Shelby County Today

Pictured are (from left) Post Chaplain Richard Lundie, Auxiliary member Linda Lundie, Auxiliary President Mary Fausett, Auxiliary Treasurer Theresa Hume, citizen Terry Polly, Post life member Sean Martin, Post Quartermaster Mary Roberts, and Post Commander Derrick Roberts. Courtesy photo by Larry Hume.

May 16, 2025 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary recognized the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 2025 at the Shelby County Veterans Memorial on the Center square.

In 1945 the war in Europe ended on what is commonly known as VE Day. Both the American and British people gather to remember. The United States suffered over 213,000 casualties in Europe and the group remembered them all and those who served during that time.

56 of Shelby County's own died in service to their country in Europe and 40 of those were killed in battle.

Brothers, Early and Barron Davis were killed four months apart. Fighter pilot Robert Daw from Joaquin is believed to have been executed by the Nazis after his plane ditched during the Battle of the Bulge. First Lieutenant William Todd was killed in action one week after returning from duty to the hospital where he was recovering from wounds.

Three were wounded in battle, and died of those wounds. Robert Wilburn, wounded in Italy March 22, died five months later in a military hospital in San Antonio. Four of the 56 remain missing in action resulting in generations of family members passing on without the knowledge of what ever happened to their loved one who disappeared so long ago.

Ships cook, Ray Williams was serving aboard the U.S.S. Maddox when it was sunk by German dive bombers. Only 74 of a crew of 284 survived. William’s mother Mattie died two months after he was declared missing in action in 1944.

Four died of non-combat wounds including E.C. White who was in a hospital in England recuperating from wounds he received in battle when he was killed in a bus accident, and Clarence Mahan died of a heart attack.

It’s estimated, by the year 2035 there will be no remaining World War II veterans left just as there are no more World War I veterans that remain.

Post Life Member Sean Martin places the Memorial Wreath in honor of the 80th Anniversary. Photo Courtesy Larry Hume.

Post Life Member Sean Martin placed the memorial wreath in honor of those who served and have passed. 

Taps was then played as presented by Richard Lundie, Post Chaplain.

Shelby County, Texas World War II Veterans Who Died in Service to Our Country in the European Theater:
Ralph T. Amoss - Killed in Action, August 5, 1944, England
John C. Anderson - Killed in Action, September 8, 1944, France
Nolan R. Anderson - Killed in Action, June 12, 1944, France
William L. Anding - Killed in Action, December 22, Italy
Lloyd L. Andrews - Missing in Action, December 25, 1944, English Channel
Bruce C. Baker, Jr. - Killed in Action, July 15, 1944, England
Oscar L. Belser - Killed in Action, April 5, 1943, North Africa
Ray W. Bolton - Killed in Action, November 8, 1945, Italy
Joseph B. Brannon - Killed in Action, March 3, 1945, Germany
Richard D. Bray - Killed in Action, July 11, 1944, France
Thomas B. Brittain - Died of Combat Wounds, January 16, 1945, France
Bryan N. Brittain - Killed in Action, September 23, 1945, North Africa
Lee O. Brunson - Missing in Action, December 8, 1944, France
E.T. Burgess, Jr. - Killed in Action, January 11, 1944, Germany
E.C. Campbell - Died of Combat Wounds, June 20, 1944, England
Richard E. Crawford - Killed in Action, November 20, 1944, France
James F. Daniel - Killed in Action, March 21, 1945, France
Early Davis - Killed in Action, October 12, 1944, Italy
Barron Davis - Killed in Action, February 28, 1945, Germany
Robert E. Daw, Jr. - Killed in Action, December 30, 1944, Belgium
Lewis Dockens - Killed in Action, July 1942, Coast of South America
Reed H. Dominy - Missing in Action, April 15, 1944, European Theater
William P. Durham - Killed in Action, May 28, 1944, Italy
Arlie L. Eddins - Died Non-Combat, January 1, 1945, England
O.J. Edwards - Killed in Action, December 16, 1944, Italy
Dewey L. Evans - Killed in Action, April 14, 1945, Netherlands
Charles R. Frame - Killed in Action, January 8, 1945, England
Randle B. Golden - Died Non-Battle, October 4, 1944, France
E.C. Gunnels - Killed in Action, January 10, 1945, Germany
Walter B. Henry - Missing in Action, August 7, 1943, Atlantic Ocean
William S. Hopkins - Killed in Action, November 26, 1945, Germany
J.W. Honeycutt - Killed in Action, February 6, 1945, France
Roy D. Hughes - Killed in Action, August 15, 1944, Germany
Arthur T. Hutcherson - Died in Accident, December 23, 1944, France
Walter B. Hutto - Killed in Action, August 25, 1944, France
James R. Kirkland - Killed in Action, September 30, 1944, Holland
Howard L. Lovell - Killed in Action, December 27, 1944, Italy
Clarence M. Mahan - Died Non-Battle, October 2, 1944, France
John W. Minter - Killed in Action, July 9, 1944, France
Roy H. Mitchell - Killed in Action, December 28, 1944, France
Jimmie H. Mott - Killed in Action, July 26, 1944, France
Hoya B. Murphy - Killed in Action, December 8, 1944, Germany
James E. Pate - Killed in Action, August 18, 1944, France
Pershing Pate - Killed in Action, June 8, 1944, France
Jack Powell - Killed in Action, July 6, 1944, France
Arlen Rhame - Killed in Action, July 28, 1944, France
Ben M. Simon - Killed in Action, March 14, 1945, Germany
Hugh J. Smith - Killed in Action, January 27, 1945, Italy
Robert Swanzy - Killed in Action, July 12, 1944
William R. Todd - Killed in Action, September 13, 1944, France
Sidney E. Watson - Killed in Action, August 22, 1944, France
E.C. White - Killed in Accident, July 4, 1944, England
Robert Wilburn - Died of Combat Wounds, August 26, 1944, Italy
Clifton Williams - Killed in Action, December 15, 1944, Germany
Ray D. Williams - Missing in Action, July 11, 1944, European Theater
Wrayful Willis - Died Non-Battle, July 29, 1945, France

Sam and Tianna

May 6, 2025 - Happy Tails is thrilled to share a happy story about their longest resident they have been caring for named Tianna.

