Doris Vivian (Bond) Gallemore

Doris Vivian Bond Gallemore of San Antonio died on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012. She was 100 years old. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in the Fort Parker Memorial Park Cemetery in Groesbeck, Texas. Reverend Steve Nance, pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Groesbeck will officiate. Doris was born in Groesbeck, Texas on October 25, 1911, the first daughter of Guy Hamilton Bond and Irene Odell Bond. In 1929, Doris graduated from Groesbeck High School and continued her formal education at Texas Woman’s College, Fort Worth; Southern Methodist University, Dallas; and at Southwest Texas University, San Marcos where she received a B.S. degree in Education. Specialization was received in home economics, health education and art and her teaching certification was received for all grade levels. During her teaching career, Doris taught at Highland Park ISD in Dallas and at Alamo Heights ISD in San Antonio. Her interest in education can be linked directly to her childhood. For 30 years, she saw her father serve the Groesbeck ISD as School Board President. On February 18, 1934, Miss Bond was united in marriage to James Neal Gallemore of Wichita Falls, Texas - son of John and Hoppie Hellums Gallemore. After a honeymoon in New Orleans, Louisiana, the couple moved to Calvert, Texas where James had inherited a Cotton Plantation on the Brazos River. In Calvert, Doris joined the Calvert Women’s Club as a Charter Member and was a co-founder of this organization. Doris and Jimmy eventually sold the plantation to the Hooper Schaefer family of Conroe, Texas and moved to Sherman, Texas where they ranched on the Red River near Denison. An interesting fact about this property is that the federal government bought the Gallemore ranch and a few years later Lake Texhoma was built on the property. After the sale of this land, Doris and her husband moved their cattle operation to a ranch near Fort Worth, Texas. In Fort Worth, the First National Bank employed Doris where she was a cashier for the War Savings Department. Her Red Cross volunteer service included working at the canteen at Meacham Flying Field and serving as a staff assistant at the Fort Worth Blood Bank. Her social life consisted of membership in the Monticello Garden Club, the Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae Club, the Fort Worth Women’s Club and the Clio Club – one of the oldest literary clubs in Fort Worth. In 1951, Doris and her husband moved to Pecos, Texas where Jimmy owned land and participated in the development of irrigated farming in the Verhalen area. Throughout her life, Doris participated in numerous historical, social and community organizations. Her club memberships and distinctions were many and included the Merry Home and Garden Club President, Twentieth Century Study Club President, Women’s Society Christian Services United Methodist Church President and Reeves County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary President. Doris represented West Texas, as historian on the executive board of the Texas Association of Hospital Auxiliaries. In 1962, Doris was listed in the Texas Women of Distinction publication. Doris also served as Old Forts and Mission Chairman in the Texas Heritage Department of Texas Federation Women’s Clubs and was also on the Western District board for six years before being elected Third Vice President in 1969. Doris was a member of the Reeves County Sheriff Posse Riding Club and in 1983, was recognized by the SMU Alumni Association as a Golden Mustang of 1933. The first part of her retirement years were spent in Waco, Texas where Doris and Jimmy moved to be close to her hometown, Groesbeck, Texas and the Bond family ranch in Limestone County. In Waco, Doris was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Her ancestor was Louis Stadden who pioneered land in Navarro County near Corsicana when Texas was a Republic. She was also active with the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her ancestor in this organization was William Fryar who was with Washington at Valley Forge. Jimmy and Doris were married for 61 years and after his death in 1995, Doris moved to San Antonio, Texas where she resided at the Forum at Lincoln Heights. Doris is survived by her sister Mona Bond Cosby of Corpus Christi, Texas; by her nephews Guy Robert Cosby of Fort Worth, Texas; James Bond Cosby and wife Maggie of Falfurrias, Texas; nieces Betsy Bostick Hime and husband Karl of Austin, Texas; Becky Bostick Liljenwall and husband Erik of Austin, Texas; Barbara Bostick Walther and husband Christopher of San Antonio, Texas; many great nieces and nephews and a host of friends. The family is grateful to the staff at the Forum at Lincoln Heights for their years of care and support. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Odyssey Hospice of San Antonio or the charity of your choice.