Magnolia Memories

<P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>Celeste Graves was born in Magnolia </SPAN></STRONG><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags /><st1:State><st1:place><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>Texas</SPAN></STRONG></st1:place></st1:State><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold> </SPAN></STRONG><st1:date Month=8 Day=30 Year=1919><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>August 30 1919</SPAN></STRONG></st1:date><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>. She graduated from high school in 1935 at the age of 15. There were only eight in her graduating class. She left Magnolia for periods of time for college World War II and the Korean War. Her husband was a radioman in the U. S. Navy and they lived in various areas of </SPAN></STRONG><st1:State><st1:place><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>California</SPAN></STRONG></st1:place></st1:State><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>. They decided they wanted to raise their children in the country thus the move back to Magnolia.</SPAN></STRONG><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office /></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify> </P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>During World War II she was a dispatcher for the Civilian Pilot Training Program for Aviation Enterprises at </SPAN></STRONG><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>Municipal</SPAN></STRONG></st1:PlaceName><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold> </SPAN></STRONG><st1:PlaceType><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>Airport</SPAN></STRONG></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>. They were awarded the contract to train young ladies to ferry airplanes during the war to relieve male pilots for overseas duty. </SPAN></STRONG></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify> </P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>In June 1952 Celeste began her career as a superintendent's secretary for the </SPAN></STRONG><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>Magnolia</SPAN></STRONG></st1:PlaceName><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold> </SPAN></STRONG><st1:PlaceName><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>Independent</SPAN></STRONG></st1:PlaceName><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold> </SPAN></STRONG><st1:PlaceType><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>School District</SPAN></STRONG></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><STRONG><SPAN style=FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold>. She worked in that capacity for 34 years retiring in 1985. Since retiring she has continued to work half-time for the district. She is an active member of the Magnolia Beautification/Historical Committee serving as Secretary/Treasurer for the past ten years. </SPAN></STRONG></P>