Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
Known to be buried or from obits
Possible burials as mentioned in Rains County Leader
Name Death Date obit
Grandpa Testerman of the Hogansville community
May 16, 1913
baby of Mr. & Mrs. Fred Holmes
July 1913
August 1, 1913
Horsley, Dennis
October 18, 1918
Burials verified by relatives
Name Birth Death Source
Amis, Ivy Gladys, 1st child of James A. & Carrie Etta Amis
Scatterbranch, Hunt Co., TX
January 1897
Carolyn Glass Warren
Amis, James Durwood
Oct 1, 1901 Scatterbranch, Hunt Co., TX
Emory, Rains Co., TX Dec 12, 1911 of spinal meningitis
Carolyn Glass Warren
Amis, Jewel Ruth
Wood Co., TX
Rains Co., TX
Carolyn Glass Warren
Amis, stillborn daughter (11th child of James A. & Carrie Etta Amis)
May 2, 1919
May 2, 1919
Carolyn Glass Warren
Amis, William Rudolph
lived one year
Carolyn Glass Warren
Rains County Leader
August 1908
Mrs. T.V. Prather Dead
Mrs. Ruby Prather, wife of Mr. T.V. Prather, who lives about one mile east
of Emory, died last Tuesday morning after a short illness, leaving an infant
only two days old. She was only 18 years old, loved and highly respected by
all who knew her. Her husband, father and family have the deepest sympathy
of all in their sad bereavement. Her remains were interred in the Pilgrim's
Rest graveyard Wednesday morning.
Rains County Leader
April 9, 1909
The death angel entered the home of Mr. J.F. and Maggie Ross and claimed for
its own, their darling 8-months-old babe. Weep not dear sister for Jesus said
suffer little children to come unto me for such are the Kingdom of Heaven.
Its remains were interred in the Pilgrim Rest cemetery Friday evening. Pastor
C.M. Martin conducting the last sad rites. Thou ar’t gone my precious
darling, Never more we’ll see they face; But will meet thee up in Heaven,
In that eternal resting place.
( Note: This may be Mathes B. Nelson, s/o Mr. & Mrs. O.D.
Nelson)
east section
row 12
Rains County Leader
Nov 19, 1909
Pilgrim Rest Items
Yesterday morning about 5 o’clock the death angel called home the little
2-year-old boy of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. His remains will be laid to rest in
the Pilgrim Rest cemetery today
Rains County Leader
December 15, 1911
Another Sudden Death The Grim Monster has again visited Emory and this time
claimed little Jimmy, the 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Amis. He was
only sick from Monday until about 8 o'clock Tuesday night when the death angel
came and relieved him of his intense suffering and his spirit waited away
in the realms of peace and happiness. His malady was pronounced meningitis
by the attending physicians. Jimmy was a quiet, unassuming, sturdy and energetic
little fellow, and not only will he be sorely missed by the family, but by
his playmates as well, for he had won a warm place in the hearts of all with
whom he came in contact. Funeral services were conducted at the Baptist church
Wednesday evening at 1 o'clock by Bro. Garvin. School was dismissed and there
were between 250 and 300 children present at the service. His remains were
laid to rest at the Pilgrim Rest graveyard about 4 o'clock. We deeply sympathize
with the bereaved parents and brothers and sisters in this great hour of adversity.
(In earlier listing of Old Obits, baby was listed as being buried
in Pilgrim Rest Cem)
Rains County Leader
Dec 3, 1920
Little Aubrey Rylant Dead
The little 4-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Rylant gently fell asleep Nov
18, 1920 and an angel awakened him.
For the golden day was done,
Through the closing portal,
Child and garden flower and sun -
Vanish all things mortal.
His parents wish to thank the friends who were so kind and helpful. Also,
our physician, Dr. L.T. Waller, who was so thoughtful and attentive during
the little son's illness and death. They wish to express their gratitude to
the first and second grades and other friends for their beautiful floral offerings.
Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Rylant
east section
row 15
D.A.W. Yandell
Rains County Leader
June 26, 1925
"Uncle" Don Yandell Passes Away
The death angel visited the home of Miss Dollie Yandell, of near Pilgrim Rest
community, and claimed for its victim her father, Mr. Yandell, better known
as "Uncle" Don. "Uncle" Don was born October 6th, 1842
and passed from this natural realm into that of the spiritual on June 22nd,
1925. To know him was to love him. He was devoted to Christ and His cause.
It is our earthly loss but his heavenly gain. He was doubtless prepared by
God's divine grace to meet his Lord. Everything that loving hands could do
was done but in vain, for He Who doeth all things for the best said, "It
is enough; come up higher." Mr. Yandell had lived a life of 79 years
in this vicinity, where he made a host of friends, which was due to his life
of unselfishness. In summing up his life we would say that he lived a life
of service to his loved ones. He leaves behind him to mourn his departure,
a host of sorrowing relatives and friends. But we can say to those who weep,
to weep not for him as one that has no hope, for he left the blessed assurance
that he has gone to be with Jesus. Jesus consoled his disciples before He
left this world, that, "I go to prepare a mansion for you, that where
I am there may ye be also." So we have the assurance that he is asleep
in Jesus to await the resurrection morn. His remains were laid to rest in
the Pilgrim Rest cemetery. Impressive funeral services were conducted by Rev.
Clate Martin and Bro. Smith. May God bless and comfort the sad hearted loved
ones.---Lois McKeown
Pilgrim Rest Cem
west section, row 12
The Rains County Leader
October 28, 1965
Former Resident Dies October 18th
Mrs. Mattie M. Wall, 94, a resident of Wichita Falls 24 years, died at 7 a.m.
Monday at her residence, 2700 Wenonah. She was a former resident of Rains
County. She was born April 8, 1871 in Murray County, Ga. She was a member
of the First Church of the Nazarene. Services were held at 9 a.m. Tuesday
in Owens-Brumley Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. W.M. Dorough, pastor of
First Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Burial was in Pilgrim Rest Cemetery.
Graveside services were held at the cemetery at 3 p.m. Survivors include three
daughters, Mrs. Mae Usry of Dallas, and Mrs. Myrtle Echard and Mrs. Vera Connor,
both of Wichita Falls; two sons, James T. Wall of Downey, Calif.; and Henry
Wall of Wichita Falls; 24 grandchildren and some great-grandchildren.
Willie Mae Hass
1918 - 2003
Services for Willie Mae Hass, 85, of Alba were held at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday,
Nov. 26, at Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home Chapel of Alba with Mr. Delton Alexander
officiating.
Burial was in Pilgrims Rest No. 1 Cemetery near Emory. Pallbearers were T.J.
Hass, Ricky Harvey, Rusty Sherwood, Scott Lyles, Ferrell Dean Harvey and David
Brown.
Mrs. Hass died Monday, Nov. 24, in a Mesquite Hospital. She was born July
8, 1918, in Wood County. She lived most of her life in Alba. Mrs. Hass was
a homemaker and a member of the church of Christ.
Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Harl and Virginia Hass of Alba;
daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Don Ince of Mesquite; three grandchildren;
and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, O.L. and Bessie Thedford Harvey;
husband, Harl Hass; three sisters, Marie Hass, Tina Sherwood and Peggy Brummett;
two brothers, Leon Harvey and O.L. Harvey Jr.; and one grandson, Todd Hass.
The Rains County Leader
January 27, 2004
Gene Kolb
1943 - 2003
Graveside services for Gene Kolb, 60, of Alba were held Saturday, January
24, at 2:00 p.m. at Pilgrim Rest No. 1 Cemetery in Emory with Bro. Robert
Stovall officiating.
Burial followed. Pallbearers were David Kolb, Sam Schwed, Chris Ussery, Kenneth
English, Billy Nipp, and Micah Kolb.
Mr. Kolb died Wednesday, January 21, at ETMC Tyler.
He was born July 31, 1943, in Oklahoma City, Okla. He lived in Alba since
1974. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and was employed as a shipping
coordinator. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era.
Survivors included his mother, Jacqueline Kolb of Quitman; one son and daughter-in-law,
Micah and Jennifer Kolb of Alba; one brother, David Kolb of Quitman; one sister,
Linda Williams of Mesquite; and one grandchild.
Mr. Kolb was preceded in death by his father, Roy Kolb, Jr.
Services were under the direction of Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home of Alba.
Charles H. Hass
1921 2003
Funeral services for Charles H. Hass, 82, of Alba, will be held at 2 p.m.,
Wednesday, November 26, 2003, at the Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home Chapel in
Alba with Rev. Waymon “Shorty” Hass officiating. Burial will be
in the Pilgrim Rest #1 Cemetery near Emory. Pallbearers will be Junior Staley,
John Staley, Jackie Staley, Drew Henson, John Reid, Tony Grisham, and Raymond
Hass.
