12 minute read
WORSHIP GUIDE
Grady Joe Rollins
Gwyn Marie Montes
November 7, 1942 – September 18, 2022
Grady Joe Rollins was born in Liberty Hill, Texas to Dennis D. and Mary Jane Rollins on November 7, 1942. He was married to the love of his life, Janie Townsend, on November 9, 1963.
In 1967, Grady began working with the University of Texas Building Maintenance department as an Instrument Maker I. He was promoted to Instrument Maker II and joined the machine shop staff in the Chemistry Department in November of 1973, he then took over supervision of the machine shop in December of 1975. At his retirement ceremony in 2000, it was said that Grady was a man who found no task beneath his dignity. He contin-
Gwyn Marie Montes, 63, sadly passed away on August 19, 2022 after a courageous four year battle with Colon Cancer. Gratefully, she was able to be at her home in Liberty Hill, Texas, surrounded by family and friends in her last moments.
Gwyn was born July 22, 1959 in Austin, Texas. She lived in Walburg with her grandparents until she moved to Liberty Hill, where she resided for 48+ years, met her Dodo, and gaining four brothers. She raised seven beautiful children. Not only did she raise seven of her own, but many came to know her as their second mom. With a door that was always open, she would welcome anyone to come sit at her table and have a plate of hot food and some of the best homemade tortillas around. Gwyn was a caregiver, always putting others first and never expecting anything in return. She had a great love of God, collecting rocks (which her family was happy to indulge her in), coin collecting, fishing, and visiting the beach. She enjoyed giving her grandchildren all the stuffed animals she won in the claw machine, sitting outside, watching all the stray cats play, with her dog by her side, and watering her many, many plants. You could always catch her and her husband dancing around when a good song came on, it didn’t matter where they were. She had a laugh that was contagious beyond measure. When she smiled and laughed, you couldn’t help but do the same. She will be greatly missed by many, for Gwyn never met a stranger and most ended up calling her a friend.
Gwyn leaves behind her husband of 46+ years, Paul Montes; her daughter, Rita San Miguel; sons, Paul Montes, Peter Montes, Paco Montes, Max Montes, Mingo Montes and Victor Montes; 32+ grandchildren; sisters, Geraldine Dickey, Gale Hamilton, Gloria Gober; brother, Gerald Myers; and Mother-in-Law, Maria Montes.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Glory Anna Lentz; brothers, Gary and Glen Myers; grandparents, Marie and Herbert Beckman; granddaughter, Christina Montes; and Fatherin-Law, Pablo Montes.
A visitation for Gwyn was held on Friday, September 2, 2022 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628. A rosary began at 6:30 PM, with visiting time following until 8:00 PM. The funeral service was Saturday, September 3, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 520 TX-29, Bertram, Texas 78605. Burial followed at Las Tres Marias Cemetery in Liberty Hill, Texas.
When someone dies of cancer, we say ‘they lost their battle with cancer’, as if between the two of them, cancer was the better, the stronger, and the smarter. But if you think about it, if I die from cancer, then cancer dies too. And if I survive cancer, cancer loses its battle with me. Cancer never wins.” - Unknown
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwalden davisfuneralhome.com for the Montes family.
ued to work part-time for UT for an additional nine years until they could find someone with his skill level in heliarc welding.
Grady loved playing golf, watching sporting events, spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, and taking care of his dogs.
He served the Liberty Hill and surrounding communities in many ways. He was a member of the volunteer fire department and chief for over 16 years, coached little league baseball, umpired, and worked as a UIL Basketball referee for over 20 years. Reflecting years of striped shirt whistle blowing, UT’s previous Coach, Jody Conradt, sent Grady a stuffed basketball inscribed with words thanking Grady for his informal UT Women’s Basketball recruiting activities.
He was preceded in death by his parents Dennis and Mary Jane Rollins, brothers James Robert and Doyle Dennis Rollins, his son Robert Rollins and grandson, Louis Hernandez.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Janie Rollins of Liberty Hill, TX; Mary Lou and Eddie Hernandez of Liberty Hill, TX; Dennis and Wendy Rollins of Granite Shoals, TX; Grandchildren: Amanda Sanchez, Katie LaComb, James Rollins, Hope Herrin, and Cole Rollins. Great-grandchildren: Jesse Hernandez, Mason Hernandez, Maddison Hernandez, Selina Culp, and Ema Culp.
Visitation was held at Clements-Wilcox on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 from 6:008:00 p.m.
A Graveside Service was held at Liberty Hill Cemetery on Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.
