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Hi! I spotted the query below in your listing, and wanted to let you know that the person who submitted this query passed away recently. He was a member of the Erath County genealogy society, and had a heart attack while at work. I have been keeping a lookout for any of his queries, as I want some way to contact as many people as I can that he was keeping contact with via email on their lines, so they don't always have to wonder what happened to him. I am making a file with his names in it. Unfortunately, his mother told his landlord to take care of all his stuff. She lives elsewhere and is elderly I guess. The society found out from someone that there was a huge pile of garbage bags outside his rented place, and that the landlord was throwing out all his hard genealogy work, his life. This saddens me something terribly. It was tragic enough for this man to lose his life, and then it is like it is thrown away carelessly. So some of the society members got together and were saving the trash bags that they could, in order to hopefully save some of the genealogy info on his lines. The trash truck had already picked up 11 or so bags, and just one notebook was found on his personal info, so I am afraid it is all lost. It apparently went out with the first loads. He had about 400 books, some genealogy, but the ones that were retrieved out of the trash bags were not genealogy related, at least the most of them. The miser landlord said that he was going to sell them, and he would not even sell his computer either, as I was looking for a new one, and was in hopes of saving some of his info this way if he had his genealogy on a program. If you have any suggestions on how I might locate any of his "cousins" that were emailing him, please let me know. I don't want to put this story up on the Net, but am lost on how to find and contact them. I don't know what you think should be done with his query, but I wanted to let you know about this sad event. Here is that query: Sunday, November 10, 1996 - 03:47:28 pm Message from V. Allan Endel at endel@tarleton.edu These queries are from West Central Texas Genealogical Society Page Seeking descendants of Joshua Hill Smith & Mary Elizabeth Josephine (Derryberry) Smith of Gustine, Texas. Children: Sarah Enzaline "Sallie" Carter, Martha L. "Mattie" Frost Standifer, James A. (d.y.), Daisy Emma (my ggrandmother), L. Eula Medcalf, Joel F., and Minnie O. McMurtrey. Also seeking descendants of Amanda C. "Mandy" (Derryberry)Ragan and Susan T. "Sudie" (Derryberry) Strother. Also any other Derryberry descendants, and any Gardenhires and Chisum/Chisms. Thanks for listening to my long story, and good luck with your page! My Mom and I need to get over to your library sometime. I hear that they have a real nice genealogy section. Annette Erath Co.,TX USGenWeb Co-Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txerath/erath.htm

It is with great sorrow that we report this. I did not know Mr. Endel but it is something that all genealogist need to think of. What would become of all our hard work if we should pass away suddenly. We need to make arrangements so that our libraries and research will not be lost. To make sure that our wishes are known and someone be named to take charge of these valuable items we have all collected. Wanda Comanche Co., Past TX USGenWeb Coordinator.
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