Friends, family and colleagues are mourning the passing of a Montgomery County man reputed to know more about local history than anyone else.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today for Conroe Independent School District educator and countywide historian William Harley Gandy at Cashner Funeral Home. He passed away Saturday at age 84.
“He was a gentle, knowledgeable and helpful man,” said Gertie Spencer, member of the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County board and former executive director and curator of the facility. “He had a passion for history and was stickler for accuracy.”
Born and raised in Cut and Shoot, Gandy served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before earning a degree in history at the University of Houston. He earned his master’s degree with a thesis on the history of Montgomery County in 1952 – a document still available to students, educators and historians at the Montgomery County Library.
“Harley was involved in a wide range of historical and genealogical projects throughout the county,” Spencer said. “He was someone you could rely on for accuracy and documentation in everything he did.”
Gandy began his professional career as a history teacher at Conroe High School in 1951. A year later, he transferred to Travis Junior High where he met Martha Adams, his wife of 57 years. He was a professional educator in the local community for 35 years.
“Harley was an adviser to numerous historical groups,” Spencer said. “He helped quite a few groups that were seeking to secure historical site status from the state.”
Gandy helped in the development of local museums, historical societies and state historical associations. He also assisted in the development of Texas State Historical markers located on highways and roadways throughout Texas.
He was scheduled to lead an oral history event at HMMC earlier this month, Spencer said, but it was rescheduled to a later date.
“It’s a real loss to the community,” Spencer said. “Harley was an authority on the history of this region and a true gentleman. He’ll be missed.”
Brad Meyer can be reached at bmeyer@hcnonline.com.
