Friends from the past
The Anderson Food Pantry, 367 Fanthorp Street will be open Thursday, July 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. All residents of Grimes County in need of food may participate. For more information contact Renee Fredwood, 936-873-5005.
Yesterday was July 4, which brings back memories for me as a child. My parents, Frank and Dolores Hoffart, owned and operated their general merchandise store in Dobbin six days a week from early morning to late night. Therefore, we rarely got to go anywhere much until I got older and could drive us somewhere myself.
Many years ago, my mother’s aunt and uncle, Elizabeth (Wagner) and Weldon Keith, lived in Houston but owned property on Hwy. 105 between Plantersville and Dobbin. They sold that property years ago and a business is there now. Back then it was the property next to the home of Archie and Delores Wetuski. They had a little cabin on it they stayed in when they came to the country. Every Fourth of July, Uncle Weldon would bring lots of fireworks for a display that evening. As kids, we were excited because we got to attend, and it was the highlight of that holiday for us every year.
Here’s an interesting part to that story – the Keith’s had a daughter named Connie and the Wetuski’s had a son named Archie, Jr. Being neighbors in the country, these two kids got to know each other. As they became adults and lived many miles from each other, they each got married and later divorced their spouses. Some years later, Connie and Archie, Jr. re-connected and eventually married and had two boys, Trey and Tyler. On March 6 this year, Archie and Connie celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. You never know what life has in store for you from beginning to end.
Speaking of the past, I stopped to visit Kevin West while he was picking up trash on the side of the road in front of his place. He lives just down the road from me on FM 244 and has the pretty iron entrance that says “Rocky Creek Exotics” on it. Kevin graduated from Montgomery High School with my baby sister Carol. We go way back as his grandparents Leo and Mary Mock owned and operated Mock’s Grocery in Dobbin while my parents owned and operated our general merchandise store in the same town. After his grandparents died, the store went to their children – Patsy, Mickey, Leo, Jr. and Kenny. Kevin’s parents were Patsy (Mock) and Paul Lester West who both died recently. We all grow up and do our own things but it’s always good to visit with your past hometown friends.
Happy Birthday to those celebrating this week: July 6 – Shala Ray; July 7 – Brenda Bell, Yvonne Toston, David Mitchell, Ann Smith; July 8 – CarolynAshorn; July 9 – Travis Neeley, Audrie Busa, Angela Kubacak, Felipa Torres; July 10 – Danielle Moriarty; July 11 –Anthony Sicinski, Haley Bennett; July 12 – Rickie Lemons, Debbie Lero, Dianne Blair.
Happy Anniversary to those celebrating this week: July 7 – Clint and Kristin Vezurk, 11 years; July 7 – Tim and Holly Harris, 9 years; July 7 – Ryan and Lacey Lyde, 12 years; July 7 – Joseph and Jenny Allphin, 16 years; July 8 - Scott and Mona Kessler, 17 years; July 10 – Larry and Crystal Sechelski, 19 years; July 11 – Carl and Tina Schroeder, 36 years; July 12 – Matt and Kirby Borski, 15 years; July 12 – Gary and Bonnie Klodzinski, 43 years; and July 12 – Jeffrey and Natalie Nobles, 20 years.
If you have special news about what goes on in your family or life, let me know by calling 936-870-6842 or email me at gailmsowell@yahoo. com. I would love to share with others.