Taylor County, TX - Obituary - Mrs. John Guitar, Sr. **************************************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm **************************************************************************** The Abilene Reporter News Thursday, November 11, 1948 Mrs. John Guitar, Sr., 83, member of a prominent West Texas family died today in her home, 1508 North 1st Street, where she had lived for the past 42 years. Her death followed six months of failing health. Funeral will be held at the family residence. Rev. Harlie Woolard, pastor of the First Christian church and Dr. E.B. Surface, former pastor of the Central Presbyterian church will officiate. Burial in the Cedar Hill cemetery where her late husband was buried in 1936. Laughter-North funeral home is conducting arrangements. To Abilene in 1896 Mrs. Guitar was born Laura Hudson, the daughter of the late Mr. And Mrs. Repps Bedford Hudson, 26 June 1865 in Carrolton, Missouri. It was there she was married to John Guitar, 25 March 1890. The couple left Missouri in 1891 and moved to Texas, settling at Jefferson. They lived there only a short time before going to Ennis, Texas. From there they came to Abilene in 1898. In their first year here, Mr. Guitar built AbileneÕs first oil mill and formed the Abilene Cotton Oil Mill Co. The mill burned in 1919. Mr. Guitar also held other interest in the cotton industry. These included compresses at Colorado City, Stamford, Seymour, Munday and Spur; and cotton gins at Abilene, Hawley, Tye, Merkel, Trent, Roscoe, Loraine, Colorado City, Westbrook, Coahoma, Big Spring, and Stanton. They were all operated by the Guitar Trust Estate, former by Mr. Guitar in 1923. Interested in the estate were Mr. And Mrs. Guitar and their eight children. Mr. Guitar set the Guitar Industries into operation in Hudspeth, Howard, Dickens, Shackelford, Jones and Taylor counties. He was interested in crude oil and gasoline refining and sale, serving as part owner of the Abilene Refining Company and owner of a Pine Street service station. Developed Real Estate The Guitars were among the cityÕs large owners of downtown business property and developed real estate on a large scale. Simmons Terrace, a 16 acre residential tract in northeast Abilene, was a Guitar development. Mr. Guitar died 7 April 1936. His death was also in the family residence, which, although it was built nearly 37 years ago, is yet one of the most striking residential structures in Abilene. Mrs. Guitar had been active in both church and club work. She was one of the earliest members of the First Christian church and had contributed much to the erection of the present church building. She was a charter member of the WomanÕs Club and had held membership in various organizations which met at the club building. She had been president of the Just-Sew Club since its organization. Survivors are three sons: John Guitar, Jr. of Abilene; Repps Guitar of Big Spring; Earl Guitar of Abilene; 5 daughters Ð Mrs. Guy Witherspoon, Sr. of Fort Worth; Mrs. Dennis E. Woods, 126 Merchant S., Abilene; Mrs. John C. Belcher of Upland, CA; Mrs. Kelly Polk and Mrs. Minor Alexander, both of Abilene; 22 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one sister Ð Mrs. St. Cloud Cooper of Fort Smith, AR; one brother Ð Will Hudson of Carrolton, Missouri.