Gladys Virginia Burton, 95, of Moody and Waco, died Friday, April 15, 2011, after a long and rewarding life. She was deeply grateful for her family and lifelong friends. A celebration of her life was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, at First Baptist Church of Moody with Dr. Tom Shelton officiating. Interment was followed at Moody Cemetery under the direction of Cole Funeral Home, McGregor.

Gladys was born in McGregor, Oct. 10, 1915, the third of six children of Walter Blair and Myrtle Amanda (Eakin) Garrett. She attended the rural Willow Grove school for 10 years graduating from Moody High School in 1933. She grew up as a hard-working farm girl who picked cotton to survive the depression years. In 1936, she married Clarence Miller Burton with whom she shared 35 years of marriage before his death in 1971.

She devoted her life to her family, church, vocation, friends and community. She was a committed Christian and lifelong active member of First Baptist Church of Moody. As a civic leader she served on the Moody Cotton Harvest Festival board, Moody Cemetery Association board, was active in Meals on Wheels for 10 years, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Friends of the Moody Library Association. She was a lifelong Democrat, always interested in politics and worked years in local elections. She loved having garage sales and was a football fanatic, loving college and professional teams. She loved a good “42″ domino game and was a master player. In her later years, she loved quilting and gave many of her quilts to family members. Her real passion was traveling. Any time Rita or Linda went anywhere, Gladys was included whether it was camping or visiting historic places. She was fortunate to go with groups to Hawaii, Europe, the Caribbean, the New England area and Canada and made friends wherever she went.

She worked many years in Moody as a grocery clerk for Patterson’s, Wharton’s, and Herrington’s grocery stores. She then worked 20 years as a nurse technician in the E.N.T. clinic at Scott and White in Temple. She dearly loved her job and the people with whom she worked. She retired in 1984.

All her life she was a caregiver seeing after her mother-in-law, Ermine Amanda (Strange) Burton from the time Ermine was widowed in 1939 until she died in 1973. She cared for her infirmed husband, Clarence for 8 years until his death. She gave loving care to Linda, her youngest daughter for over six months until her death in 1994. Though she grieved all the rest of her life, she never complained and enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. She remained close to the Burton and Strange families and during much of this time, she enjoyed meeting and eating monthly with the “Strange” cousins.

Gladys was predeceased by her parents; her husband; her dear sweet Linda Beth Walter; three sisters, Neva Pauline McBride, Hazel May Welch and Alice Irene Strader; and one brother, Walter Ray Garrett.

She is survived by her daughter, Rita Kay Ross; son-in-law, David; three granddaughters who affectionately called her “Gaga”, Robin Leigh Ross of Georgetown, Stacy Amanda Maisel and husband, Gary, of Georgetown and Lea Whitney Rozell and husband, Darren, of Forney. She was extremely proud of two great-granddaughters, Amanda Nicole Maisel and Hannah Grace Maisel of Georgetown. She is survived by a brother, James Garrett, of Dallas; and son-in-law, Tommy Walter (DiAnn, Drew, and Megan) of Purdon; several nieces and nephews; and other relatives.

She was able to live by herself in Moody until age 93. Since then she has resided at St. Catherine Center, Waco. We are deeply grateful to all employees and to Providence Hospice for caring and concern, most especially Sheila Woods.

For those desiring, the family suggests First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 366 Moody, TX 76557 or Moody Community Library, P. O. Box 57 Moody, TX 76557 for memorial contributions.

Cole Chapel, 254-853-2311, Moody

October 10, 1915 – April 15, 2011

Rush was born February 16, 1951 at Kings Daughters Hospital in Temple to James A. “Buddy” and Virginia R. Martin. Rush spent most of his life in Moody where he attended school and worked on the family farm and at the country club golf course. Rush attended Mary Hardin Baylor where he excelled in music. He formed a band with other students. He became a fine multi-instrument musician. He was especially talented playing the saxophone and flute. He built a recording studio at his home near Moody. Rush lived at Harris Creek Country Estates for 19 years and lived in Temple for the last 7 years.

