Submitted by: Cathy SHELLEY
Clifton Record; Tuesday, March 18, 2003
Funeral services were held for John Franklin Hollingsworth, Jr., 78, of Clifton, on Friday, March 14, 2003, at First
Baptist Church of Clifton, with the Rev. Jerry Smith officiating. Hollingsworth was born on June 25, 1924, in Hillsboro,
to John Franklin Hollingsworth, Sr. and Gussie White Hollingsworth. He passed away on Monday, March 10, 2003.
Hollingsworth grew up in Houston where his father owned a retail clothing store. He was baptized and became a member of
the Second Baptist Church of Houston. It was there in the youth group that he met his wife to be, Mary Jane Shambaugh. He
attended Lamar High School in Houston and the University of Texas at Austin. It was at UT that he and Shambaugh became
more than friends. They were married on Oct. 2, 1943 in Houston. For the first few years of their marriage, he worked as a
roughneck in the oil patch, helped on ranches, and did whatever needed to be done to make a living. They moved from place
to place, making stops in Ozona, Montgomery, Ala., and finally ending up in Fort Worth. He was employed as Mens clothing
sales representative, and his territory was Kansas, but his home was in Texas. Two daughters, Jane and Melinda, were born to the marriage. The girls grew up in East Fort Worth where they attended Eastern Hills High School and where the family were active members of Sagamore Hills Baptist Church. In 1958, Hollingsworth opened a mens store in Richardson. It was here that he found his joy. He loved waiting on the customers and making sales. He was a people person who could at home with anyone,
regardless of social class, ethnicity, or educational status. Mary Jane worked as a bookkeeper and business manager and he
ran the front end of the store. Together they made a wonderful team. In 1965, they began to see more of their life-long
dream fulfilled. They bought a place in Bosque County, between Clifton and Cranfills Gap. He added ranching to his work
schedule and they made the weekend trips to the farm to keep things going. In 1971 they moved to the farm and began to build a
home. John continued to work in the store until he retired and Mary Jane kept active on the farm working outdoors, feeding
the cattle, and planting a garden. In 1989, she became sick and for the following six years, until her death, she was
confined indoors, primarily in bed. John became an ardent servant to her needs and the two who started out as childhood
friends ended their earthly vows through sickness and health, and for better or worse. He enjoyed making the rounds
visiting friends from the VFW, the auto parts store, to Bertelsens, to the Dairy Queen, and other places that he frequented. He will always be remembered for his friendliness, humor, and his laugh. Survivors include his daughters, Jane
Scott and husband, Jim Scott, and Melinda Tripp and husband, Gary Tripp; grandchildren, Eric Scott, Ginny Twarowski,
Summer Brag, and Meadow; and great-grandchildren, James and Emma Scott, and Katelin Twarowski.