The
Passing Of Grandmother O'Hair.
Grandma O'Hair
died at Mr. and Mrs. Jim Berry's home
in Lampasas June 29th, Friday 11 p. m., 1923, just
three weeks later
than the death of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Hutto,
whose home
was at Aransas Pass, Texas. She was buried in the
Dobyville Cemetery
Sunday, July 1st, 1923. She was ninety-two years of
age and was
confined to her room some five or six years in a
helpless condition
before the end came.
She was a daughter of
old Uncle Jake Wolf, who came from
Tennessee, and who lived at Dobyville about 47 years
before his
death. She was a sister to old Uncle Billy George,
Pate, Ell
Tom and John Wolf, all of whom have
preceded her in
passing over the Valley of Death, from whence no one
returneth.
Grandma O'Hair was the
last member of this good old pioneer
family, who have lived in Burnet County for some 60
odd years, and
were instrumental in opening up the frontiers of Texas
for future
settlement. As the writer of this article lived
neighbor and mingled
with and was associated with this family of people
from childhood to
womanhood, I wish to state that a better, kinder
people never lived
in Burnet County than I knew them to be. They were all
of a sincere
nature and did not indorse the present formality of
life, being kind,
generous and courteous to all and to know them was to
ever appreciate
their good traits of character.
Mrs. O'Hair was married
to Judge O'Hair some seventy-four
years ago, and to their union eight children were
born, being three
girls and five boys. Mr. Joe, Tom, Rolly, Hop, and
Mike are
the five brothers and sons of this good old mother and
Helen,
Minnie and Mary are the three sisters and
daughters of this good
lady. The only ones who survive her are Mr. Joe
O'Hair of
Naruna, Hop O'Hair of Coleman City,
Texas, of the five
sons, and Mrs. Helen Nix of El Dorado, and Mrs.
Jim
Berry of Lampasas, Texas are the two living
daughters.
Many of her friends will
recall the sad instance of some three or
four years ago during the terrible "Flu" epidemic when
her son
Rolly, whose home was in Cheyenne, Wyoming,
started to pay his
good old mother a visit, and only got as far as
Denton, Texas and
there was stricken with the "Flu" and died, never
arriving to see his
mother. He was also buried at Dobyville in the family
grave yard.
Mrs. O'Hair has lived in
Burnet County most all her life. You will
recall the fact that Judge O'Hair, her husband, was an
official of
Burnet County for 40 odd years, and their many friends
are too
numerous to mention, but all knew them, knew them only
to respect
them in the highest degree. They were so kind and
neighborly and they
were always thinking of others comfort and convenience
more often
than their own.
She leaves a number of
grand-children and great grand children to
mourn the loss of one who loved them dearly. To Mr.
and Mrs. Jim
Berry and children who watched over so faithful
for so many years
and never tired of their devotion to her care and
comfort during all
of her years of feebleness, she being always so kind
and patient
towards them at all times.
Yes, dear children, you will dream of scenes and days of yore. When from pain and care you were free, Yes , you will long to see Mother's face once more, As when it beamed with joy to welcome thee, Yes, you will long to see her as she sat, While your childish glee around her did ring. As you remember how sweetly she did sing, And will often fancy what the sweet memory will bring. There is a wealth of pure affection, There is a retrospect of joy, Mingled with the thoughts of mother and home. And the tender remembrance where e'er, There was no dearer soul than hers, How it thrilled Now her Angel form softly reposes. On the Dobyville hills. An offering to Him who rules us all. Her sweet Mother Spirit will hover about us still. How you will miss her every where, How sad to look at her vacant chair, She talked of Heaven and longed to go, Her sickness, death and suffering are no more, Now you can feel and know that all is well, Yes, my friends-after friends depart Who hath not lost a friend There is no, union of heart, That finds not here an end, For this frail world owes only rest. Living or dying none were best, Beyond the fight of time, Beyond this vale of death, There surely is some blessed clime, Where life is not a breath, Nor life's affection transient fire, Whose sparks fly upward to the sky. There is a world above, Where parting is unknown, A whole eternity of love, Formed for the good alone. A faith beholds the dying here, Transiated to the happy sphere. Thus star by star declines, Till all are passed away, As morning high and higher shines, To pure and perfect day, Nor sink those stars In empty night, They hide themselves In Heaven's own light, Yes, let us scatter seeds of kindness, As was the life of dear Grandmother O'Hair, Enriching her valuable life to befriend, She has left them trusted to the harvest given, And He will make each seed scattered grow, Let us live and profit by her devoted life, So in the final end. We shall never want for a friend.
Contributed by one who loved her as a mother. Mrs. Lena Reynolds, Burnet, Texas
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