Polly Maysel Peaks-Elmore

Polly Maysel Peaks-Elmore was born on 20 December 1930 in Gainesville, Texas to Emma Elizabeth Beaver and DeWitt Peaks Sr. She attended school in Gainesville, Texas until she moved her sophomore year of high school to Killeen in 1946. She was a head cheerleader and was Killeen’s first rodeo queen in 1948 at the Killeen Rodeo. She graduated from Avenue D High School in Killeen, Texas in 1948.

Ms. Peaks-Elmore’s civil service career spanned more than 25 years. Most of her career for the federal government was in personnel and management. During her career, Polly worked at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and at Fort Hood, Texas.

One of her passions was preserving history. She began her writing skills in the mid-1970’s when she researched and received approval from the state of Texas into the Family Land Heritage Program. In 1978, she received approval for the first Texas historical marker in west Bell County for the “Joseph Dennis Lands” that has been in the Elmore family for over 125 years. In addition to the historical marker, she also researched and was given approval for the following historical markers:

Hodge Cemetery, Temple, Texas

Joseph Dennis gravesite

Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Killeen, Texas

McBryde Cemetery, Killeen, Texas

Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, Killeen, Texas

Mayberry Park Cemetery, Ft. Hood, Texas

Lampasas River Bridge

Maxdale Bridge

Sharp Cemetery and Rock Creek Baptist Church of Christ

Live Oak Cemetery, Youngsport, Texas

Miller Springs Bridge

Reed Bridge

Ms. Peaks-Elmore has also written articles for the Bell County Historical Commission’s books entitled “The Story of Bell County, Texas” on residents of west Bell County.

Her belief in being involved in your local community is evident as she worked as an election clerk for local elections, a tour guide for the Killeen Chamber of Commerce when various groups came to the area, a former board member of the Miller Springs Alliance, a former member of the Bob Gilmore Advisory Council, a member of the Fort Hood Museums Commission, Vive Les Arts supporter, and a member of First Baptist Church, Killeen.

Polly has two surviving children, James Dan Elmore and Maysel Ann Elmore. She is pre-ceded in death by her son, Russell Dee Elmore and her brother, DeWitt Peaks, Jr. She is survived by 5 grandchildren – Melissa Bohannon, and her husband, Todd Bohannon, Brook Elmore and his wife, Christie Elmore, Ashley Emmons, and her husband Mike Emmons, Diamond Elmore and his wife Barbara, and Skyler Price. Polly also has 8 great-grandchildren – Ryan Bohannon, Griffin Bohannon, Collin Bohannon, Isabelle Emmons, Zayden Emmons, Cody Elmore, Tanner Elmore, and Cheyenne Elmore.

The visitation will be held at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home Monday, March 17 from 6-8 pm. Private family graveside service will be held at Killeen Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church Killeen.