Florence “Peggy” Wingate Callahan died at her residence in Fannett on Thursday, November 16, 2006 with her family at her side.
Peggy was a direct descendant of early settlers who crossed the Sabine River in search of a better life for themselves and for their families, she was also a direct descendant of John J. French and his wife who in 1847, established a trading post and tannery in what is now north Beaumont.
In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the population in the rice farming community was scant and transportation was by buggy or on horseback and for that reason three Wingate men courted and married three Burrell women. Peggy’s father was one of those Wingate men and from those three unions fifteen double first cousins were born. There was a closeness between those double first cousins that almost akin to that of siblings. Peggy is the last of those fifteen double first cousins. Peggy and Earl Callahan raised a many an acre of rice. Some years were good and some were bad but they simply cinched their belts a little tighter and hoped for a better crop the next year. The Callahan’s knew what it meant to work hard and to pull together. They raised rice on land that was continuously farmed by members of the Wingate and Burrell families for over a hundred years and there is a plaque in the capital in Austin attesting to the fact.
It was always open house at the Callahan’s and sitting around their big table was an exercise in joy. The coffee pot was always hot and there was always an extra slice of pie or cake for anyone who happened to drop in. That cup of coffee was good but even better was the conversation and the laughter. Going to Peggy’s house was like a tonic and everyone was welcome. Peggy loved people and was much loved in return.
Peggy is preceded in death by her husband of sixty five years, Earl Callahan; grandson, Earl Wayne Callahan, Jr.;. She is survived by three children, Sharon Harvey and her husband Donald, Earl Wayne Callahan and his wife Janette, John Jay Callahan and his wife Mary; five grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; and a host of friends.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 18, 2006 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Fannett with a burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, under the direction of Broussard’s 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A Rosary will be at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 17, 2006 at the Mortuary.
