Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries


The Fairfield Recorder - 30 April 1970 edition, Page 1

Death Claims Mother 
Of The Recorder Family

Funeral services were held from First Baptist Church in Fairfield Monday
afternoon for Mrs. Annie Eugenia Kirgan who died at the Presbyterian Hospital
in Dallas early Sunday morning.  Her husband was the late Lee C. Kirgan,
owner-publisher of the Fairfield Recorder from 1900 until his death in 1947.

Mrs. Kirgan, who is the daughter of Caroline and James Lafayette Childs, early
Freestone County settlers, would have celebrated her 90th birthday June 7.  She
was born in Fairfield in 1880 and lived here all of her life.  She and Mr.
Kirgan were married Dec 9, 1898.

The Rev. Jack Smith, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiated and was
assisted by the Rev. Norman Burk, her neighbor and friend, and pastor of
Calvary Baptist Church.  The Rev. Richard Kirgan of Beaumont, Miss., her
grandson led prayer at the family home before rites at the church.

Other grandsons, Joe Lee Kirgan Jr. of Fairfield, John Stubbs of Wortham, Jimmy
Kirgan of Teague, Tim Gleason and Lee Gleason of Dallas and Harold Newton
Hopkins, Jr. of Silsbee, were pallbearers.  Randall Kirgan of Sweetwater was
unable to be here.

Burial was in Fairfield Cemetery under direction of Capps Funeral Home.

Mrs. Kirgan was loved by all who knew her and was respected as a great
Christian lady.  She was truly a "home missionary" as she reared her large
family and served her neighbors, friends and others who passed her way through
the years.  Her Christian witness was an inspiration and her wonderful sense of
humor always the source of joy and happiness.  She was a charter member of the
Order of the Eastern Star.

Her home, "Liberty Hall," was a refuge for grandchildren and great
grandchildren who could be corrected while there, but all punishment was
postponed until they returned to their homes.

Survivors include Randall B. Kirgan of Sweetwater, Ramon R. Kirgan of
Fairfield, and Hulen Kirgan of Mexia; three daughters, Mrs. George (Sadie)
Kirgan of Wortham, Mrs. Thomas (Joy) Gleason of Dallas, and Mrs. H. N. (Joyce)
Hopkins of Silsbee; 15 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and a number of
nieces and nephews.  Besides her husband, she was preceeded in death by one
daughter, Mary, and three sons, Millard, Joe Lee, and Alton.

All of the children grew up in and worked at the Recorder through the years.
After Mr. Kirgan's death, Mrs. Kirgan remained owner of the newspaper until
1960 when she sold it to her grandson Joe Lee Jr.  Others who are still in the
newspaper work are Randall of the Sweetwater Daily Reporter, Hulen at the Mexia
Daily News, and Jimmy at the Recorder.