Trail Not Forgotten

My first cousin, Mark Hatcher, from Odessa, TX was a bull rider and traveled throughout west Texas and surrounding states. He was full of life and loved to rodeo and ride bulls! He was killed in 1988 while doing a benefit rodeo for a friend who had gotten hurt riding. I remember Mark, miss him and will never forget his smile! He is shown in the picture holding a bell that his sister Barbara got him for his 27th birthday just two weeks before his death. Gave his life helping a friend....a TRUE COWBOY!

Old Christian Cowboys Never Die"..They only take an eternal ride with our Lord ..

LeRoy Watts, age 87, of  Verona, Missouri departed this life on Sunday, Feb. as 13th. 2011.....LeRoy was a fine Christian Cowboy and a nationaly known Cowboy Poet and Author.
Everyone loved LeRoy Watts..as he never met a stranger and he was truly love in return by everyone....He performed on all of the big cowboy event stages and was a real gentelman of his art.

His passing left a void that all of his friends including myself will never be able to lfill.....for if it is true that if a man can count his friends on one hand and be richer for it, than LeRoy was the richest of us all.

Myn husband,Randy has been gone for almost 13 yrs. now, and it still feels like yesterday. He can never be replaced, but at some point I would like to feel that I can move on...

Jan

Douglas~ I am so sorry to hear about 'Fritzer', I too lost a beautiful family member(s) as well...

Me & my dads dog  'Rocky' also passed.. He did everything with me so he was top dog on the ranch. As he got older he wanted to stay on the ranch instead of traveling with me. I felt better knowing my dad has great company!!  After 13 yrs he is having a great time with the our Lord! My grandmother passed then grandpa. It was a tough few years. I am so joyed the Lord holds my heart! I have grown in all ways, learned alot, plus expanded my horizon of how much we can change with the Lords guidance and having the faith to step out of your comfort zone. In a moment everything can be gone, I know also in another moment we grow leaps and bounds with just a small amount of faith.... I am so Thankful

  My grandparents were great Cowboy & Cowgirl, dairy ranch owners ~ I have ever met..

They are having a wonderful time now!!

God Bless Each of You!!

Carl Cooper my uncle went home to be with the Lord in March of this year.  He was an incredible influence in my life both in being a cowboy and more importantly a man of God.  I am filled with joy knowin' that he is with the Lord and I will seen again some day.

I love your attitude John and I appreciate what you had to say about your Father....so many are full of resentments and bitterness over the imperfections of thier parents which do no good to self or to those who have passed on....I like

your spirit of forgiveness and while many have had it rough growing up, many parents have only worked with the set of tools that were passed on to them and though not always right it is not left for us to gudge in the end.......many blessings to you John.....Bro. Steven

I am remembering today ...James Arness..Cowboy Actor and Patriot who died this past weekend....wounnded at the battle of Anzio and recieved the Silver Star and Purple Heart and lived most of his life in cronic pain from his leg wound.

Brother to actor Peter Graves....James Arness was watched by generations as Marshal Matt Dillon on the western serries Gunsmoke....A part which was turned down by John Wayne.

James Arness professed a strong belief in God and in right and wrong and we never heard the typical bad Hollywood rumors about him, in fact, his life seems to be one of moral character and strong convictions which is the cowboy way...he will remain a true western hero just as he was in real life.

My love, my friend and my back bone.  Was diagnosed with ALS "Lou Gehrigs" disease September of 2010, died October 12, 2011.  He was the only cowboy in my life.  Taught me so much in the time we were together but seems like it was not enough.  Gave his life to God, was baptized and did not bother him a bit to raise his hands and praise God.  It is not easy watching one suffer from this "He is probably in heaven roping Angels."  I know he is in heaven and I know he has my back.  Somehow I am turning the farm into the "Knifong Ranch of Hope".  Danny loved kids, it will help children that see no hope and let them know that there is.  This is something that God wants done with the place...  and it scares me because I don't really know where to begin.   I just pray!

This is Danny

http://youtu.be/pgnZ9oCAzSg

Thank you Bro. Steven.   Trust that I am scared about this.  I have to thin the horse herd out do to all that has happened.  This will need prayer too.  We don't always know what tomorrow brings and we are not always prepared for it either.  Again thank you for the encouragement.

Tammy

Howdy Jan and ICCAN Friends,

   It is with a sad heart that I report to you, Tommy Demayo of Heir Wave Radio of Oklahoma City,OK, a friend to many in Country Gospel and Southern Gospel music has been promoted to Glory. He will be missed!

