1949 ~ More photos of Gus -n- Honey with story by Adrienne Simoneaux Merrell

Follow-up to yesterday's post "1949 - Gus -n- Madeline Gianfala lived on Boca Chica Blvd"

 Jan' 1949 Honey & grapefruits

Oct' 16, 1949 by roadside cactus La Joya, Texas

 July 23, 1949 Gus and Honey at Port Isabel

"Lucky" their cat

 A Brief Story About Gus -n- Honey by Adrienne Simoneaux Merrell

Agustus A. (Gus) and Myrtle (Honey) Gianfala, came from The Patterson/ Morgan City, Louisiana area, to reside in Brownsville, TX, about the same year ...1947 , that my parents, Jules J. and Ozelia Simoneaux did."Gus" was of Italian descent, but was brought up in Louisiana , as was Honey.

I grew up knowing Gus and Honey, as they were my parents very good friends. They had no children ,and they were almost exclusively to themselves! Gus passed away in 1989 ,and Honey lived alone in their little home at 2534 Boca Chica Blvd.,that I believe they purchased in the year 1949. 

She lived there all of those years , until she was unable to care for herself any longer . 

My parents drove her to the store sometimes when it was raining ,but most of the time ,she donned her scarf and walked every single morning to HEB for her coffee and a biscuit . After WalMart opened ,and HEB closed the little cafe area, she would walk to WalMart for her breakfast and socializing with her coffee klatch ! Honey and Gus loved all animals, especially birds and cats. Honey would buy food for all the stray cats that meowed at their back door. In turn, they had quite a menagerie!

In her late 90's , still in good health, and after both of my parents passed , she admitted herself into the "Spanish Meadows" nursing home in Brownsville, where I kept in touch with her . 

I was astonished to see these pictures come to light, whereas ,the Gianfalas were very private people and I suppose the reason is that their belongings must have been sold after she passed, since there were no heirs.  

Here is her last reply to one of my letters... I believe right before she moved into the nursing home . I tried to keep in touch with her as an honor to my parents and their friendship with the Gianfallas. 

Honey and Gus are resting peacefully together at "Buena Vista Park Mausoleum in their beloved adopted city of Brownsville, TX Submitted lovingly by: Adrienne Simoneaux Merrell Longview, Texas

To the Gianfalas:  May their souls be joined in peace and heaven forever

Update:  Jim Tipton of Tipton Ford has this to add to their story

We think this Sacred Heart Chuch in Brownsville, Texas.  It was in Honey's photo album