In 1907, Stephen John Hay became the first mayor of Dallas under the commission form of city government, a precursor to the mayor-council form. Born in 1864, Hay was a banker and businessman. Hay initiated the White Rock Reservoir Plan to increase and preserve the city's water supply. Hay's second and last term ended in 1911. In 1916, he died from meningitis at age 51. Stephen J. Hay is interred in the oldest section of Grove Hill Memorial Park, along with his wife, Mary, and their three children.
Arnold Joseph "Groovey Joe" Poovey was a musician, songwriter, disc jockey and Dallas personality. Poovey first gained recognition in 1957 with the release of his rockabilly single, "Move Around." In the 1960s, Poovey focused on country music, and wrote songs for country stars such as Jimmy Patton and George Jones. In 1980, Poovey returned to rockabilly and toured Europe under the name, "Texas" Joe Poovey. He recorded new music until his death in 1998. He is buried at Grove Hill Memorial Park.
The Angel of Grief monument in Grove Hill Cemetery has attracted sightseers to the headstone of Frank and Myrtle Blakeney since 1929. The gravesite includes a 6-foot foot angel, kneeling and weeping over the Blakeneys' grave. The angel's right arm is outstretched, in what may be a pleading gesture or one of exhaustion, and is often filled with flowers left by visitors. This weeping angel is a striking monument and a favorite among photographers.
This monument is almost identical to other weeping angels in three nearby Texas cemeteries, commonly referred to as the "Texas Angels of Grief." The most famous is the first -- Frank Teich's 1904 monument in the Scottsville Cemetery. But the Texas Angels of Grief are not original designs. They are replicas, along with many other nearly identical monuments in cemeteries across the country. All are replicas of William Wetmore Story's famous 1894 original, a headstone the sculptor made for himself and his wife. The original is still in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome.
In 1932, Blanche Caldwell married Marvin "Buck" Barrow, brother to Clyde Barrow, of Bonnie and Clyde infamy. Blanche and her husband joined the notorious gang, committed crimes alongside Bonnie and Clyde and lived as fugitives. They were on the lam with the "Bloody Barrow Gang," until a shootout in Iowa. On July 29, 1933, a standoff with law enforcement landed Blanche in police custody and left her husband Buck dead. Bonnie and Clyde escaped and continued their crime spree for another 2 years.
After spending almost 6 years in prison, Blanche moved to Dallas. She remarried and lived there as a law-abiding citizen until her death in 1998. Her memoir, "My Life With Bonnie and Clyde," was published in 2004. She is buried in Grove Hill Memorial Park Cemetery.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Von Erichs were professional wrestling's most famous family. Wrestling legend Fritz Von Erich guided his sons through the sport's sacrifice and spectacle, drew legions of fans and established the Von Erich boys as superstars. Then multiple tragedies befell the family, and the Von Erich dynasty was over. Fritz and five of his sons are buried at Grove Hill Memorial Park.
Jack Adkisson was born in 1929. Always a gifted athlete, in the 1950s, Jack began wrestling as the villainous heel fans loved to hate, Fritz Von Erich: Nazi Sympathizer. The family eventually changed their name from Adkisson to Von Erich. Fritz and his wife had six boys. In 1958, their first son, Jack Jr. died when he was electrocuted by an exposed wire. He was 6. David Von Erich, born in 1958, was considered the most athletically gifted of the brothers. While on tour in Japan, David developed acute gastroenteritis and died in his sleep. He was 25. Michael Von Erich continued his brother David's wrestling legacy, until an injury-related surgery became unavoidable. During surgery, Michael developed near-fatal toxic shock syndrome and never fully recovered. In 1987, Michael committed suicide; he was 23. Chris Von Erich's passion for wrestling was enormous, but that was all. Born with severe asthma, and his growth stunted by medication, Chris was the smallest Von Erich. Closest to Michael, Chris was devastated by his brother's suicide. In 1991, Chris, 22, also took his own life. Kerry Von Erich was the most famous of the brothers, with charm and athleticism matching his brother David's. Kerry held more than 40 titles throughout his career. In 1986, he lost his right foot in a motorcycle accident; he continued to wrestle, wearing a prosthesis to hide the loss. In 1993, newly divorced and battling drug addiction, Kerry killed himself at age 33. In 1997, Fritz Von Erich died of brain cancer. He was 68. Born in 1957, Kevin Von Erich is the last surviving Von Erich brother. Kevin enjoyed a successful wrestling career lasting nearly 20 years. Married since 1980, he and his wife have two daughters, two sons and three grandchildren. In 2007, Kevin and his family moved from Texas to the island of Kauai in Hawaii.
