FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
Kathleen McElroy's 'quiet life' makes statement
BY KELLY GRIFFITH Contributing reporter

Kathleen McElroy

Kathleen McElroy describes her personality as quiet and goes on to say she's not outgoing, but for someone self described as such, she and late husband Eugene McElroy certainly made names for themselves in the Troup community.

Kathleen Long was born in Mixon were she attended school until second grade when her family moved to Summerfield. The move was one of many in Kathleen's future. In Summerfield she graduated high school before going on to Lon Morris College. After two years at Lon Morris, Kathleen transferred to Stephen F. Austin University were she spent the next two years and graduated with a major in education.

Kathleen's first teaching position was in Omen. There she taught first through third grade before transferring to Salem to teach just second grade. After her year-and-a-half spent in Salem, the 24-year-old married Eugene McElroy, a sailor in the U.S. Navy. Eugene was stationed in California when they wed in December, so the two made the move and lived in both Oakland and San Francisco. Eugene finished one more year in the Navy before leaving the service. When Kathleen was eight months pregnant, the couple returned to Texas.

"Eugene would joke that he wanted to get back to Texas before our son was born," Kathleen said, "so that he would be a Texan." One month later, their only child, Joe Paul, was born.

The couple's next move took them to Austin so that Eugene could attend The University of Texas for his law degree. Kathleen revealed that they were "poor" during this time, with her husband at school and a new baby to care for. During the school months Eugene would teach in Summerfield and Kathleen in Jacksonville; then Eugene would go further his education in the summer months.

In 1948 the family came to Troup where they stayed and each taught school.

"In all I've taught 38 years," Kathleen said, "and I loved every minute of it."

Kathleen spent all her years in Troup schools teaching fourth grade until the day she retired in 1983. "I've taught children and grandchildren," Kathleen jokes, "but I don't think I ever taught great-grandchildren."

After retiring Eugene and Kathleen traveled all 50 states, enjoying several cruises. Her favorite journey was catching the ship in Boston and sailing through Maine, Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundi. Eugene enjoyed their trip through the Panama Canal, a place he had always wanted to see.

"Eugene said he liked cruises because he didn't have to juggle the bags to and from the car," Kathleen recalled, thinking back on their many trips.

The last few years have been filled with "ever yday things," said Kathleen. She enjoys helping with library functions and remains active in the Methodist church.

Since the passing of her husband in August of 2006, she surrounds herself with family: son Joe and his wife, Barbara, their children, Ryan Townsend and Amy Walters; as well as Amy's husband, Shane and the beloved great-grandson, Mill.

"I've just been waited on by my son and daughter-in-law hand and foot," Kathleen said. "It's really nice."