DONALD RAY HONEYCUTT

A year or two ago, Dad’s old ’88 Ranger rolled down to the far reach of Trinity Street on my ritual morning “drive around” and pulled into the former Ledbetter house driveway to turn around and head back to “downtown.” A newer pick-up truck slowly pulled up behind me. A man rolled down his window, as I quickly did the same. Mr. Honeycutt stuck out his head and said, “Oh, Hi, Don, I didn’t recognize who was maybe messing around here and didn’t need to be!” We visited briefly, and then he drove off with, “I don’t want to keep you from your business. Tell your Family ‘hi!’” I drove to the post office and sat there for a few minutes, thinking about the man with whom my Dad often shared pleasantries in downtown Forney when I was a boy, “tagging along with him” and knowing to “be quiet” when adults were talk-ing. Dad called him “Donald Ray,” and he often spoke to me, too!

I remembered when my new wife and I had a washing machine and dryer out in our “washhouse” building on Pacific Street, and one of my chores was to wash the cloth diapers we used for our first child, William. The dryer “gave up the ghost.” We couldn’t afford a new one! Dad advised me to “call Mr. Honeycutt.” I did, and that evening he took the time to come take a look…..He talk-ed a little as he checked and oiled some parts and put one different one on. I expected to owe about $50.00, but with a hand on my shoulder and a “twinkling” eye, his sturdy voice said, “Don, I hope it was all right that I just tightened some parts and replaced a ‘burned one’ with a used one I had in my box— will you be O. K. with paying me $10.00?” My smile was “ear-to-ear!”

I remember when a thoughtful, honest, Christian voice was needed during some town/school affairs, and you probably can guess the name of the person who helped to solve more than one issue.

I could go on, but I think you are “getting my drift.” Donald Ray Honeycutt, “long-time Forneyite supreme,” has passed on, but what he meant to many in our town will not change! Think I will drive slowly down Trinity Street tomorrow!