Mr. Hass died Monday, November 24, at Hospice of East Texas Homeplace in Tyler.
He was born July 26, 1921 in Rains County to Isaac Bowie and Bertie Mollie
Whitehurst Hass, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Hass was a lifelong resident of Alba, a member of the Assembly of God,
a former member of the Alba Fire Department and was a farmer.
Survivors included his wife of 63 years, Lela Attaway Hass of Alba; two sons
and daughters-in-law, Henry and Helen Hass of Alba, and Waymon and Frances
Hass of Prosper; three daughters and sons-in-law, Gail and Steve Nichols of
Tyler, Verdie and Perry Henson and Kay and Randy Blackford all of Whitehouse;
eight brothers, Odell Hass of Springtown, Harris Dee Hass, Douglas Hass, and
W.C. Hass, all of Alba, Joe Dell Hass and Randy Hass both of Golden, Isaac
Andrew Hass of Point and Danny Hass of Mesquite; three sisters, Nellie McKenzie,
Darlene Hays and Dianne Wright, all of Alba; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by his step-mother, Nellie Adair Hass Johnson;
four brothers, Edward Bowie Hass, R. Acey Hass, Howard B. Hass, and Bobby
Wayne Hass.
Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m.
West section, row 3
Rains County Leader
September 1, 1998
Services for Michael Todd Hass, 33, of Alba were held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday
August 29, 1998 at Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Home Chapel in Emory with Rev. Jim
Parker and Rev. William Potts officiating. Burial was in Pilgrim Rest #1 Cemetery
with Scottie Lyles, Jerry Scott Adair, Brian Bradshaw, Brandon Hass, Kenny
Briggs and Brett Ince serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Steve
Potts, Jon Ralph, Rusty Sherwood and Sunny Hass. Mr. Hass died August 26,
1998 at his home in Alba. He was born in Bonham on July 9, 1965 to Harl Dean
and Virginia Rogers Hass. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and worked in
construction. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his father and mother of
Alba; grandmothers, Willie Mae Hass of Mesquite and Annie Rogers of Greenville;
sister and brother-in-law, Tracy and Timothy Raymond of Quitman; and a host
of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.
Rains County Leader
March 23, 2004
Dorothy Martin
1910 - 2004
Funeral services for Dorothy Martin, 93, of Roswell, N.M., will be at 2:00
p.m. Tuesday, March 23, at Pilgrim Rest No. 2 Baptist Church in Golden, with
Bro. Louis Strehlow officiating. Burial will be in Pilgrim Rest No. 2 Cemetery
under the direction of Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home of Alba. Pallbearers will
be Larry Hughes, Darrell Galyean, Kenny Ruelas, Jim Spurgeon, Will Holland,
and Ronnie Galyean. Mrs. Martin died Friday, March 19, 2004, at Eastern New
Mexico Medical Center, Roswell, N.M. She was born June 22, 1910, in New York
City, N.Y. She spent her childhood in Kansas, and lived most of her life in
Roswell, N.M. She lived four years in the Alba/Grand Saline area before moving
back to Roswell in 1989. She was a homemaker and a member of Pilgrim Rest
No. 2 Baptist Church in Golden. She is survived by sons Adelbert Martin of
Dallas, and Michael and Linda Martin of Alba; daughter, Loretta Marker of
Dallas; 13 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded
in death by her adoptive mother, Katherine Bergman; husband, Adelbert Martin;
son, Jerry Martin; two daughters, Patricia Martin and Lei Latner.
Rains County Leader
March 30, 2004
Jackie A. Miller
1937 - 2004
Graveside services and burial for Jackie A. Miller, 66, of Cleburne will be
held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 1, at Pilgrims Rest #1 Cemetery, with Wilson-Orwosky
Funeral Home in charge of services. Mr. Miller died Sunday, March 28, at Osteopath
Hospital of Ft. Worth. He was born October 2, 1937, in Hope, Ark., to Joe
C. and Fay E. McKay Miller. He was a construction roofer, and a Baptist. He
is survived by sons, Gary Miller, Frank Miller, and Gary Frank Miller, all
of Cleburne; sister, Peggy Cordova of Eagle Nest, N.M.; brothers, Tony Miller
of Chaparral, N.M., and Roger Miller of Emory; and four grandchildren. He
was preceded in death by his parents.
Garry William Prather Sr.
