John Paul Kilgore
1914-2008

Brother John Paul Kilgore was born to E. P. and Ina Armstrong Kilgore of the Blake Community, on April 21, 1914. The Kilgores moved to Brownwood in 1926 where they lived until 1935 when John left to attend Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. While attending Tech, he met his wife Loraine Taylor on a double date. With a borrowed five dollars, they were married in New Mexico in 1937. The Kilgores have two daughters, Johnnie Gayle and Glenna who reside in Colorado.

John had already completed 2 years at Daniel Baker College and graduated from Texas Tech in 1938. He worked for Colvert Ice Cream Co, Ardmore, Ok before moving back to Brownwood in 1941 where he worked for Banner Creamery.

In January 1945, John accepted a position with Bell Dairies of Temple, Texas. In the fall of the same year the Kilgores purchased Kilgore Creamery of Eastland.

The Eastland creamery was located next door to the Masonic Lodge where John was first exposed to Masonry. His Entered Apprentice Degree was conferred on November 18, 1946. He was passed to Fellowcraft on January 6, 1947 and raised to the degree of Master Mason on February 3, 1947.

In 1948 he became a York Rite Mason at Cisco and was initiated into the Shrine at Ft. Worth Temple in 1949. He moved to La Mesa in 1952 and became a Scottish Rite Mason, Valley of El Paso, in 1954.

The Kilgores lived in La Mesa for three years before moving to Lubbock for two years where John worked for a floor covering company and the Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Co.

Employment with a dairy chemical company prompted a move to Albuquerque, New Mexico In 1957 where his two sons-in-law were raised to Master Masons. They moved to Cross Plains in 1975 and John became a member of Cross Plains Lodge No. 627.

Brother Kilgore is Past Master of Cross Plains Lodge (1981-1982), served as Senior Warden (1980-1981), Junior Warden (1979-1980), Tiler (1982-1983), and Chaplain (1983-1984). He faithfully and fervently served in these offices and other capacities.  With the fidelity of his Masonic obligation he inspired and motivated his brethren until called to labor by the Supreme Grand Master on January 20, 2008.