Natalie Hamrick

Mrs. Natalie Gage Hamrick of Belton, TX (formerly of San Saba, TX) passed away Saturday, July 27, 2013 at Park Manor in Belton after a battle with cancer. Mrs. Hamrick (nicknamed sister by her family, Sis by others and Nana by her grandchildren) was born on February 10, 1930 to Joseph Earl (Pick) Gage and Ethel Inez Long Gage in San Saba County and grew up in the Rough Creek community. She started school in a one room school house in Rough Creek and later went to school in Cherokee and San Saba, graduating from San Saba High School in 1948. She attended many Methodist Camp Meetings as a child and was baptized in Cherokee Creek when she was nine years old. Natalie married Carl Gray (Pete) Hamrick, Jr. on October 28, 1948. One of their favorite past times in their early years was to drive fast cars and go dancing at the Buchanan Club. She and Pete Lived in various locations around San Saba where she helped him with stock farming. They had three children, Stephen, Susan and Annie, who all attended San Saba schools. Mrs. Hamrick decided to start college when she was 35 years old, attending Howard Payne University and graduating with honors after two and a half years. This is a strong testimony of her strength, character and determination. Mrs. Hamrick was a public school teacher in San Saba for 26 years, first teaching in migrant education, then English for many years before finishing her career as a school librarian. She was a strict disciplinarian, loved and respected by many. During her teaching career she was the sponsor for numerous high school groups and organizations. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma National Honor Society and the Pierian Study club for a number of years. After retirement from public school, Mrs. Hamrick spent much of her time at her lake cabin at Lake Belton where she enjoyed cooking and entertaining her grandchildren. She spent many long hours in the stands or a lawn chair watching her grandsons in various sports and whenever possible traveled to West Texas to see her twin grandchildren participating in sports or rodeo events. She was an avid sports enthusiast and enjoyed watching various sports on TV. In 2002 Mr. and Mrs. Hamrick moved permanently to Belton so they could be near their daughters and grandchildren all the time. Their back yard was right next to Belton High School where they had their grandsons going for the next eight years. Jump the fence and they were at Nana's house!! Always an avid reader, Mrs. Hamrick spent the last few years trying to read every book in Belton Public Library. It would be interesting to know how far she got! Mrs. Hamrick was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Pete. She is survived by her three children, Stephen Hamrick of Alpine, WY, Susan (Steve) Slaughter and Annie (Bret) McCall of Belton, TX and grandchildren Cody Hamrick of Lubbock, TX, Stephenie (Tim) Hohertz of Stephenville, TX, Shannon Slaughter of Temple, TX and Matthew McCall of Lubbock, TX; sisters, Betty Jo Phillips of Masterson, TX and Elaine (Corky) Grimes of San Saba, TX as well as a very large number of cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws. Donations in Mrs. Hamrick's memory may be made to the Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, PO Box 1890, Amarillo, TX; Odyssey Hospice of Temple, TX or a charity of their choice. Heritage Funeral Home of San Saba, TX is in charge of arrangement.

Natalie Hamrick

February 10, 1930 - July 27, 2013