Lakeview Cemetery

August 2005

 

 

Land for the Union Hill Cemetery west of Lakeview was donated in about 1897 by local cattleman and Shoe Bar Ranch owner, J.K. Zimmerman.  The first person documented to be buried at the Union Hill Cemetery was Maggie Durham Hudgins, buried in 1898.

 

The first documented survey of the Union Hill cemetery was dated 1919.  Although several partial surveys followed, all of land was never surveyed into lots, so many grave sites and lot numbers were randomly assigned as they were sold in the early years.

 

In the early 1920’s, the International Organization of Odd Fellows (IOOF) cemetery was established immediately to the east of the Union Hill Cemetery.  The IOOF cemetery was surveyed into lots, most sized to accommodate eight grave sites, and assigned lot numbers.

 

In the early years the area was well populated and the lot owners took care of the grave sites of family and friends.  Community work days for the cemetery were held in the spring and fall.  People would bring their lunch to spread under the tabernacle and enjoy the fellowship with their friends and neighbors as they cleaned and cared for the cemetery. 

 

The Davenport family, who donated the land for the current site of the town of Lakeview, was an early supporter of the cemetery providing contributions of land, time, and money to help establish and maintain the cemetery.

 

Mrs. Nettie Adams also contributed a significant amount of time and effort to the cemetery.  In the early 1930’s Mrs. Adams suggested moving the body of the “Shoe Bar Cowboy,” J.W. Purviance from his original resting place at the Shoe Bar Ranch headquarters, north of Lakeview, to the cemetery.  Mrs. Adams collected donations to move the grave and buy a headstone with the inscription “The Shoe Bar Cowboy.”

 

The Union Hill and IOOF cemeteries existed side by side for many years, but in 1995 cemetery administrators decided to merge the two cemeteries into what is now called Lakeview Cemetery.

 

In 2001, volunteers began collecting and formatting information to post the listing of the Lakeview Cemetery on the internet.  Old survey maps were used to develop a combined map of the two cemeteries with the lot numbers listed as originally designated on the survey maps.  Since much of the west (Union Hill) side was never surveyed into lots the land was sectioned into blocks and assigned letter designations for the map.  Lot numbers were assigned during the recording effort by grouping gravesites into lot numbers as logically as practical.

 

With development of a reproducible map of the cemetery, names of the driveways through the cemetery have been selected to honor some of the people who aided in establishing and maintaining the cemetery over the years.  The names of Zimmerman, Davenport and Adams have already been identified as early contributors to the cemetery.  The remaining two drives are named in honor of Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Revell and Mamie Robertson.  Though now deceased, these people provided significant support during the more recent years.

 

This listing is the culmination of years of work by numerous volunteers carrying on the volunteer spirit of caring for the cemetery.

 

Many unidentified grave sites exist in the cemetery, some with no markers and some with markers such as rocks or unmarked headstones.  One gravesite is even marked by what appears to be the rails from an old steel bed frame.  If you know of a loved one or friend buried at the cemetery, updates may be provided to [email protected] or by US mail to:

 

            Lakeview Cemetery

            c/o Dixie Barbee

            13426 County Road D

            Lakeview, TX 79239

 

The cemetery is now maintained through dues, donations and volunteer work.  Dues are $5 per grave site per year.  Management of the cemetery is by a volunteer board; therefore mailing of annual statements is cost prohibitive.  Lot/gravesite dues may be submitted to the Lakeview Cemetery at the above address or to one of the board officers:

 

President, Jimmy C. Fowler

Vice President, Sandy Smith

Secretary/Treasurer, Dixie Barbee

 

Donations or memorials may also be sent to the above address or one of the officers, and are published in the Hall County Herald (previously the Memphis Democrat.)

 

Printed booklets of the complete listing and map may be purchased by contacting Dixie Barbee or requests sent to the above e-mail address.  Proceeds from sales of the booklet go into the cemetery fund to maintain the grounds.