Friday, May 3, 2024
Amelia Bogard, age 83, of Gatesville, passed away on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at her home.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Scott’s Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Stephen Schmidt officiating. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Amelia will be laid to rest in Weaver Chapel Cemetery, on land donated in 1879 by Reverend John Wilson, her great-great-great grandfather, where at least seven generations of her relatives have been buried.
Amelia Juanita Forrest was born on July 15, 1939, to the late J.O. and Ethel Lucille Wilhelm Forrest in Gatesville. She graduated from Gatesville High School in 1957, received an Associate of Science degree from Tarleton State College in 1959 and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education degree from Texas Technological College in August 1961. Amelia began her teaching career in Crosbyton, Texas in the fall of 1961 teaching high school English.
Amelia was united in marriage to Michael Henry Bogard on December 27, 1961, at the Jonesboro Methodist Church by Mike’s uncle, Pastor Plez Todd. From this marriage a son, Aubrey Wayne Bogard, was born on October 11, 1962, in Stephenville. Soon after Aubrey’s birth, the Bogards moved to the Bogard farm near San Saba. The Bogards moved to College Station in 1965 and Michael got his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University in 1967. Amelia worked in the Plant Sciences department of Texas A&M during that time, processing soil samples and counting microscopic nematodes.
Following graduation, Michael went to work for the USDA Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in Vernon and Amelia went back to teaching sixth grade reading at Vernon Junior High. Michael’s career with the SCS moved them to Memphis, Texas in 1968, Lamesa, in 1970, and Groesbeck in 1974. Amelia was a dedicated public-school teacher and was a positive influence on the lives of many students in Crosbyton, Vernon, Lamesa, and Groesbeck. She taught English at Groesbeck High School from 1975 until her retirement in 1994. She had joined the Groesbeck Study Club shortly after moving there and was instrumental in the beginning of the Academic Sweater Awards Program which would give sweaters and scholarships to students who were outstanding academically. She was a sponsor of the National Honor Society and was responsible for starting a school museum in the foyer of the new high school building.
After retirement, Amelia began serious research on family history. She completed her application with over sixty pages of documentation and was accepted into the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mexia Jonathan Hardin Chapter in 1995. She served in multiple leadership positions of the Chapter from 1997 until 2003. Amelia’s membership in the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Sterling C. Robertson Chapter in Waco was approved in 1999. She served the chapter in multiple roles including president from 2011 to 2013. After her husband’s retirement in 2003, they moved to Gatesville.
Amelia was preceded in death by her parents, half-sister, Marianna Forrest Brown Foust; brothers, Walter Ray Forrest and Nathan Kelly Forrest.
Amelia is survived by her husband, Michael Henry Bogard, son, Aubrey Wayne Bogard and wife, Susan Hughston Bogard; grandson, Noah William Bogard; brother, Robert Forrest; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Republic of Texas Museum fund in Amelia’s name would be appreciated at www.drtinfo.org.
