Ministry and Moonshine

By Fred L. Funk

Matt Reynbolds, a young Methodist minister, and his pregnant wife, Beth, arrive in rural Pruett, Texas, in the early 1960s to begin his first pastorate away from home. On the surface, Pruett is just a sleepy little town in the Piney Woods, and the folks in his small congregation are nice enough, if a bit peculiar.

Little do Matt and Beth know that the woods outside the town conceal the profitable and illegal enterprises of the local moonshiners, and no one in town is what they seem. Having led a somewhat sheltered existence until now, Matt and Beth have their eyes opened to human nature in ways they never would have imagined.

From a convicted murderer living next door on one side to a suspicious widow on the other, his congregation includes a cast of colorful characters who become unlikely friends and surprising enemies. Matt learns the hard way that members of his flock are capable of great love and warmth...and of great violence and treachery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fred L. Funk
• Release date: Jul 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476322018

Fred L. Funk

Born and raised in North Texas near Denton. Graduated Denton High School 1960. Attended what is now The University of North Texas and transfered to East Texas State College to pursue a pre-theology degree. Served as pastor of numerous churches in North and East Texas. Later switched career to accounting and finance. Worked thirty-five years for a national retail furniture chain. Now retired and started a new career writing novels.Married to Dana for 52 years. Have two daughters and one son and seven grandchildred. Dana and I live in North Texas with two crazy cats that have agree to let us share the house.

Book preview

MINISTRY AND MOONSHINE

FRED L. FUNK

SMASHWORDS EDITION

COPYRIGHT BY FRED L. FUNK 2012

For information contact:

Fruit Jar Junction Press

P.O. Box 213

Aubrey, Texas 76227

[e-mail]

https://www.fruitjarjunctionpress.weebly.com

Copyright © 2012 by Fred L. Funk

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright holder.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by Crystal Wood

ISBN 978-0-9835919-4-8 (Print)

ISBN 978-0-9911515-0-9 (Digital)

Acknowledgments

I am greatly indebted to my best friend, wife and soul mate, Dana. Without her support and tolerance this book would not have been possible.

I also extend my gratitude to Dr. Ray Stephens, Ph.D., retired professor of History at the University of North Texas, and Crystal Wood of Tattersall Publishing for their guidance.

I owe a great deal to the Denton Noon Kiwanis club that provided me with the opportunity to tell my story. Many members encouraged me—no, they pushed me—to put it all on paper.

I thank my late father, Joseph Madison Funk, known by many as Joe Matt. I used the name Matt out of love and respect for my dad. Reverend Forest Reynolds had an influence on my life as a child and I extend my appreciation for the use of his last name.

Author’s Notes

The incidents in this novel are based on actual circumstances and all characters are composites based on traits that I have seen in people over the years. Any similarity to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The names of all locations, towns, and counties are creations of my imagination.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my late father, Joe Funk, who was a Methodist minister for many years. It is also dedicated to all young preachers who have probably experienced many incidents similar to the ones about which I have written.

More Books by

FRED L. FUNK

Moonshiners’ Revenge

Moonshine Memories

Life and Death on Cannon Creek

The Throwaway Son

Justice for Cassie

Ephrim’s Journey

Terror Mountain

Lettie’s Sin (Late 2018)

Three Men in a Grave

Scarred (Late 2021)

1

MOVING DAY

Matt and Elizabeth came to the end of a long, exasperating day. They had started their journey that morning with excitement and enthusiasm about the upcoming new chapter in their lives. As they both drifted off into a troubled sleep in the old parsonage they wondered if they had made a terrible mistake.

Matt Reynolds always thought that he would become a Methodist minister in adulthood, but he really did not know where the idea came from. As a young boy he heard both of his grandmothers talk about it and it seemed that they expected it, especially his maternal grandmother. During his childhood, Matt stood in the fork of a large mesquite tree in her back yard and preached to his older brother and anyone else who would listen, much to Grandma’s delight. She was an extremely religious, church-going woman, and she was quite pleased at the prospect.

Matt’s father was a Methodist minister and the young man always thought that his dad expected him to follow in his footsteps, but he did not really know if this was the case or just his childish imagination. In any case, he considered himself to be a good son and grandson, and if that was what his family expected of him, he would do his best to meet their expectations. Little did he know what an adventure it would turn out to be since he never imagined that he would be caught up in a web of moonshine and murder.

The young supply pastor spent the first year of his ministry in North Texas, where he attended North Texas State College. That year went by without much incident, but he was young and longed for independence so he and Elizabeth, the young man’s wife of nearly a year, decided that they would move to East Texas where he would attend the college in Sulphur Bend. He made the necessary contacts with the district superintendent and received an assignment to be the pastor of the Pruett and Green Forest Methodist churches. It came as a pleasant surprise when Matt learned that his new assignment paid $325.00 per month, since his income from his first pastorate was $133.00 monthly. With the large increase the couple felt rich. The cost of tuition, fees, and books at the college in Sulphur Bend was $125.00 per semester and the increase in salary made the expense considerably easier to pay.

