The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 218, Ed. 1 Tuesday, July 1, 2003 Page: 6 of 17
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Community
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Jim
Finley
Kilgore changed,
but that is life
infest lane
MEMOFY LANE - Not to bore you -1
probably couldn't if I tried - but I booked
. a trip on a rickety Time Machine the other
: day. Wife Margie went with me.
By motorcar, we took a sentimental
; Journey to the place of my birth - Kilgore,
there deep in the heart of East Texas.
Wonderful memories flowed in the same
quantity as oil once thundered from the
ground in what was then the largest “black
gold" disicovery in the United States,-
Massachusetts included.
This time, Kilgore was, oh, so different.
Someone - probably Alec Baldwin fol-
lowing the 2000 election - once said, “You
can’t go home again." Baldwin, who has
finally found his niche on “Hollywood
Squares,” was right.
I only lived in Kilgore until my fourth
year on the planet. We then moved to
Brazoria County, where I would come to
learn more than I ever wanted to know
about chickens and cows and hauling hay,
and where I began my meteoric newspaper
rise.
But for the next 30 years, until the
deaths of my loving grandparents, Mama
arid Papa Finley, I returned to Kilgore as
often as possible. It was my favorite place
on Edrth, my Disney World without die
: rides. *
• Mama and Papa, who were especially
designed in heaven and placed on Earth
specifically to make me happy - I have it
from a High Authority this is true - made
Kilgore the world’s garden spot.
Id been wanting to go back and walk
the same streets again, to visit some of the
spots that brought me great cheer, great
happiness. And great love.
So, as a Father’s Day present, Wife
Margie gave me the trip to Kilgore, even
though I'm not, technically, Wife Margie’s
. father.
One of the two homes Mama and Papa
owned is long-gone. Their last one is sdll
there, Just across the street from what was
once Cammack’s (Cow-mack’s) Grocery.
The old place has lost its magic, though.
Wfe also visited Gregg County Airport,
where Papa did a lot of carpenter work and
I played in people’s private airplanes when
no one was looking. Fun, fun!
The Fair Store, where Mama worked,
still stands, but is in sad disrepair. What
once were display windows, featuring the
latest in fashions, have been bricked-over.
And some nutcase painted a Coca Cola
sign on those bricks.
Blasphemy!
; We stopped by the Community Center, a
place that gave Papa employment in his*
latter years. It sits next to the same swim-
ming pool I dipped my Tarzan-like body
into more than a half-century ago.
We visited the pool, too.
In those early days, I was going through
what serious researchers call Early Critical
Hormonal Oppression (ECHO), which had
eveiythlng to do with girls. And there were
plenty of girls - Kilgore Rangerettes,
probably - at the pool.
Sure they were twice my age and wore
one-piece bathing suits. But I noticed.
Here's a frightening thought. Those girls
- Rangerettes or not - are now in their
mid-70s. If they're still with us.
Wfe also thoroughly enjoyed the East
Texas Oil Museum. It's something special,
and (nought back memories of the days
when more then 1,200 derricks crowded
the Kilgore sltyilne.
At the museum, we met a nice lady
named Sara Lugeanbeal, assistant to the
Cope to find out, she
ie, Okla., and attended
of my kinfolk. You ; ,
museum
was from
school with
believin’
Park, stm in use today, where I
fielded a minor league baseball team in
the old East Texas League. Saw the
Drillers play there, I did.
Sweet memories I
Told you this wouldn't be boring.
Everyone should take such a trip. f
Jim Finleys column appears Tuesday
ahd Friday. Hts e-mail address b jfln-
fyli4@houston.nxom.
Edah Mae Bass: One remarkable lady
Baytown has lost one. of its all-
time favorites, Edah Mae Bass'.
She lived 74 of her 93 years here,
contributing countless hours to the
community while never neglecting a
minute with her family and friends.
“Remarkable” is one of those
over-used adjectives, but what can I
say. Edah Mae Bass was, in fact,
remarkable.
She was remarkable in that she
I ' 1
U4
.......'"wsfi&’S
W' a
some boring grown-up show. A Mae turned in her Halloween
MaMaw whooped and hollered and broom eight years ago, after enter-
Orton
watched professional wrestling.
“A MaMaw’s drawer of Junk was
only Junk to her, but to a 7-year-old
it was a buffet of trinkets/sparkty
goodies, and miniature dolls to play Rebekah Lodge, Senior Citizens
taining at the bank for about 20
years.
