Jim Reeves Memorial

It's a beautiful place. Very peaceful. The feeling is live every time I think of my visit. I felt as Jim Reeves is singing at a distance. His deep velvet voice started to echoing. It was very emotional to see Mary and Jim's beloved dog resting in peace along with him. Jim Reeves is a true gentleman and a country music legend. His gospels reminds you of Sunday church. His Christmas songs will always gives you the best Christmas feeling. His love songs will always keep your heart closer to your loved one. Jim Reeves is my childhood favorite singer and will always be one.

I have to admit I never really knew much about Jim Reeves before stopping here at his memorial, but I do remember hearing his songs most of my life, he had a unique vocal that once you hear him sing you'll never forget it, I was just a small boy when I was first introduced to his music my dad was the fan and I remember a few of Jim's tattered 8-track tapes stacked near my dads tape deck in his shop behind our house, I'm quite sure he still plays them on that old 8-track player still mounted under the counter. While traveling through east Texas I came upon his memorial and just had to stop I'm glad I did and I'm sure I'll remember this day every time I hear his music.

Jim Reeves grew up in the small town of Galloway near Carthage before hitting it big as a singer and occasional actor. He is best known for his hits "Make the World Go Away" and "I Can't Stop Loving You." He died in a plane crash in 1964. He also was one hell of a baseball player before a injury turned his focus to music. His impact on the world of music was felt around the world.

Inscription: on his memorial-
If I, a lowly singer dry one tear or soothe one humble human heart in pain, then my homely verse to God is dear and not one stanza has been sung in vain.

It is as close to the side of the highway as you can get and it is a beautiful, humble garden and memorial that should be on everyone's list traveling down 79. Very underrated, should be in more tourist guides!

I unabashedly love Jim Reeves and his tear-inducing tuneage and I'm man enough to admit it! Nobody. Nobody sings like this anymore. Nobody. Not in style, nor in grace. His voice truly is that of an angel's. He mastered just about every Christmas song ever made before his untimely passing in a plane crash in 1964. Musicians and planes, don't know what it is, go together about as well as tornadoes and trailer parks. Leaving behind a void of life unlived and potential never fully realized. My favorite Jim Reeves song is, He'll Have To Go. Listen to it and see if you don't well up and get all misty! If you don't, you ain't got blood in your veins! And If you're ever in East Texas, pay homage to Gentleman Jim, if you will.

Well the Jim Reeves memorial was a surprise for me. I had left Carthage and was on the way to the Louisiana border when the Jim Reeves memorial sign popped up. Well I'm one to investigate memorials see what, see what's going on and learn a little bit about somebody who was honored enough to have a memorial put in their name. Well as you come up there's a giant head very well manicured enero walkway at least at the entrance anyway leading to a giant guitar that is laid in the middle of the walkway. It's pretty cool. Then there is a full size statue of Jim. With a huge lawn surrounding, maybe five acres or so.. again very well manicured. There's a plaque it helps you understand the life of Jim Reeves. First pro baseball player, then a disc jockey, then an old boy singing songs on the farm, finally someone recognized that he was pretty good. And he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, right down the road in Carthage Texas. Sadly 3 days later he died in a wreck. Learn more back down at that Country Western Hall of Fame that's all about Texans