Olivia Gatewood

Olivia Jane Gatewood died Sept. 25, 2007, at Gazebo Terrace Convalescent Center in Brenham. Jane was born on December 7, 1908, to Aaron Sherrill, Jr. and Mattie Whitener at the Whitener Ranch homestead near Burton, Texas. She was named after her grandmothers Alice Olivia Trusdel and Martha Jane Quinn Whitener. She attended school in Burton and later graduated from Brenham High School, Blinn College, and the College of Industrial Arts now Texas Woman s University in Denton, Texas. She began her teaching career in Wesley and Somerville. She then returned to Burton to teach and was also a substitute teacher for many years. She married Benton Copeland Cope Gatewood on July 11, 1942, before his Army unit was deployed to Europe. In 1951 Jane and Cope started a Hereford cattle ranching business on part of the original Whitener homestead that was established in 1853 by her grandparents, Aaron Sherrill and Martha Jane Whitener. Jane remained a devoted wife until her husband s death. Jane was a member of the Burton Heritage Society and the First United Methodist Church in Brenham. She was an active player of canasta and forty-two and enjoyed hosting parties. She was an exceptional seamstress and cook. Her nieces and nephews fondly remember her delicious homemade rolls, turkey and dressing and her Christmas ambrosia. She loved reciting nursery rhymes and sewing doll clothes. She was admired and respected by her family and many friends for her unselfish and caring acts of kindness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Benton Copeland Gatewood; her brothers, Oliver, Jerry, W.A., George, and Edward Whitener; and her sisters, Ura Lee Vick and Ethel Smith. She is survived by one sister-in-law, Oleta Whitener; nephews, Tom and Bob Whitener, Bill Whitener, Aaron Sherrill Whitener IV, Henry and Joe Smith and Robert Gatewood; and nieces, Michelle Whitener Bishop, Jeri and Sherrill Whitener, Elizabeth Smith, Mary Leach, Grace Johnson and Janie Moore. Jane lived the last fifteen years of her life as a resident of Gazebo Terrace in Brenham where she received excellent care. She will always be remembered as a soft-spoken and gentle person who was kind, loving and gracious to all who knew her. Mrs. Gatewood s body will lie in state at Foehner Funeral Home in Burton from 9:00 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27 until 5:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on October 26, 2007 at Foehner Funeral Home with Rev. Glen Schoeneberg conducting the service. Memorials may be given to Burton Cotton Gin and Museum, P.O. Box 98, Burton, TX 77835, Burton Heritage Society, P.O. Box 492, Burton, TX 77835, St. John s United Church of Christ Building Fund, or the charity of your choice.