IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CEMETERY (1979)

McCook, Hidalgo Co. Cemeteries of Tx

Submitted by cshaffer@houston.rr.com  (typed from records provided by surveyors)

LOCATION: Cemetery is ½ mile south of McCook on FM 2028, in west-central Hidalgo County.

SURVEYED: Dolores Rednour for McAllen Genealogical Society, 1979.

HISTORY: McCook, settled about 1925, is in the Newman Brothers Subdivision of Leagues 1-4, Hidalgo County School Lands. Origin of the name McCook is unknown.

Urban Kotzur’s family, including married sons Nick and Leon, were the first settlers. Frank Prukop of Kosciusko in Wilson County was the first to purchase land there; his family arrived on November 27, 1927. Other Polish families—in all about 20—arrived from Panna Maria in Karnes County. They practice dry land farming, raising corn and cotton.

For 25 years, people went in to Mission, 25 miles south, for church services. In 1950, Immaculate Conception Church was built and became the area’s social and religious center. In front of the church is a statue of St. Isidor, patron saint of farmers, erected in memory of Monica and Isydor Moczygemba, McCook residents who were descendants of Father Leopold Mocyzgemba, founder of Panna Maria in 1874, oldest Polish settlement in the United States.

Two religious festivities celebrated annually in McCook are the February blessing of seeds to be planted and a novena (9 days of special prayers) for April 4, the feast day of Saint Isidor.

In 1949, August Skloss donated one acre in the southeast corner of his farm for a Catholic Cemetery. It was fenced with cedar posts and wire in 1951. In 1960, the congregation purchased an additional acre to square off and enlarge the cemetery. In 1972, a hurricane fence was donated with the name Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

*****************************

1. THOMAS C. MOCZYGEMBA - Texas Tec 5 2430 SVC Domd Unit WWII 
Mar 14, 1916 - Oct 10, 1962

2. SEVEREN MOCZYGEMBA - Texas PFC Co F 382 Inf WWII
Apr 17, 1910 - Jul 16, 1959

3. DAVID PRUKOP - Apr 10, 1957 - Apr 13, 1957

4. NANCY LEE PRUKOP - Daughter - Jan 11, 1947 - May 2, 1953

5. ISYDOR T. MOCZYGEMBA - Father - Apr 1, 1885 - Sep 30, 1958
Rest is thine, and sweet remembrance ours

6. ALOIS B. MOCZYGEMBA - June 23, 1895 - Oct 1, 1966
ROSIE T. MOCZYGEMBA - Oct 1894 - Mar 24, 1970

7. NICK J. KOTZUR - Texas PVT BTRY D. 131 Field ARTY WWI
Sep 15, 1891 - June 22, 1965

ADELA E. Mar 7, 1898

8. FELIX KOTARA - Aug 30, 1891 - Sep 25, 1962

MARGARET - June 1, 1894

9. ADAM LYSSY - Feb 15, 1886 - Dec 24, 1964
JULIA - Feb 14, 1894 - Feb 13, 1965

10. STANLEY I. PAWELEK - 1909 - 1970
CECILIA A. 1910 -

11. ALBERT LYSSY - Died Nov 3, 1974 - Age 21 yrs

12. EDWARD SEKULA - Feb 9, 1893

BARBARA D. - Dec 2, 1893 - Mar 8, 1969

13. ERNEST PAUL KELLER - Jul 19, 1934 - Dec 29, 1971
In remembrance of our beloved husband and father

14. CLEMENT A. KOTZUR - Dec 10-25, 1953

15. ISIDOR KOTZUR - Mar 17, 1916 - Apr 23, 1967

ROSIE - Sept 23, 1922

16. LEON KOTZUR - Dec 9, 1889 - Aug 6, 1969

ELIZABETH - June 28, 1889

17. JOSEPH W. LYSSY - 1888 - 1965
In Memory
FLORENCE B. - 1890 - 1968