Samuel Ernest Harris, age 94, died peacefully early Friday morning in his home at the Wesleyan Independent Living Center in Georgetown.

Sam was a graduate of Georgetown High School and a proud 1939 graduate of Texas A&M University. He was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Army, and within 30 days of Pearl Harbor, was ordered to report to the 1st Cavalry Division in Ft. Bliss, Texas. The division was ordered to dismount and serve as infantry, where Sam served 4 years in the Southwest Pacific, recalling his most rewarding experience of freeing 3300 civilian prisoners at Santo Tomas. Sam received a Purple Heart serving under General MacArthur, and later retired as a colonel. Sam was active in many community affairs, serving two terms on the Georgetown City Council, and as director of the Chamber of Commerce. He was editor of the Blackland Reporter, as well as the farm editor of the Williamson County Sun. He had many business interests, owning his own insurance agency, working in the banking industry, and eventually settling as a rancher in Burnet, Texas operating a cattle and horse business. He had a special love for horses and possessed a unique ability to work and train them. In 1970, after retirement, Sam found that his saddle did not allow him to sit on a horse in a natural way, so he decided to make his own leather saddle. After 4 attempts, he got it right and made custom saddles for the next 25 years, as well as other leather work including albums, note pads, belts, and pistol holsters. He was known as a “gentleman’s gentleman,” and later in life enjoyed watching Texas A&M football and learning all about his new computer. Sam was a member of The First United Methodist Church in Georgetown. Sam is survived by his wife Mildred Rogers (Pierce) Harris, who loved and adored him for 27 years following their marriage on March 22, 1986.

Sam has two sons, Dr. Dudley Harris, wife Carol, grandson Adam of San Antonio, and Kenneth Harris of Fredericksburg. Sam has one surviving brother, Charles Harris and wife Clarolyn of Fort Worth, and one sister-in-law Norma Harris of Georgetown. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel B. Harris and Fannie Brady Harris, and brothers James and Jack Harris. Other surviving family members include Miles and Kakie Sawyer of Virginia, Terry and Pris Lester of Georgetown, and Danny and Penny Mickan of Georgetown.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 3:00PM at IOOF Cemetery, Georgetown, Texas. A reception will follow at the home of Penny and Danny Mickan, the family welcomes everyone to come and share your memories of Sam. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church Georgetown, the Wesleyan Benevolent Fund, or the charity of your choice . Arrangements and services are under the direction of The Gabriels Funeral Chapel and Crematory.

Published in Austin American-Statesman on January 21, 2013

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Submitted by: jamyers@tstar.net (JoAnn Myers) – February 8, 2004

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Aged Woman Dies From Results of Accident Here
Funeral Services Held Wednesday

Mrs. Mary Nienast, an aged woman who had been residing in North Georgetown for the past several months, died early Tuesday morning as the result of injuries sustained when struck by an automobile here Saturday.

The accident occurred when Mr. M. R. Sims, who lives north of Georgetown, was driving his automobile north on Austin Avenue and struck Mrs. Nienast when she walked into the road in front of his machine.

She was rushed to the Martin Hospital for _____, but succumbed to her injuries Tuesday.

Funeral services were held Wednesday morning at the Davis Funeral Chapel with Rev. P. C. Williams, pastor of the First Baptist church officiating. Interment was in the Odd Fellows cemetery.

Mrs. Nienast was born in March 1878. In 1903 she was married to Joe Stewart, and to this union three daughters and one son was born. All of them survive their mother. In October 1927 she was married to Ernest Nienast, who survives her.

Four brothers, Charlie Hoover, Abilene, Will Hoover, Watonga, Okla, and Jake and Jeff Hoover of Cross Plains, and three sisters, Mrs. Bettie Bailey, Hico, Mrs. Annie Loftin, Allen Reed, and Mrs. Rosa Jennings, Cross Plains, also survive her.

Acting as pallbearers were Jim May, Clyde King, Owen Rader, Tom Landblad, Charlie Skaggs, Louis Havelka and Trueman Stone.

Music at the service was furnished by Misses Linnie May, Lurline Bartley, and Mrs. A. G. Brizendine, John Robertson and Donald Barron.

Obituary from Williamson County Sun, Friday Sept 6, 1940

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Transcribed 25 May 2005 By Michele Holland Mills mhmills@email.com

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Published in the Texas Christian Advocate (a similar article published in the 1883 Minutes of the Northwest Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, p. 43-44.)

