Page 66 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2018- Online Magazine
P. 66
HONORING SENIORS
Datin’
the Preacher’s
Daughter
BY PATTI CHRIESTENSON
t takes spunk to date the new girl The Campbells did move to
in town - especially when she’s Shallowater in the spring of
Ithe preacher’s daughter! Two boys 1953. Pat was active in her
came to her front porch and flipped new high school. She was in
a coin to see who would invite her to journalism and sports – both
the South Plains Fair. A 16-year-old tennis and basketball - and 1,300 people and had to use a canoe
sophomore named Jay Stanton won still holds the school’s record for most oar to stir the pot! (Yes, it worked,
the coin toss. He asked Pat Campbell points scored by a girl in one game – and yes, it was clean!) He is a terrific
to join their friends at the fair, and 46! Jay was in basketball and tennis, writer and uses his creativity to
the relationship blossomed. They too, as well as FFA. (One of his lambs encourage people. He likes to bless
enjoyed getting to know each other even won Lubbock County Grand people with poems, quotes, songs and
on dates to Lubbock drive-ins, with Champion.) stories, often anonymously, but he
car hops serving up cherry limes and really enjoys seeing the expression on
cherry Dr. Peppers. As a teenager, Pat was surprised people’s faces when he surprises them
that her parents let her go on a with a gift.
But the romance really started with a three-week car trip with Jay and his
dream experienced by Pat’s mother, family to British Columbia. This Pat Stanton experienced a dramatic
Sue Campbell. Her husband, Rev. J.T. cross-country excursion became a change in 1970. She had three
Campbell, was pastoring First Baptist part of their divine destiny. During young children, but she struggled
Church in Roby, Texas. One Saturday a second significant trip in high daily with hypoglycemia (low blood
night, Sue dreamed that a pulpit school, their senior trip to Miami, Jay sugar). It was causing blurred vision,
committee came from a place called surprised Pat with a proposal and an headaches, and weakness. She found
Shallowater to hear Rev. Campbell engagement ring. They were married herself asking if this was how it
preach. by Pat’s father on June 30, 1956 at the was going to be the rest of her life.
Shallowater FBC, and settled down in
The next day, a pulpit committee did the community.
show up. They asked Rev. Campbell
if he would come and preach in Jay was a hard-working, second
Shallowater, in “view of a call”. He generation farmer. Before the births
said he would pray about it, but of their three daughters, Pat loved to
Mrs. Campbell started packing! Pat’s walk through the irrigation ditches
parents had to look on a map to find out to the fields to take him lunch
Shallowater, likely thinking, “Where and cold water. They loved doing life
is it, and why is the water shallow?” together - the farming, the friends,
even hunting - and made a lifetime
of great memories raising their three
girls. They were blessed to savor
55 years of beautiful sunrises and
sunsets on the wide-open plains,
before moving to Lubbock in 2011.
Jay was good at raising cattle, cotton,
wheat, milo, corn and onions, but
he also could have easily opened his
own restaurant. Homemade chili is
his specialty. He once prepared it for
66 Lubbock Senior Link