“Corky” Elaine Gage Grimes passed away on July 14, 2022, peacefully at her home in San Saba. She was born on May 1, 1928, in Brownwood, Texas, to Joseph “Pick” Gage and Ethel Inez Long Gage. She grew up at Rough Creek in San Saba County, which is where she started school. She went to school there for two years and then started the 3rd grade in Cherokee. She had two sisters, Natalie and Betty Jo. The girls and Inez stayed in an apartment in Cherokee during the week to attend school and went home on the weekends. Corky went to school in Cherokee through her sophomore year and then moved to San Saba. She attended school for a total of 11 years and graduated from San Saba High School in 1945.
When Corky was young, they lived on a farm, and she helped her Daddy in the field and drove the tractor and combine while cutting grain. She enjoyed playing in the creek with her sisters. They wandered the countryside entertaining themselves along the way and spent most days by the trees where the sheep bedded down by Cherokee Creek. They enjoyed singing as loud as they could, like they were in church, to the point their Mama would run them out of the house.
After graduation, at the age of 17, Corky went to work as a bookkeeper at the Lumber Yard in San Saba. On May 10, 1947, she married Billy Joe Grimes, and they had three children: Billy Dan “Willie,” Josephine “Josie” and Janis K “Jan.” In 1965, she went to work for Dr. Farley and Dr. Felts as a bookkeeper and worked for them for 15 years. In 1987, she went to work for Odean and Johnny Flo Ray in the electrical and air conditioning business. Following that, at the age of 60, she went to work at Eventide Nursing Home in San Saba. She worked for the nursing home for 21 years and retired at the age of 82 in 2010.
The greatest enjoyments of Corky’s life were attending rodeos and supporting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s events. She loved fishing, dancing, sewing/quilting, Dallas Cowboys football, watching wrestling on TV, George Strait, eating ice cream and a good game of 42 dominos. She had the sweetest soul and the kindest heart of anyone. She is loved by many and will be dearly missed by those who were blessed to know her.
Corky is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph “Pick” Gage and Inez Long Gage; and two sisters, Natalie Hamrick and Betty Jo Phillips.
Corky is survived by her three children: Willie Grimes and his wife Jan of Stephenville, Josie McLendon of Gordon, and Jan Hooten and husband Bub of Lometa; six grandchildren: Dale Grimes and wife Traci of Stephenville, Jake Hamilton and wife Ashely of Stephenville, Becky Hooten Schwandner and husband Henry of Freer, Laura Hooten Broyles and husband Walt of Mason, Arron McLendon of Gordon, and Matt McLendon of Gordon; eleven greatgrandchildren: Westyn Grimes, Maddi Grimes McGee and husband Hunter, Jade Hamilton, Shane Hamilton, Hayden Goodwin, Harper Schwandner, Laney Lastly, Kimbrea Broyles, Cealey Broyles, Echo McLendon, and May McLendon.
A Public Viewing was held on Monday, July 18, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home followed by the Service at 11:00 a.m.