1951 - 2004
Funeral services for Garry William Prather Sr., of Emory, will be held at
2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church with Rev. David
Kendricks and Rev. Royce Cembell officiating. Burial will follow at Pilgrim
Rest Cemetery. Pallbearers are Steve Land, Hubert Anderson, Mackie Jacobs,
Jerry Valentine, Phillip Cason, Brandon Gowin, Trey Bodiford, Garry Prather
Jr. and Rusty Rankin. Mr. Prather died Friday, May 21, at his residence in
Emory. He was born in Dallas on May 31, 1951, to George W. and Billie Hyde
Prather. He married Paula Kay Bridges in Mineola on December 4, 1976. He was
a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; a son,
Garry William Prather Jr. of Emory; two daughters, Kelly Kay Prather of Rockwall
and April B. and husband Kam Emig of Emory; one grandchild, Lynn Emig; a sister,
Leverne Castleberry of Benton, Ark.; and his mother, Billie Prather of Seagoville.
Mr. Prather was preceded in death by his father in 1998 and a brother in 2004.
The family requests that donations in lieu of flowers be sent to Wilson-Orwosky
Funeral Home in Emory.
Rains Co. Leader
July 20, 2004
Lena Mae Spence
1920-2004
Funeral services for Lena Mae Spence, 84, of Emory will be held at Wilson-Orwosky
Funeral Home Chapel, at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 20, with Rev. David Hendricks
officiating. Burial will be in Pilgrim Rest Cemetery #1. Pallbearers will
be Randall Spence, Ronald Spence, Kevin Martinez, Kerry spence, and Justin
Spence. Mrs. Spence died Saturday, July 17, 2004, at Green Acres Nursing Home
in Emory. She was born Feb. 2, 1920, in Rains County to Jay and Minnie Mae
Hass Williams. She was a nursing assistant. She is survived by a son, Jimmie
Spence and wife Edna of Emory; grandchildren, Sherri Burnside of Greenville,
Randall Spence of Alba, Ronald Spence of Dallas, and Jerry Spence Jr. of Dallas.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three sons.
Rains County Leader
April 5, 2005
Ernest Ray Watson
1943-2005
Funeral services for Ernest Ray Watson, 61, of Emory will be at 2:00 p.m.,
Wednesday, April 6, at Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Chapel with Rev. Eddie Paul
Stanley officiating. Burial will be in Pilgrim Rest Cemetery #1. Pallbearers
will be Harold Kizer, Randy Watson, Gerald Raines, Jarred Massie, Tommy Watson
and James Wheeler. Mr. Watson died Saturday, April 2, at Trinity Mother Frances
Health Center. He was born April 25, 1943, in Fruitvale to Henry and Rosy
Brown Watson. He married Doris Slatter April 14, 1991, in Emory. He was a
retired machinist and a member of the Assembly of God Church. He is survived
by his wife, Doris Watson of Emory; daughter, Tammy Kizer of Sulphur Springs;
step-daughters, Patricia Massie of Alba and Vickie Weatherford of Sentinel,
Colo.; brothers, Eugene Watson of Canton, and L.J. Watson of Fruitvale; grandchildren,
Taylor Cliffton, Justin Kizer, April Lures, Jarred Massie, Carlie Weatherford,
and Cimmie Weatherford. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Tina Suzanne
Watson and Kandy Lynn Watson; one son, Jeffery Ray Watson; one sister; and
three brothers. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00
to 8:00 at Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Home.
Rains County Leader
June 7, 2005
Glenda Fritz
1946-2005
Funeral services for Glenda Fritz of Emory were held at 12:00 noon Friday,
June 3, at Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Chapel with Pastor Tony Clawson officiating.
Burial was in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery. Mrs. Fritz died Monday, May 30, at East
Texas Hospice in Tyler. She was born in Emory on October 31, 1946, to Raymond
E. and Verba Mae Richardson Spence. She married James Harold Fritz on May
12, 1965, in Dallas. She was assistant director of maintenance and transportation
for Rains ISD. She was of the non-denominational faith and was a member of
East Texas Road Runners. She is survived by her husband, James Harold Fritz;
mother, Verba Mae Spence; sons, Michael W. Fritz of Dallas, and David A. Fritz
of Emory; daughter, Tracy Field of Emory; brothers, Roy Spence of Emory, and
Carl Spence of Mesquite; sister, Janet Blanton of Emory; and six grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Spence.
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