WORSHIP GUIDE
Liberty Hill & Surrounding Communities
ANDICE BAPTIST CHURCH
6570 FM 970, Florence (254) 793-2557 www.andicebc.org
PASTORS
Derrick Norris, Senior Pastor Matt Koehler, Associate Pastor of Students & Families
SERVICES
Sunday Bible Study 9:45am Sunday Worship 11am Wednesday AWANA 6:30pm Sun. Online facebook.com/ andicebaptist/
CROSS TRACKS CHURCH
101 Church St., Liberty Hill (512) 515-0070 www.crosstrackschurchumc.org PASTOR Michele Lott
SERVICES
Sunday School 9am Sunday Worship 10am Sun. Online Facebook.com/cross trackschurch/
CONNECT CHURCH
Meets at Santa Rita Elementary 532 Santa Rita Blvd, Liberty Hill (479) 926-5455 www.ghbc.org/connectchurch
PASTORS
Danny Forshee, Teaching Pastor Leighton Forshee, Campus Pastor
SERVICES
Sunday Worship 5pm
THE HILL CHURCH
111 Holmes Road, Liberty Hill www.thehillchurch.church PASTOR Kendall Ringler, Assoc.Pastor
SERVICES
Sunday Worship 10:15am Sun. Online 10:15am facebook.com/ thehillchurch.church
HOLY ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX CHURCH
5205 County Road 236, Liberty Hill (512) 782-9940 www.annunciationtx.com PASTOR Bp. Irineos Placek
SERVICES
Vespers Sat. 6:30pm Divine Liturgy Sun. 10am
LIFE SPRINGS CHRISTIAN CHURCH
15611 W. State Hwy 29, Liberty Hill (512) 633-6074 www.lifespringschristianchurch.org PASTOR Dr. William Brannan
SERVICES
Sunday Worship 10am Online youtube.com/c/LifeSprings
MISSION LIBERTY HILL LUTHERAN CHURCH
(LCMS Affiliated) 15725 W Hwy-29 #7, Liberty Hill (512) 778-9310 www.missionlibertyhill.com PASTOR Rev. Mike Cofer
SERVICES
Sunday Bible Study 9am Sunday Church Worship 10am Sunday Online 10am - missionliberty hill.com/onlineworship/
ONE CHAPEL LIBERTY HILL
811 Loop 332, Liberty Hill (512) 729-6200 onechapel.com/liberty-hill PASTOR Darren Shaw
SERVICES
Sunday Service 10am Online Service 10am online.onechapel.com Wednesday Youth 7pm
RESTORATION CHURCH
Meets at Liberty Hill Event Center 14875 W. SH 29, #10, Liberty Hill (512) 271-1976 www.restorationchurchtx.net PASTOR Mike Kimmons
SERVICES
Sunday Services 10:30am
Call (512) 778-5577 or email us at stacy@LHIndependent.com to include your church in the Worship Guide.
Former Liberty Hill students gather for reunion
BY JAMES WEAR
COLUMNIST
Bricks and mortar eventually crumble and fail, but it is love and friendship that form the glue for relationships and memories that last a lifetime, and perhaps no better example of that statement could be found than at a recent gathering of former Liberty Hill students who had attended school in the “old red brick schoolhouse.”
It’s not the first reunion of former students, but it was perhaps the best attended as more than 50 people renewed friendships beneath the Spivey Pavilion at Lions Foundation Park. There were a few moments of hesitation for some folks as they greeted one another and the moments were understandable as for many nearly 50 years had passed since they’d seen each other. And I did detect a few moments of sadness at times as many have passed on in just the past few months.
Many of those attending still reside in Liberty Hill and have grandchildren and great-grandchildren attending school here. Nearly all of those I spoke to expressed a bit of astonishment at how quickly the community has grown…these being the folks who grew up in a time when sprawling farms and ranches made up the rural areas around a town that didn’t have a single stop light.
A bit of history for Liberty Hill newcomers -- the “old red brick schoolhouse” was built in the early 1900s and served the community for several decades before being torn down in 1969 to pave the way for a new elementary school. Some of those attending school there in the late 1960s didn’t actually graduate from Liberty Hill as the high school lost its accreditation and students ended up attending Georgetown or Leander schools to complete their education.
Among those attending were Liberty Hill historian Gary Spivey and his brother Jimmy and their sisters, with both Gary and Jimmy sharing photos and other memorabilia from decades past. Jimmy’s collection of photos including aerial photos of Liberty Hill back when rooftops along SH 29 and US 183 had considerable amounts of green between them, and at least one photo from that memorable day in 1975 when a crew of men, with their backs to the camera, are pictured observing the hundreds of people at the intersection of Loop 332 and RM 1869 making their way out to see Willie Nelson and the other musical acts that made up the Fourth of July picnic that year.
