Protecting Gatesville’s founding fathers

Prior to Liz Reinhardt’s retirement from Gatesville City Hall, in addition to her other titles and duties, she had devoted her time updating the data concerning Gatesville City Cemetery and Restland Cemetery. Reinhardt was responsible for platting the cemeteries and had section markers installed at City Cemetery in order to make it easier to locate graves.

Kelsey Cole was the backup person when Reinhardt had to be away and had been helping with the cemetery project for the last eight or nine years. When Liz retired a few months ago, Cole took over all the cemetery duties and, in addition to being Deputy Court Clerk, she is now known as the Cemetery Coordinator. 

“I am absolutely so excited about this,” Cole said. “When I was handed this cemetery position, the first grave I had to mark was actually my grandmother’s grave. It wasn’t really difficult, and it took me on this genealogy trail. It’s just got me so interested in history and the histories of our cemeteries,” she said.

Regarding burial at the City Cemetery, which was created in 1855, Cole said that there are too many unmarked graves in the 169-year-old cemetery. “We are no longer selling lots in City Cemetery. There can be burials if the lots are already owned. The records of City Cemetery are so poor, it’s hard to know where the unmarked graves are located,” she said.

Assuming her new position, Cole said, “I definitely have some ideas and things I want to bring to people’s attention about vandalism, which has been an issue, and that’s something I want to address. I have some ideas I think would be helpful.”

In describing her duties as Cemetery Coordinator, Cole said, “When people come in to purchase lots (at Restland Cemetery), I handle that. When graves need to be marked (for upcoming burials) or when monuments need to be set, I’ll oversee all of that. I’m really more involved with more of the administrative part of it. One of my main focuses is to make sure that my records are correct and updated.”

Keeping in mind that many of the founding fathers of Gatesville and Coryell County are buried here, Cole said, “We need to show respect and dignity to everyone and their families. I think there needs to be more love shown.”