Samuel Morris Gupton: 1886 - 1961

On this day (August 30th) in 1961 my grandfather passed away at the age of 75 in West Columbia, Texas. I was only four years old when "Bussie" lost his battle with emphysema. He was born on February 9, 1886, and had operated a grocery store and meat market in first East Columbia and later in West Columbia. He was also the posmaster of West Columbia for many years but is remembered more by his family for being a wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In the top photo Samuel Morris "Buff" Gupton is shown near the end of his life with his wife Eula and my sister Kelly Renee Gupton, the youngest of Buff's nine grandchildren. Kelly was born March 22, 1960. He is also pictured holding the reins of a horse being ridden by my older brother Samuel Cody Gupton, who was named after our grandfather, and in another photo standing in his yard in West Columbia. The other photo is of a very young Samuel Morris Gupton. Bussie, you've been a long time gone, yet the memories of the love you displayed for your large family still burn vividly in the hearts of each of us. We loved you and still miss you dearly, our wonderful grandfather.

Samuel Morris "Buff" Gupton is pictured below at right, smoking cigars with his brother James Gupton and a friendly pooch. In the photo above my grandfather "Buff" Gupton is shown in his younger years riding a horse in West Columbia, Texas. Today, August 30, 2009, marks the 48th anniversary of the passing of my father's father.