KILGOROUND

Often times it is the quiet ones that are over looked and yet as time passes it is the quiet ones we learn to appreciate the most.

When she speaks it is with the softness of an angel and her mannerisms reflect the qualities of a caring, giving woman. "I can't say enough good about her," said Clara Carter. "I and a lot of my friends depend on her. She's just always been there and no matter when you call she is so kind."

Karen Gray, librarian at the Kilgore Public Library, spends her day behind the reference desk answering, assisting and researching for any and everyone who is need of furthering education or to satisfy a mild curiosity.

She was raised in the Kilgore area as were her parents, Sam and Odee Carr. Sam worked as a car detailer for Terry Ford Company and her mother was a maid at a private home. Karen was raised with four brothers -which could be part of the rea

son she has learned to get along so well with others.

Karen attended school at North Chapel which was located off FM 1252. She played the clarinet in the band and it was the band trips that she enjoyed the most while in school. "We would cut up and have such fun," she said. "On Friday evenings, before we left for the games, the teachers would order us barbecue from Landry Johnson. His grocery store was located on South Street and he would sell the best barbecue there."

"I met my husband, Joseph, in 1969 after my first year of college. He was always asking me out and I was always too busy and I tried to dodge him when I saw him coming. But, one day we were sitting at a long table and he was telling the other guys about being drafted in to the Navy. He made a remark that he wasn't like them as he had no one waiting for him when he returned. Out of the blue, I offered to be the one to wait for him. He went in the service in August, 1970 and we were married on December 31, 1971.

"We traveled for twenty-two years for his career and when he retired in 1991 we came back here. I went to work at Kilgore College, then the Gregg County Courthouse and have been at the library since 1998.

"My husband is my best friend as I can tell him anything," she said. The couple has raised two sons who attended Sabine Schools. Karen loves to watch HGTV as a pastime and, naturally, to read.

Karen speaks highly of her mother."She was easy to talk to, very giving and very loving," she said... qualities we have found Karen has taken forward to all those who grace her path.

Karen Gray, a good example of one of our public servants dedicated to make others lives a little less complicated.

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The Disabled American Veterans are still trying to raise money for the new van to carry family and friends to the V.A. Medical Center in Dallas. "As of now, we have $16,700 and we need $21,000," said John Edney. "Please help this worthy cause for DAV Chapter 21," he said. He may be reached at 903-984-9486. +++

ANOTHER YEAR OLD today is Jadean Roberts, Diane Patterson, Renee Fernandez, Mrs. J.C. Arthur, Sam Powe, Jim Hedrick, Larry Peterson, Toyon Elkedre Powe, Jenny Johns, Kelly Brightwell, Mike Bean, Bo Bolding, Elizabeth Fite, Lucenthia Farste, Kim Meadows, Julia Kenney, James Thompson, Kiara Janay Roberson, McKinnon White, Sarah Lee Barela, Kiara Roberson.

CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARIES today is Mr. and Mrs. Odis W. Kirk.