Ruth “Dutch” Wingate Gilmore, 87, died at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, 2004 at Winnie Community Hospital.  Born on January 21, 1917, descendent of pioneer families and a life-long resident of Fannett, Dutch was the daughter of Bailey and Elsie “Echo” Burrell Wingate. Her maternal grandparents were J. J. and Alzena Carr Burrell, her paternal grandparents were Dan and Artemise Barus Wingate, all descendants of families who had settled, farmed and ranched this area in the 1800’s even before Texas was a state.  She was a fourth generation descendent of John J. French as well as early settlers William Carr and George Burrell.

Dutch continued the long tradition of hospitality of the Burrell-Wingate clan.  Her big dining room table always had room for one more, and the coffeepot was always hot.  Her baked ham, her shrimp gumbo, her sirloin steaks and her unique potato salad were legends in the community.  Nothing pleased Dutch more than a houseful of people visiting, eating, playing cards or even having a friendly argument.  When not entertaining at home, Dutch was off in her car to visit all over town.  Being with people was all she wanted.

She was also an avid sports fan and participant.  She played basketball as a girl and barrel raced in local rodeos.  She grew up as her father’s tomboy, accompanying him on horseback working cattle as often as she could, even fighting battles for her brothers and sisters.  She followed all sports at the local high school, Hamshire-Fannett, but her big loves were basketball and baseball. You could always spot her in the stands cheering on the teams or working in the concession stands, but keeping her eye on the game.  Keeping the ball clubs supplied with plenty of ice and working in the PTA also kept her busy.

Besides keeping her own grandchildren often, Dutch also operated a nursery school for infants and small children for ten years.  She remained close to many of those youngsters and they came by as adults to show off their babies to “Aunt Dutch,” as she is known to many young people in the community.

Dutch is survived by her daughters, Debbie Colston and her husband Ronnie and Christi Edmonds all of Fannett.  Also surviving are six grandchildren, Dawn Guidry, Missy Viator, Hope Colston, Bart Winzer, Keely and Chase Edmonds; as well as six great grandchildren, Dakoda and Cameron Guidry, Ethan and Evan Viator, and Baylie and Aidan Winzer; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Dan, Rube, and Hal; and two sisters, Ferril Kiker and Ann Speyrer.

Her body will remain at her residence in Fannett with a rosary scheduled there for 7:00 p.m. Friday evening, June 11, 2004.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 12, 2004 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fannett with Reverend Jose Parakattu as celebrant, followed by burial at Broussard’s Cemetery in Fannett under the direction of Broussard’s, 134 W. Buccaneer, Winnie. 

Pallbearers will be Charles, Arthur, and Homer Kiker, Bobby Thornton, and Dan and Jim Wingate.  Honorary pallbearers will be Roland Blanchard, J. E. Howard, and J. W. and Paul Kiker.

Donations may be made to the Hamshire-Fannett Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 223, Hamshire, Texas 77622.