Hunt Co., TX - Cemetery Gate Erected in Celeste as Memorial
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Cemetery Gate Erected in Celeste as Memorial
    Citizens of Celeste and nearby communities point with pride to recent
improvements to the old "Hogeye" Cemetery, now officially known as the Celeste
Cemetery.
    Most recent improvements at this cemetery, resting place for some of the
Hunt County's early day pioneers, were the completion of an all-weather road
and erection of an attractive redwood gate, held by two columns of Berkley Blue
Georgia granite.
    This cemetery is supported by a strong association composed of Celeste
citizens, headed by H. H. Furr, as president.  Other officers of the
association include George McGee, vice president; Jack Ruff, secretary; and
Mrs. Albert Norris, treasurer.  They take great pride in maintaining the
cemetery and enjoy the full cooperation of the people of the community.
    So great have the improvements been in recent years, that recently when
Dial H. Elkins, of Washington, D. C. and a former resident of this community,
returned to visit the graves of his parents and brothers, he was inspired to
give tangible evidence of his appreciation by the erection of the new cemetery
gate in memory of his loved ones.  He also started the movement for an all-
weather road to the cemetery.
    After discussing the cemetery needs with Mrs. Norris and others in the
association, Mr. Elkins proposed an all-weather road into the cemetery with a
nice entrance gate.  On securing approval for this improvement, he called upon
J. M. Youngblood, of the Youngblood Memorial Company, of Greenville, to design
and erect an entrance gate that would be a source of pride to himself as well
as the entire community.
    The gate pictured on this page is made of redwood, stained in natural color
to retain its beauty, and it is four feet high and twelve-feet wide.  Two
columns which hold the gate are made of Berkley Blue Georgia granite, of
approximately twelve inches square and seven-feet high, with the name of the
cemetery and other appropriate lettering carved in the stone.  The designer of
this gate is D. E. Narramore, sales-manager of the Youngblood Memorial Company.
    Through the splendid cooperation of the Commissioner Merrick Money and the
State Highway Department, a very fine all-weather approach to the entrance has
been built.
    Passing through the Celeste community and by this cemetery, one is reminded
of the truth of Gladstone's words, "Show me a manner in which a nation or
community cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the
tender sympathies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land, and
their loyalties to high ideals."

Dial H. Elkins Erects Memorial
    Dial H. Elkins, a native of Celeste, who has been residing in Washington,
D. C., for the past ten years and who visits here and in Celeste each year, has
erected appropriate memorials in memory of his loved ones buried at the Celeste
Cemetery and the Lee Cemetery, west of Leonard.
    Mr. Elkins, who recently erected a gate at the Celeste Cemetery in memory
of his parents and brothers buried there, is president of the Batt, Bates and
Company, Inc., of Washington, D. C.  He is a grandson of Captain Bob Lee, one
of the principals in the well-known Lee and Peacock Feud, which took place
immediately after the Civil War in and around Leonard.  Captain Lee, the story
says, was shot from ambush in June of 1869 near his home west of Leonard and is
buried in the Lee family cemetery about three miles southwest of that city.
    Mr. Elkins' interest in the Celeste and Lee cemeteries is evidenced by
projects which he conceived and financed himself in the form of entrance gates
to Celeste Cemetery and a memorial erected to Captain Bob Lee in the Lee
Cemetery, both of which are shown on this page.  (Picture of Dial H. Elkins)

Memorial. . .
    The monument pictured above, was recently erected in the Lee family
cemetery near Leonard, in memory of Captain Bob Lee, grandfather of Dial H.
Elkins, of Washington, D. C.
(Picture of monument; staff photo by Tom Poole, Jr.)  (Undated clipping)
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