Update: According to David Fox, Director of Capps Memorial Chapel, this article was successful as they were contacted immediately following publication. “We had been looking for that for a long time,” they said. The V.A. marker is being installed at Salem Cemetery on Tuesday, October 11, 2022.
Family Members Sought for V.A. Marker of Freestone County Navy Veteran
The bronze V.A. marker was discovered by and left with Capps Memorial Chapel of Fairfield by a Mr. Robert Ross (a navy veteran himself). “We have no idea why the grave marker is missing from the deceased veterans grave,” said Funeral Director David Fox.
He is hoping members of the community may be of assistance in finding a family member who could give their blessing to reinstate the marker on this individual’s grave.
The V.A. marker reads as follows:
Andrew Carnagie High
Seaman 2nd Class, U.S.N. Wwii
March 24, 1913 – April 4, 1992
According to his death certificate, Seaman High died in Ft. Worth. His funeral was held by Baker Funeral Home in Ft. Worth and he was interred at Salem Cemetery in Freestone County, Texas.
There are two Salem cemeteries in Freestone County. This is the one closest to Dew and I-45.
Capps Memorial is in the process of trying to find out who the caretaker/sexton is at that cemetery. The person providing the information for the death certificate was a Mrs. Annie Mae Neal (relationship unknown).
Funeral Director Fox has placed a call to Baker Funeral Home in Ft. Worth on the unlikely chance they would have records that far back.
“Oddly enough both Mr. Ross, who found the marker; myself and the deceased are all navy veterans,” said Fox.