Both Gary and Jimmy served at one time on the Liberty Hill school board, as did Larry Floyd, another one of those attending. They are among many who can be credited with laying the foundation for the reputation of excellence in schools that Liberty Hill has acquired over the past half of a century. Also attending were Gilbert and Cleo Vickers who were enroute to Panther Stadium to watch the varsity football team host Kerrville. Gilbert was among the first persons I ever met when I began covering Liberty Hill schools nearly 40 years ago. He devoted countless hours on the sidelines assisting Panther coaches and athletes.
Jeanette Whitehead, a key volunteer with the Liberty Hill Cemetery Association for many years, was among those attending, and Sharon Brown and Andy Pogue, retired from the school district, came. I also saw Robert Waley and his wife, and Connie Sue Mather, and Janet Johns Ross, and Mary Ann McLeod, and many, many others who at one time or another had greeted me with a smile and made life as a young reporter easier. I ask for forgiveness for failing to name all those who were on hand.
Of course, my wife Paula, herself a member of the Red Brick Schoolhouse family as was her father and uncle before her, knew just about everyone, and when it came time to draw names from the hat to determine who was going to go home with an old red brick from the school house that most of those attending had signed, it was her name that was called.
The group gathered for a group picture
(Top) Former Liberty Hill students who had attended school at the “old red brick schoolhouse” gathered recently at Lions Foundation Park to renew friendships and share memories. (JAMES WEAR PHOTO) (Above) Many Liberty Hill folks recall the old red brick schoolhouse, here pictured in a yearbook from more than 50 years ago, that served the community for several decades before being torn down in the late 1960s. (Courtesy Photo) and slowly began dispersing, but many were already talking of making plans for another reunion next year.
Moving
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schools (one high, one middle and three elementary) in the district, but that number has already grown with the additions of Santa Rita Middle School and Santa Rita Elementary School.
Overseeing the integration of thousands of new students is Superintendent Steve Snell, who understands the dynamic of why Liberty Hill is such an attractive destination for relocating families.
“People are choosing Liberty Hill for everything the community offers,” he said. “It’s within close proximity to work and can provide an excellent education for their children. Families have a lot of good choices in Central Texas to move to, but I think with the great atmosphere we have here and the small-town feel we still have, Realtors are bringing them here.”
According to Snell, once word gets out about everything Liberty Hill has to offer within the ranks of a company, it spreads like wildfire.
“When you have employees of a company that have already moved here,” said Snell. “It’s the best advertisement we could possibly have as a school district.”
Keeping the culture
One thing longtime Liberty Hill residents may be concerned about with the large numbers of people moving locally – and from places all over the map – is a potential drift away from the fabric that has been woven over the decades by those who truly have a connection with the town their families have called home for generations.
Snell said there’s no need to worry.
“People are choosing to move to Liberty Hill for a reason and it’s not to change it,” he said. “Due to that, I believe we can still preserve the culture of the city.”
One thing that unites the community like no other is the Panthers’ athletic program and despite the fact a second high school will open in a few years, for now, anyway, everyone can still cover themselves in Purple-and-Gold, said Snell.
“Sports brings a community together,” he said. “Liberty Hill is certainly no exception.”
Snell became superintendent in 2019 and so far during his tenure, the district’s student enrollment has gone up from 4,200 to 7,800 – a 40 percent increase.
“To put that into perspective,” said Snell. “Nearly half of our current students weren’t here when I got here.”
Snell said approximately one-third of new families are from out-of-state (with a majority from California), one-third from Travis County and one-third from other places in Texas.
However, regardless of how many more families move into the district or where they’re from, Snell said they’ll be welcomed with open arms upon their arrival.
“Once you enroll your children in Liberty Hill ISD,” he said. “You’re a Panther and part of the family.”
Shop Local to Support Community Businesses & Liberty Hill Public Library District!
So why does shopping local at our wonderful businesses support the library?
Because we are a library district! In Texas, library districts can only be funded through local sales. Library districts receive a percentage of all sales tax paid at businesses in the library district’s geographic boundaries. Texas library districts do not receive funding from any city or county governments. Our library district shares Liberty Hill ISD’s geographic boundaries, so when you purchase something at one of the great local businesses located within that 110 square mile area, we receive a percentage (.0025% or 1/4 of 1%) of the local sales tax you pay. The library uses the local sales tax revenue to pay for everything we need to operate the library. So please support the library by shopping at all the local amazing shops, stores, and restaurants in our community! If you have any questions about how the library is funded, please contact the library director, Angela Palmer, at angela.palmer@lhpl.org or (512) 778-6400.