Active throughout die communi-
ty, she was a member of the
with,
“If I could track down my child-
hood friend who years ago asked
me what a MaMaw was, I would
raised her children mostly as a sin- great-great-grandmother, Edah Mae tell her that it’s veiy simple. A
gle mom who worked outside the could have rested on her laurels, but MaMaw is pure love.”
she kept on keeping on, devoting Edah Mae’s love of children
home, and she still had eneigy to/
spare to chaperone, sew, bake,
attend meetings — do whatever/
moms are asked to'do to help but.
One thing you never heard her say
was, “I’m too busy to help.”
Today, vve hear about the busy,
heavily involved “soccer moms.”
Well, when Edah Mae was raising
her son and three daughters, she
was a football, a band mom, a
her talents and time wherever,
whenever needed-
She was the ideal “MaMaw.”
A granddaughter Linda
Quisenberry (daughter of Edah
Mae’s son Bob Bass) summed up
the real meaning of a MaMaw.
“When I was around 7,” Linda
extended beyond her family, and
she loved entertaining them — and
Clubs, United Daughters of the
Confederacy, Sunshine
Grandmothers Club, ExxonMobil
Retirees Club and Wooster Baptist
Church.
During Vforld Warll, Edah Mae
worked for Humble’s Baytown
Refinery (now ExxonMobil).
For many years she worked in her
brother Monroe Piyor's denting
parties at Citizens Bank & Trust Co. business uw Bavtown and she
where her daughter Tammy Fayle * business in west Baytown ana sne
was a vice president.
Her makeup and costume were
convincing enough, but Edah Mae’s . . , ,, , , „ .
said, "I remember telling my best acting talent really brought it home. ^ renw^le tatty all of
friend that my MaMaw was coming The kids adored her and, instead of ufe-lueralty s*nce 1
also was employed as a seamstress
for several stores.
Personalty, I feel blessed to have
cheerleader mom — a mom for all to visit. ‘What’s a MaMaw?’ she running away from this witch, they *X)rn' She and my mother were \
ere drawn to her. close friends, and Edah Mae was on
There was one exception, howev- hand to help give me my first bath,
er. Her own great-granddaughter As if — she didn t have enough
asked. My friend had a grandmoth- were drawn to her.
er and a grandma, but had never
heard of a MaMaw.
“I explained that a MaMaw didn’t Kayce trembled in fear when
buy you any old Barbie clothes MaMaw turned into a witch.
seasons and a friend to all who
needed her.
For example, we needed her in
the Robert E. Lee Band in the early
1950s. Edah Mae never missed a
trip, chaperoning us on the band
bus, and she went with us to
Chicago on the train when we per- gowns, complete with coats and
formed at the International Lions scarves.
Club convention. “When you’d go to a MaMaw’s
As a grandmother, great- and house, you weren’t stuck watching
from the store. A MaMaw made
you elaborate detailed Barbie
Although Kayce would watch ter
MaMaw dress for the part, she
would sdll freak out when the
“witch” put on her wig and applied
the makeup.
Because of failing health, Edah
to do, with a newborn of her own
(Tammy) and three older children.
But Edah Mae Bass was never
too busy to help.
Whnda Orton s regular column
appears every Monday. Her e-mail
address Is wanJon.52@ctesc.net
Baytown Sun photo/Dwayne Utteer
A BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK and family that was seen at the Baytown Nature
Center during the week of June 22-28.
Baytown Nature Center journal
The Baytown Nature Center Journal is a
guide to birds and animals recently spotted at
the center. The Journal is submitted by
Dwayne Utteer and Ron Ummel and appears
Tuesdays in The Sun.
Birds: brown pelican, double-crested cor-
morant, neotropic cormorant, great blue
heron, great egret, tricolored heron, little blue
heron, snowy egret, cattle egret, green heron,
black-crowned night-heron, yellow-crowned
night heron, wood stork, white ibis, roseate
spoonbill, black-bellied whistling-duck, mal-
lard, mottled duck, black-necked stilt,
killdeer, laughing gull, gull-billed tem, royal
tern, Forster’s tem, least tem, black skimmer,
mourning dove, yellow-billed cuckoo, com-
mon nighthawk, belted kingfisher, red-bel-
lied woodpecker, scissor-tailed flycatcher,
purple martin, northern mockingbird, blue
jay, northern cardinal, red-winged blackbird,
common grackle, great-tailed grackle,
brown-headed covybird, house sparrow, wil-
let, white-winged dove, mourning dove,
downy woodpecker, loggerhead shrike.
Animals: striped skunk, raccoon, eastern
cottontail rabbit, nutria.
Butterflies: American Lady, Queen, Gulf
Fritillary.
Experiences: Purple martins put on an
acrobatic performance near Cypress Pond. It
was a surprise to see a small “racing turtle"
cross the back trail. An umbrella proved to
be a good choice for a birder at the end of a
rainy day.
The Baytown Nature Center is located on
W Shreck Avenue, off Bayway Drive.
