Pioneer Cemetery, located on the corner of Elgin Avenue and NE First Street, is Dawson County’s first community resting place. The cemetery came into being when Virginia Eudora Pate mentioned the town’s need of a burial site to friends during a “Sewing Bee.” Though she was only 40 years old and in good health, Virginia was the first resident buried there in November 1904, according to “Dawson County History: The Tableland.” Virginia and her husband, William Griffn Pate, were also new residents to Lamesa. They moved to town from Brown County earlier that same year. William is not listed among those interred in ...