Matt and Elizabeth met in their junior year of high school and instantly became sweethearts. Although she had never been called Beth, it was Matt’s pet name for her that he used with love and affection, and the only time he called her Elizabeth was in serious conversation. Matt and Elizabeth both came from families with close emotional ties and Matt became an intimate member of her family almost immediately. It was a difficult choice for both of them to move and stretch their family ties, but the decision had been made.

On moving day they loaded up what few belongings that they possessed in a small U-Haul trailer, hooked it up to their old black 1951 Chevy, and headed for the piney woods of East Texas. As they drove east, away from the life they had always known, Matt and Beth were both overcome with emotion and they wondered if they had made the proper decision. Was moving away from home and family the right thing for them to do? Regardless of the questions in their minds, the decision had been made, everything was in motion, it was too late to change their minds, and turning back was not an option. As they drove farther east, the landscape began to change. In North Texas they passed through open farm lands with beautiful crops of oats, wheat, cotton, and corn. As they traveled into East Texas, the scenery shifted from farm land to forests of large pine, hickory, and gum trees. Occasionally they came to a clearing in the forest revealing green pastures with large herds of dairy cattle.

As they drove through the forest of towering pines they listened to Ricky Nelson on the radio as he sang Traveling Man, which seemed appropriate while they traveled. Suddenly, a news flash abruptly interrupted the peaceful song. At the request of President John Kennedy, Governor Price Daniels has just announced that he is considering a call-up of several units of the Texas National Guard. A number of crises around the world, including the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba and the construction of the Berlin Wall, prompted the possible call-up. The news disturbed Matt. He had been rejected by the military due to a genetic heart defect, but several of his close friends were in the Guard.

When the young couple arrived in Pruett, it seemed like an idyllic little town and it appeared to be a place where any red-blooded American would want to live and raise a family. This seemed perfect, since they were expecting their first child.

As Matt and Beth entered the city limits, they passed by a small general store with a gas pump out front, much like the establishments found in most small towns. They drove through town for a whopping three-quarters of a mile, where they discovered another, similar store on the opposite side of the highway. It seemed rather strange to the young man that such a small town had two almost identical stores. They made a left turn on the farm-to-market road beside the second store as indicated by the directions to the parsonage given to Matt by the district superintendent.

As they proceeded down the street it appeared as though none of the streets had names, since there were no signs. They later learned that people just referred to the street where the Methodist or Baptist church or the school was, or the street where old Sam lived.

The houses were old and looked to be dated from the late 1800s or early 1900s, and despite their apparent age the houses were neat and well-kept with beautifully manicured lawns. The yards had an abundance of flowers that included roses, gardenias, crape myrtles, and hollyhocks all in full bloom. The little town was beautiful and the young couple was excited that they would be a part of it.

They rounded the curve, went past the Methodist Church, and there on the opposite side of the road was the parsonage. Its general appearance was just like most of the other houses that they had seen. From the street, it looked neat, well-kept, it had been freshly painted, and its appearance was enhanced by a large front porch with a swing at one end. The yard was pretty, with a large green lawn of St. Augustine grass that was terraced towards the street. Two large sycamore trees provided a solid shade for the front yard. In the back, two enormous pecan trees provided shade and a tall catalpa tree with large clusters of creamy white blossoms accented the area. Gardenias in full bloom lined the driveway and on the opposite side of the house large crape myrtles were also in full bloom. The young couple felt that they were in paradise.

A number of vehicles were parked in the driveway and Matt wondered if the church’s welcoming committee had arranged a reception on their first day. Matt and Elizabeth pulled their old black Chevy with the trailer behind it into the drive. While getting out of the car they sniffed the heavy, almost sickening sweet smell of gardenias.

As they headed for the front door a lady dressed in a plain cotton dress, old but clean, came running around the house and shouted, Don’t go to the front door! You need to come in through the back for your own safety.

This cautionary greeting seemed a little strange, but the couple complied. Before going around to the back, the lady who had saved them from bodily injury showed them the front porch. From a distance it looked sound, but up close they could see it was rotten, with holes large enough to swallow up an entire human body.

Matt and Elizabeth looked at the porch in astonishment as their benefactor introduced herself. I’m Elsie Parker, she said. Elsie appeared as though she had been an attractive woman at one time, but she had not aged well. She had the look of someone who had lived a difficult life. "You must always use the back door to keep from gitting hurt. We wouldn’t want our new pastor to git hurt. You are our new pastor, aren’t you?"