Police beat
Man robbed in bar
A 55-year-old Baytown man was assaulted and
robbed of $2,400 in cash at a bar in the 3200 block of
Market Street. The incident occurred at 2:30 a.m.
Saturday.
Man arrested tor assault, relisting amat
A 25-year-old Baytown man was arrested in the 100
block of West Defee Avenue after he allegedly assault-
ed his wife and resisted a search by police. He was
charged with assault and resisting arrest. Bond was set
at $2,565. .
Jewelry stolen during fight
A man reported that several rings and a bracelet were
stolen from him after he was involved in a fight in die
100 block ofW“st Defee Avenue. The Jewelry was val-
ued at $3,400.
Two arrested for burglary
Two Dayton teens were arrested early Monday for
burglary of a motor vehicle after it was found that they
had broken into several vehicles in the 4900 (dock of
Black Stone Street. The pair stole more than $635
worth of belongings. Both were charged with burglary
of a motor vehicle.
Woman arrested on drug charges
An 18-year-old Batson woman was arrested early
Monday after police found .2 ounces of marijuana*
drug paraphernalia and beer in her car during a traffic
stop. She was charged with possession of a controlled
substance.
120caNs
Between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, Baytown
police responded to 120 calls, including 16 alarms,
three auto thefts, one burglary, one burglary of a vehi-
cle, one report of criminal mischief, 16 disturbances,
one robbery, one report of shots fired, three thefts and
one mirror accident.
Police Beat is compiled from Baytown Police
and callers remain anonymous. Call 281-427-7
The Baytown police Mb site is pollce.baytown.org.
Community calendar
Today
Storydmo — Preschool Storytime Is
each Tuesday from 10:15 to 11 a.m.
at Sterling Municipal Library for chil-
dren ages 36 to hear stories, sing
songs and do finger plays with Miss
Uea.
Uons CM) — Baytown Lions Club
will meet at Ryan's Steak House at
noon with Dick Dawson bringing the
program.
Quit OuM-The Bay Area Quilt
Guild meets at Mount Olive Lutheran
Church, 10310 Scarsdale Btvd., at 7
p.m. Mama J (Sally Jacumski) wHI pre-
sent a humorous look at the lengths to
which she went to equip a motorhome
with a quilting studio while living In It
She arto her husband travel throughout
the country with their Mobile Quilt
Shop.
Cancer support — The combined
cancer support groups at San Jacinto
Methodist Hospital meets Jointly from
7 to 8:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of
each month in the San Jacinto Cancer
Center Community Room. The support
group is open to all cancer survivors.
For Information, call 281420-7203.
Summer Smash — The 55-plus of
San Jacinto Baptist Association will
host the Summer Smash at 6 p.m. at
the Baker Road Baptist Church, 900
W. Baker Road. Everyone Is Invited to
attend and bring a covered dish for en
evening of fun, fellowship and enter-
tainment A brief business meeting will
be held, followed by an inspirational
musical, ‘Patriotism 911,’ as present-
ed by The Prime Time Singers.
BUe study — BHote study Is at noon
every Tuesday at Wayne Gray
Recreational Center, 5200 East Road.
Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.
There Is no charge for the study. For
more Information, call Pat Holmes at
2814226587.
Duplcato bridge—The Baytown
Duplicate Bridge Club meets at 1 p.m.
every Tuesday at Remington Park, 901
W. Baker Road. Pliers pay $2 each
for three hours of great entertainment
For morafiformatlon, call 281427-
3031.
OED duress —Free GED classes -
are from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each
Tuesday and Thursday at the J.D.
Walker Community Center, 7613 Wade
Road. For Information, call
2814263551.
Senior oNtaans — Baytown Senior
Center has a day of fUn, fellowship,
games, Btole study and a hot lunch.
The center, located at 1715 Market
St, Inside First Presbyterian Church,
provides transportation to and from the
center every day. For more Information,
call 281427-2145.
Mode— A Patriotic Teddy Bear
Parade and Picnic will be held from
10:15 -11 a.m. at Starting Munidpol
Library. Brirg a teddy bear and a sack
lunch. Parade thnxgh the Library
behind Tuba Bear, and then have lunch
on the Library lawn. Punch will be pro-
vided. For all ages.
Hre 6 reeoue—The July meeting of
the Chambers County Fire & Rescue
Association will be at 7:30 pm in the
Cove Community Bulking. The meeting
is held on the first Wednesday of —
month. AH fire, EMS, First Responders,
county officials and vendors are wel-
come to attend. i
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Cash, Wanda Garner. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 218, Ed. 1 Tuesday, July 1, 2003, newspaper, July 1, 2003; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1052440/m1/6/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.