MEMOIR OF REV. JAS. S. LANE

Rev. James Sterling Lane was born in Morgan County, Georgia, Feb. 27, 1818. He was converted and entered the Georgia Conference in his nineteenth year. In 1845 he moved to Talladega, Alabama, and was a member of the Alabama Conference for twenty years. He moved to Texas in 1865, and in 1866 was elected President of Pierce and Paine College, Louisiana. In 1870 he became a member of the Northwest Texas Conference and was appointed to the Owensville Circuit, where he traveled in 1871. he was the Principal of the Owensville High School in 1872.

In 1873 he was sent to Georgetown Circuit and was instrumental in awakening the interest of the citizens of Georgetown and vicinity in the proposed location of the Southwestern University. He canvassed the county in that interest and secured a liberal portion of the subsidy that secured the location of the University to Georgetown. In 1877 he was on the Salado and Davilla Circuit. In 1878–9 he was on the Gatesville Circuit; in 1880 and 1881 on the Round Rock Circuit, where his health failed. Reared in the lap of Methodism, Bro. Lane was entirely Methodistic in belief and opinion, experience and habit. His experiences in grace were clear and satisfactory, which caused him to urge constantly from the pulpit the same privilege to all believers.

Though not himself demonstrative in religion, he seemed greatly to enjoy its emotional manifestations in others, and as it often accompanied his preaching he felt he had failed in the pulpit unless he discovered that his congregation felt moved by his preaching.

Bro. Lane was highly entertaining in the social circle, possessing in an unusual degree the art of instructive conversation. Though he talked much, he talked wisely and well, never foolishly, and never talked nor hinted at a topic that was not scrupulously pure or good.

He was an ardent Southerner, and in his manner and habits and conversation bore himself as a polished gentleman of the old school. He scorned all baseness and knew nothing of the basis for sordid gain. Unselfish, devoted, and zealous, he gave himself wholly to his work, and from his pureness and gentleness of character he made many ardent friends.

His health had been precarious for several years, but he was zealous for his master’s cause and believed himself stronger than he really was. His looks deceived his friends, his clear dark eyes and raven black hair making him appear younger and stronger than he really was. He was at the session of the last Conference, and, contrary to the judgement of several of his friends, he received an appointment to Granbury. He came home to arrange for the entrance upon his work there but was taken down soon after reaching home. He said at the beginning of the attach that he would never get well. He sank to the surprise of his friends, steadily and rapidly, and fell asleep in Jesus on Dec. 8, 1882.

F. A. Mood
A. A. Allison
J. H. McLean

Linda Marie DeSelm

Linda Marie DeSelm, 89, died Friday, January 22, 1993, in Georgetown. She was a former resident of Austin and had resided in Georgetown for 10 years.

Memorial services were scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. Thuesday, January 26, at Grace Fellowship Church. Pastor Mike Milton officiated. Internment was in I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Georgetown with Davis Funeral Directors in charge.

DeSelm was born February 28, 1903, in Womack, Texas, to Gus and Mary (Sternberg) Isensee. She was married to Basil DeSelm, who preceeded her in death. She had been a homemaker and was affiliated with Pleasant Hill Baptist Chirch in Austin.

Surviving DeSelm are a sone, Raymond Jack Ender of Seguin; brother Reinold Isensee; Sister Esther Becker; grandsons Ray Lee Ender, Jack Ender, Leo Arnold and Bill Parker; granddaughters Jo Ann Parker, Debra Parler and Sue Gomez; and 11 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Grace Fellowship Youth Missions, P.O. Box 233, Georgetown 78627.

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman (marylove@tyler.net) – 5 December 2004

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Mrs. T. J. Cooper

Death has again claimed a member of my family, my only aunt on the Love side of the family, Mrs. Eppie Cooper, the last child of Cornelia Chapman Love and H. D. Love, She was born near Florence March 3, 1879 died July 4, 1974 at the Sweetbriar Nursing Home in Georgetown

Funeral services were held Saturday morning at the Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown with Rev. Al Cummings officiating. Burial was in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Pallbearers, were Wilbur C. Love and Charlie Stidham of Austin, Tommy Cooper Jr of Houston, Grady Anderson, Dick Cervenka and Elmo Sherman of Georgetown. Honorary pallbearers were W. P. Hoffman, Paul Anderson and H. P. Allcorn.

Miss Eppie Love and Thomas J. Cooper were married December 26, 1900 at Florence. He preceded her in I death in 1950. They lived in Florence, and Round Rock before moving to Georgetown. After his death she continued to live in Georgetown until her health failed and she went to Austin to live with the Halley Loves. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Georgetown.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. George (Ruby) Muller of Conroe, a son, Halley L. Cooper Of Austin, five grandchildren, seven great grand children, one nephew, Wilbur C. Love of Austin, one niece Mrs. J. E. Caskey of Florence. Four sons, Ralph, Rex, Dick and Tommy,preceded her in death.