Yes ma’am, he replied. I am Matt Reynolds and this is my wife, Beth, he said as he extended his hand for a handshake. Elsie ignored his hand, took a long look at Beth, and said, Well, you’re sure enough pregnant. When’s it due?

Beth replied, Mid-November.

Matt, who always seemed to say the wrong thing or ask the wrong question inquired, Why doesn’t somebody fix that porch before someone does get hurt?

Young man, Elsie snapped, Those repairs would cost a lot of money and we’re not rich folks here in Pruett.

Matt figured that he had said enough, for now.

Well, y’all come on in the house. The Pastoral Relations committee members are all here and we’re a-fixin’ to give you a few instructions.

Matt and Beth entered the house through the back door. Three men and another woman, in addition to the lady who kept them from falling through the front porch, greeted them. The strong aging smell of mildew engulfed them as they entered the house, and it gave the place a feeling of being ancient, which it was. One of the men was dressed in overalls that were stained from work on a nearby dairy farm. The other two men also wore overalls, but they were cleaner and fresher in appearance than the first. The second woman was rather robust and she was dressed somewhat nicer than Elsie. She wore a straight skirt with a tailored blouse, her hair was pulled back in a bun, and she wore glasses. She looked matronly to Matt and he thought, She reminds me of an old maid school teacher.

Elsie made the introductions. This is our new pastor, Matt Reynolds. And this is his wife, Beth. As you can see, there’ll be a little Reynolds afore long. This is Emma Hawley. Everyone calls her Miss Emma.

Matt stepped forward and shook hands with the robust Miss Emma. He noticed that she had an exceptionally strong handshake for a woman.

Elsie continued, This is Lloyd Hawley, Miss Emma’s brother, Harold Parker, my husband, and Charles Hayes.

They each shook hands with Matt and Beth as they were introduced.

The preacher sounded rather stiff and formal as he greeted them. We are glad to meet you folks. We are happy to be here and look forward to our association together. Matt thought, From what I’ve seen so far, I’m not so sure about that, but time will tell.

After the introductions and greetings were concluded, the members of the Pastoral Relations Committee gave instructions to Matt and Beth. Elsie Parker had already admonished them to Always use the back door, but they were reminded again.

Matt, Beth, and the members of the committee stood in a large kitchen with high ceilings. The young couple’s eyes were drawn upward by the badly smoke-stained and yellowing wallpaper that had begun to peel away from the walls in the corners. The wall behind the kitchen stove was grimy from years of grease splatters and the room had the scent of old burnt lard. The kitchen cabinet was the full length of one wall of the room and, although it had been freshly painted, it still looked extremely old. The top had a sway in it so bad that it prevented some of the drawers from opening and the badly stained sink showed years of use. The old, worn-out linoleum on the kitchen floor looked to have been there since the house was built.

Matt glanced at Beth and observed a look of disgust on her face.

Then Miss Emma, the robust matronly lady, gave her instructions. She directed her remarks to the preacher’s young wife as they stood in the kitchen. Come here, dear, and let me show you how to use the kitchen stove.

Beth replied, I know how to use a stove.

This one’s a little different. Git over here and let me show you, she commanded. Now pay close attention, she said, as if Beth was some dumb schoolgirl. The door to the oven won’t stay closed. That’s what this chair next to it is for. The chair looked older and more worn-out than the kitchen stove. You shut the door, make sure it’s shut up good and tilt the chair against it and brace it up under the handle, kinda like you would lock a door. The thermostat hasn’t worked in a good many years. Just watch what you’re cooking close and don’t let it burn. Been working real good like this for some time. You’ll git used to it.

The young man could tell that his sweet wife, the mother of his unborn child, was not impressed with either the kitchen stove or the woman giving the instructions. Already this place was looking less idyllic and not so much a paradise as their original impression led them to believe.

It was the preacher’s turn as Harold Parker, one of the men dressed in the cleaner denim overalls, stepped forward and began to speak. Don’t drink the water. It ain’t safe. We think it is fairly good fer bathin’ or warshin’ dishes, but don’t drink it. Git your drinkin’ water and water fer cookin’ next door. There’s a spigot on the back porch and the widow lady, Lena, will be expectin’ you to come over and git water. The water used to be real good ’til they started drillin’ for oil nearby. There was some blastin’ in the oil fields and the water turned bad.

By this time Matt was about as impressed as Beth was. His mind wandered back to the almost brand-new parsonage and the calm peaceful life that they had enjoyed back in North Texas. What had he done?

As the group continued the tour, they moved through the house to the bathroom and the second man, Lloyd Hawley, stepped forward. This fellow was tall and lank and had a strange look about him that Matt could not identify. The room was similar in appearance and condition to the previous one. An old, badly stained clawfoot tub stood against the wall,