Jimmy Gazzaway's Family Pictures
Jim and Lois May 8, 1944
Jim and
Lois met in DeRidder, Louisiana in 1942 at the DeRidder Army
Air Base Sub-Depot where Lois was working as an Aircraft
Electrician for Civil Service and Jim was a Line Inspector
releasing airplanes back to service after being repaired.
Lois and some other young ladies came to the ramp to change
out the spark plugs on a B-25, and haveing never done that
before they needed to be shown where the plugs were and how
to get to them. Jim showed them where they were.
From that first meeting their relationship grew until they
became engaged to be married in August of 1943 when Jim left
for military service as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air
Corps. The program was discontinued in May of 1944 and Jim
obtained a leave to meet Lois at his mother's in Teague, Texas.
Jim and Lois met in DeRidder, Louisiana in 1942 at the DeRidder Army Air Base Sub-Depot where Lois was working as an Aircraft Electrician for Civil Service and Jim was a Line Inspector releasing airplanes back to service after being repaired. Lois and some other young ladies came to the ramp to change out the spark plugs on a B-25, and haveing never done that before they needed to be shown where the plugs were and how to get to them. Jim showed them where they were. From that first meeting their relationship grew until they became engaged to be married in August of 1943 when Jim left for military service as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Corps. The program was discontinued in May of 1944 and Jim obtained a leave to meet Lois at his mother's in Teague, Texas.
They bought their marriage license in Fairfield on May 8, 1944 and married that same day in Teague.
Jim and Lois May 8, 1994
Jim and
Lois moved to Teague in January of 1946 when he was discharged
from the Army Air Corps. They bought out the Quillan
Photographic Studio and did portrait, commercial and aerial
photography as well as developing roll film. The baby boom
paid off but fizzled out in the early 50's and Jim went to
work for the Burlington - Rock Island Railroad as a brakeman
and eventually a clerk, while Lois worked as a telephone
operator for Southwestern Bell. Jim leased the airport
from Doctor Gage and opened a flight school, crop dusting
service and charter service which they operated together
until 1954. Their daughter Loraine was born in 1953 and they
moved to Corsicana in 1954 where Jim did crop dusting, flight
instruction and charter work. From there they went on to
Borger where Jim was assistant airport manager. Then to
Sinclair Refining
Company in Tulsa as an executive pilot. He remained with
Sinclair until 1961. He then became Chief Pilot for Houston
Beechcraft, then Wanda Petroleum and finally Newton Properties
in Conroe where they lived until they moved to Fairfield in
1993 and celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1994.
Jim and
Lois moved to Teague in January of 1946 when he was discharged
from the Army Air Corps. They bought out the Quillan
Photographic Studio and did portrait, commercial and aerial
photography as well as developing roll film. The baby boom
paid off but fizzled out in the early 50's and Jim went to
work for the Burlington - Rock Island Railroad as a brakeman
and eventually a clerk, while Lois worked as a telephone
operator for Southwestern Bell. Jim leased the airport
from Doctor Gage and opened a flight school, crop dusting
service and charter service which they operated together
until 1954. Their daughter Loraine was born in 1953 and they
moved to Corsicana in 1954 where Jim did crop dusting, flight
instruction and charter work. From there they went on to
Borger where Jim was assistant airport manager. Then to
Sinclair Refining
Company in Tulsa as an executive pilot. He remained with
Sinclair until 1961. He then became Chief Pilot for Houston
Beechcraft, then Wanda Petroleum and finally Newton Properties
in Conroe where they lived until they moved to Fairfield in
1993 and celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1994.
Lois passed from this life on October 5, 1999 after falling in the kitchen while she and Jim were cooking breakfast. Her skull was fractured in the fall and she subsequently died of a brain hemorrhage at Baylor Dallas Roberts Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
Lois had requested that her organs be used for transplant and so her liver was donated to Southwest Transplant Alliance in Dallas. The recipient was a lady in her mid sixties by the name of "Nina" and she recovered fully from her illness. Jim and Loraine have been able to stay in touch with Nina through Southwest Transplant Alliance but as of December 2000 had yet to meet Nina.
Lois was laid to rest in Conroe Memorial Cemetery on October 9, 1999.
Lois and Jim were married for 55 years, 4 months and 27 days.
Jimmy and Mary Jo - March 18, 2000
Jimmy and Mary Jo Allison first met when Mary Jo's Mother brought her to visit her old chum and lifelong friend, Mrs. Willie Gazzaway, in Thornton, Texas on March 8, 1925. It was Mary Jo's 3rd trip out and on that Sunday morning Mary Jo's Mother and Jimmy's Father weighed the two of them and Jimmy weighed 10 pounds, the same as when he was born. He was 2 weeks old and she was 6 weeks old. During the years following the two mother's stayed in contact with each other and visited when the opportunity presented itself.
Jimmy and Mary Jo were lifelong friends just as their Mothers had been and they stayed in touch through the years. Their Mothers had dreams for them that it took over 65 years to come to be. Jimmy married Lois Cooper in 1944 and Mary Jo married Tommy Shoemake in 1945. Both families visited back and forth and took RV trips together while their children played together and grew up knowing each other. Mary Jo had two children, Clifton Shoemake and Sharon Shoemake Moore while Jimmy had Loraine Gazzaway Ray. Tommy died in 1998 and Lois in 1999.
After their mates were laid to rest Jimmy and Mary Jo continued to stay in touch and through Email and visits by Jimmy to correct problems on Mary Jo's computer they were married on March 18, 2000. The marriage ceremony was performed at Loraine's home with Jimmy's son in law, JD Ray, serving as his Best Man while Clifton Shoemake gave his Mother away and Sharon Moore served as her Mother's Matron of Honor. Jim Tenery, minister from Saturn Road Church of Christ in Garland, Texas conducted the ceremony attended by the family. They now spend their time together enjoying travel in their motorhome and just enjoying being together.
For The Rest of the story, Click Below
Willie and Bertha's dream comes true
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� 1997
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