond, TX., Carolyn and Jimmie Bartlett of Bay City, TX.

Also, grandchildren Toyya Lee, Chelette Evans, Margo Richter, James M. Harris, Jeff Harris, Ashley Burt, Jason Harris, Kristen McCall and two great grandchildren Chelsea Lee and Dane Evans.

Mrs. Harris was preceded in death by her parents and loving husband James C. Harris.

Pallbearers are James Sowell, Gerald Rowland, Wayne Michael, Gaston Morton, Jimmy Powers & Raymond Pena. Honorary pallbearer is Curly Grimes. Service under the direction of Dick R. Elkins Bay City Funeral Home.

Daily Tribune, September 3, 1995