He was preceded in death by his father James A. (Buddy) Martin; grandfather and grandmother Walter and Marie Rush longtime residents of Moody.

He is survived by his mother Virginia R. Martin.

DOB:      9-5-1978

DOD:     3-19-2011

Johnny Burton age 32, of Moody passed away Saturday March 19, 2011 at his residence.  Memorial Services will be 1PM Wednesday March 23, 2011 at First Baptist Church in Moody with Rev. Shelton Rhodes officiating.

Johnny was born September 5, 1978 in Houston, Texas to Debra Ann Burton.  He graduated from McGregor High School in 1997.  He attended Temple College in pursuit of a Criminal Justice degree.  He was a member of Shadow Hills Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas.  He loved his family dearly.

He is survived by his mother Debra; one sister Cynthia Gump and her husband Travis and their daughter Haleigh of Lawrenceburg, Indiana; grandparents Willie and Frances Burton of Lubbock, Texas; Aunt Linda Williams and her husband Billy of Ransom Canyon, Texas; Uncle David Burton of Houston, Texas; along with other loving relatives residing in Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Johnny to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD  20814, or to Fuzzy Friends, 6321 Airport Road, Waco, TX  76708.

The family invites you to leave messages and memories at www.gracegardensfh.com.

Margaret loved the Lord, she was a true Southern Lady and her family was the love of her life. She had a sweet, loving spirit and a beautiful smile. Margaret was married to Jack Johnson for 56 years, he proceeded her in 1991. She is survived by her son and daughter in law, Bill and Peggy Johnson. Granddaughters and their husbands; Sherri and Bob McDonald, Shawn and Kelly Brown, Gayla and Doug Dwyer, and Kellie and Tony Cashion. Great Grandchildren; Brittani Johnson, Shanna, Kody, and Jacob Brown, Kevin and Erica McDonald, Jason Marshall, Kasidy and Falyn Scott, Ryan Dwyer, Matt Walker, Brady Cashion and her very special friend and caregiver Archie Mae Shaw.

Margaret was Co-founder and Matriarch of Johnson Roofing and JMB Appaloosa Ranch. These very successful businesses and their subsidiaries are a testament to her business savvy and her servant heart. Beginning in the 1930’s with a grocery store on 3^rd and Speight, many a child and family of varying cultures were fed during the depression thanks to she and Jack. Each morning before dawn, Margaret and Jack would ride horses to the store and prepare sandwiches for the cotton pickers who would return and pay for their lunch at the end of the day.

Margaret was a giver, teacher, creator and above all an example of what a Christian wife, mother, grandmother and friend should be. Many were fed from her table and there was always room for one more. One exception was when the pet monkey got out of his pen and into the house and onto the Thanksgiving table!

In 1952, at the 2^nd National Appaloosa Horse Show in Deer Lodge, Montana, Margaret, Jack and Bill acquired and then brought the first Registered Appaloosas to Texas. From there they built the largest herd of Registered Appaloosas in the world and built JMB Appaloosa Ranch and the Johnson Horse Auctions which became host to some of the largest Registered Appaloosa sales in the world. The family campaigned the Appaloosas successfully all across the U.S. and at one time were victorious in winning more National Awards than anyone else. Every other Tuesday night for 36 years, Johnson Horse Auction was host to consignments of all kinds and horses of all breeds. Margaret collected the money and kept things straight with all those horse traders. They loved her, and nicknamed her “Hollywood” as she was a beautiful lady inside and out. The sales finally ended when Jack became ill.

During her later years, her greatest joy was going to church and out to eat with her family. She also loved having the Ft. Hood soldiers come out to the Ranch for parties along with hosting the riding school for kids. No grass grew under her feet as she had a long, productive life serving the Lord and others in word and deed. Stewardship of the many blessings from the Lord, was the foundation of her legacy. The fruits of her labor will endure for many years as she is now in heaven doing the two-step with Jack excitedly waiting on her family to arrive.