Kelsey Hairgrove, Coordinator of Happy Tails shared how the story started with a phone call, "[Sam] had found a dog on an oilfield location and he wanted us to check it for a chip. So, he brought it up there and we're expecting your normal big dog, and will just have to tell him we can't take it. So, he shows up with this little beagle and we check it and it didn't have a chip and one of the girls ended up taking her home."

Hairgrove then told the happy part of the story which started when Sam said, "Well, now I need a dog." She replied, "So, I asked him what are you looking for. He said bring me the dog that has been here the longest and so I went and I got Tianna and he took her by the leash and said she's spending the night with me and walked out the door."

Stephanie Elswick, founder of Happy Tails, described Tianna's reaction to Sam, "She jumped up in his truck like it had been her truck for her whole life and they haven't been apart since."

Hairgrove said Sam texted her photos of Tianna and the adventures they were on which included playing with some cows and running the pasture with the horses. After the pictures, Sam advised he would be back the next day to fill out the paper work to keep Tianna.

Tianna has been with the shelter since July of 2024 and is the last remaining animal recovered from the city shelter. Another family had taken her home but then had returned her to the shelter because the family and Tianna weren't the right fit.

When Sam returned to finalize Tianna's adoption, Tianna came into the shelter for photos and to tell everyone good bye. Then when the door to the shelter was opened, she immediately returned to stand by Sam's truck to wait for him.

Sam is an oil field worker just in town temporarily and will return to his home with Tianna to meet his wife and kids. Sam's and Tianna's bond was immediate and she will get to live her dream life on 280 acres in Wyoming herding cows and playing with kids.

Happy Tails has a small location which can only take care of a limited number of small animals at a time. They rely on volunteers to help with providing the daily care needed. If you would like to be the new forever family for an animal needing a home, reach out to Happy Tails by visiting https://happytailstexas.org/.

May 5, 2025 - (Photo Album) - The Center Intermediate School gymnasium was site of the First Responders Luncheon hosted by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Friday, May 2, 2025.

Members of law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical services, county precinct crews and highway department personnel were all welcome guests to the event.

All present shared in a barbecue meal prepared by Pete Low.

May 5, 2025 - The Center Woman’s Reading Club met May 1 at the First Methodist Church. Vice-President Bonnie Lucus opened the business meeting with the reading of the club collect. She announce the next meeting will be May 15 with Montie Jones as hostess. Mrs. Jones will also lead the installation of officers for the 2025-2026 year. Mrs. Jones also announced that after a letter requesting club membership and voted on by club members that Mrs. Anne Lane Bessinger will be the newest member of the Center Woman’s Reading Club. She is the daughter of the late Polly Lane Smith who was a dedicated and valued member of the club. The club welcomes Mrs. Bessinger.

Hope Johnson read a beautifully written thank you note to the club for her bridal shower thanking club members for her gifts as well as their friendship and making her feel so welcomed as a club member. Mrs. Watson reported that over six hundred dollars was donated by club members and a friend of hers for the family in need that she talked about at the last meeting as part of her book report on Saint Francis of Assisi who ministered to those in need. Before the meeting in which she presented the book report, she had invited members to bring their loose change to go to a family in need. Mrs. Watson expressed her own gratitude for the generosity of club members as well as the gratitude of the family who received the donation.

Ginia Hooper was both program hostess and program leader. She served a delightful luncheon that included luncheon meat, cheese, fruit and crackers. The luncheon was enjoyed by all. The cheese in the luncheon related to her book report titled 'Who Moved My Cheese?' written by Spencer Johnson. The book is a parable that provides important lessons about change that happens in everyone’s life with advice about how to handle change. The four characters in the story were mice named Sniff and Scurry and little people Hem and Haw. They are all in a maze looking for their special cheese but take different approaches and skills in finding the cheese with all four finding the cheese in section C of the maze for many days until the amount of cheese began to dwindle. Hem and Haw continued to go to section C while Sniff and Scurry realized when things changed they needed to change as well and look other places for the cheese. As in parables, there were life lessons for the reader to consider following when change happens in life. Ms. Hooper pointed out many lessons learned in the story that the reader can apply to his or her own life. The story is a metaphor of life that when change happens we need to change as well. She also said change is going to happen and we should plan for change. Change can be scary but we still need to prepare for it. Also being able to adapt and be open to new ideas will help us overcome the fear of change and be able to adapt. A person’s idea of success needs to change as one adapts to change. We need to accept that change in life is inevitable and learn to just enjoy the journey of where we are in the different phases of life.

Ms. Hooper went on to share with us about her own hero and role model her beloved mother Mrs. Ann Hooper who is a wonderful example of a person who not only accepts change in her life but embraces it as well. As a sixteen year old she married and moved from west Texas where she lived with her small family to east Texas where she lived in the same household as her husband’s large family. She faced the death of her husband at age 58 and later the deaths of two sons and a grandson. Her mother has experienced many joys and sorrows in her life and realizes that both joy and sorrow causes changes that she has learned to embrace. Her mother was also a very active person until recently when she fell ill. This has required another move to a nursing home facility. Yet through it all she has accepted and adapted to the changes she has faced in life and remains a happy person that finds joy in all of her life’s journeys. She is a living example of the lessons learned in the parable 'Who Moved My Cheese?'