1940 was a good year, as it brought us two very special and well-loved people: Margaret Hanna, born on Feb. 14, 1940, and Jim Lee, born on Feb. 18, 1940. Both were recently honored with celebrations to mark the joyous occasion of their 80th birthdays.
Hanna’s birthday gathering took place Feb. 15 at Sacred Heart Parish Hall. The hall was beautifully decorated with family photos on handmade cedar holders made with cedar from her property. Her children and grandchildren took care of all of the decorations and party details. Everyone enjoyed a chicken fried steak dinner by Circle G Catering, plus homemade desserts provided by family members.
Many know Hanna from her years spent working as an officer at First National Bank in Bastrop; she retired last fall after working there for 24 years. She had many other jobs throughout the years, including working at the Science Park and as a soda jerk at Trousdale’s Drug Store in Smithville in the 1950s.
“My first paycheck (from Trousdale’s) was one nickel,” Hanna said with a laugh. “I had bought make-up and other things so that’s all that was left in my pay. My dad made me keep that nickel, too.”
Hanna is quick to point out that her life’s most important and rewarding work was being a wife and mother, saying “that’s what it’s all about.” She married G.L. “Bugger” Hanna in 1955, and the couple were married for 63 years before his passing last April. They had three sons, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
“Bugger and I always said there’s nothing we would change, and when you can say that, I believe you’ve lived the life you were supposed to,” Hanna said.
Watterson party
Jim Lee’s 80th birthday bash took place at Watterson Hall on Feb. 23. The hall was filled with loved ones, neighbors and old friends, some of whom he had not seen in 10 years or more. Lee retired after working as an electrical engineer at S&B Engineers in Houston for 30 years. He also worked at Solvay Polymers in Pasadena in the 1990s, as part of an Electrical Technology Group (ETG), and his fellow ETG members, who became lifelong friends, all turned up to wish him a happy birthday.
Homemade dishes made the day even more special, with Jim’s wife, Jacqueline, preparing barbeque pork for lunch. Her children, Luke Thompson and Margaret Lake, along with Margaret’s husband, Trent, helped with the beans and potato salad, plus all of the set-up for the day. The dessert table was overflowing with treats provided by friends and family. Lee’s sister, Doris Kershaw, made the birthday cake, which was a huge hummingbird cake that read playfully, “Happy Birthday, Jim. 80 Years of Dodging Mesquites” and featured a tiny John Deere tractor to pay homage to the many years spent struggling to clear the family farm in Watterson of mesquites.
Jim’s son, Mark Lee, played guitar and sang classic country hits all afternoon for the attendees’ delight. He was joined by David Fleming on dobro and Tom Draper on guitar.
Lee is well-known for being a photography aficionado, but he happily handed over the picture-taking duties to others so that he could visit with his guests. He thoroughly enjoyed the day, and when asked his reaction to the party, he replied “I was blown away! The party was so much better than I could have ever expected. I appreciated everyone there.”
Here’s wishing many more birthdays to both of these special people. May all of us aspire to live a life where we are as well-respected and treasured as they are, as evidenced by the many people who turned out to bring enthusiastic birthday wishes.
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