Tommy was born September 18, 1946 in Little Rock, Arkansas to Cletis Thomas and Ruby Elizabeth Robinson Mayo.  He worked at the KPLT radio station in Paris for several years and was a promoter of Southern Gospel Music all of his life.

Mr. Mayo is survived by two daughters, Joy Lynn Parson of Paris and Kara Beth Jones-Thomas of Houston; and three grandchildren, Tylea Parson, Ryan Jones, and Torrance Jones.  He was preceded in death by his parents.
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Tommy was the son and grandson to fine Christian parents and grandparents. They were all music teachers in the Stamps-Baxter era of gospel music and from their support and encouragement, Tommy was shaped for his many years of ministry. He was the owner of the Southern Gospel Outreach that promoted southern gospel music, He was a pastor in three churches, a singer and musician with the Royal Heritage quartet for 11 years, a radio personality in Oklahoma and Texas, and the co-founder of Heir Wave Internet Radio in 2008.

In his years as a promoter, Tommy had the honor and privileged to promote some of the very best in gospel music such as Gold City, Anchormen, Wilburns, Kevin Spencer & Friends and many others. In later years he felt the calling to focus his promotions on lesser known quality artists in the industry.  He promoted actively in the United States, Canada, Ireland and Belgium.  He became a friend to all who knew him and was always an encouragement to those he took under his wing.  

"I give all of the Praises to the Lord for my successes throughout my lifetime... And until He comes, may God bless you abundantly!" a quote from his website www.southerngospeloutreach.com 

Tommy was a precious and dear friend that will always be remembered and loved for all the encouragement and inspiraion that he gave us artist..I can not come to any of these on line ministry sites without thinking of him and missing him...Thanking God for him and for the fact that we will all meet,again,someday soon....

It was a Tom Carter Funeral

There in the chapel Tom Carters family sat

Over 400 people came to pay their respect

At the foot of his casket was a stand with his saddle

There were rope marks on the horn from years of tying off cattle

At his shoulder was a barrel with barley & wheat

From seed he had planted that fall for his livestock to eat

A wreath at his head held his rope & his spurs

In my mind I could see him ridding Old Doc, close behind a Gyp & his Kur

The music that played reflected the joys of his life

Country & Christian recorded by his Son, Daughter & Wife

The preacher & a close friend told of Tom's 78 years

Of his generosity, & honesty through their laughter & tears

Many happy & wonderful stories, were told that day from the past

There were stories of deer & hog hunts that made even the saddest laugh

There were so many folks at the service that came from every walk

As they filed out the chapel doors they began to gather & talk

I believe this is the best funeral, a cowman began to say

And when it comes my time to go, I'd like to be sent off this way

You know I counted 96 pictures that flashed across the Chapel screen

And I don't believe there was a one that old Tom wasn't wearing jeans

No Tom wasn't fancy he lived everyday pretty much the same

But I can say, the lives that he touched. Tom didn't live in vane

There were mourners dressed in their finest, others in overalls & jeans

The service brought them to laughter at times, then their tears started to stream

I don't know of many people, that I can say I never herd a bad word about

Though I doubt Tom ever knew it, He truly made his life count

Yes It was a Tom Carter Funeral and it won't be forgotten soon

And the seeds of life lessons he planted, forever will they bloom

*********************

I have no regrets, We lived everyday to the fullest. I have peace as I feel his presence.

Thank You Tom and Thank You Jesus, Cheryl

Tom Carter

01-11-1934 * 03-16-2012

He Blessed & saved our lives, We will always love you. Rachel, Cody & Cheryl Carter

I appreciate all that I learned from living on my grandparents ranch.  I feel very privileged to have been able to have experienced a special life that only country folks ever get to enjoy.  I do miss my grandparents as they've gone on to be with the Lord.  Especially miss my grandmothers 5am country breakfasts that was always homemade scratch biscuits with real churned butter, ranch made smoke cured sausage & bacon, greasy lard fried eggs, thick sawmill gravy and her homemade jellies, jams and preserves plus bold black coffee and real raw milk.  Now my mom could make some great homemade biscuits like her mom too.  I did love my mom's breakfast's too which I got to eat till she went home Feb 2012.  I do miss them all but I know they were all saved and that is a blessing as they are safely in the arms of our Savior.   I'll be able to see them again one day in Heaven.  My mother at least knew I was saved and using my gifts and talents to serve the Lord in His ministry through music and evangelism.  We'll remember them always!