Samora family finds Tee Pees perfect place for gathering
By BURLON PARSONS bparsons@journal-spectator.com

Members of the Samora family gather to cook and get ready for their New Year's Eve party held at the Tee Pee Motel. They rented all of the tee pees for the event and set up tents for the overflow of the 50 to 60 family members who travelled from across Texas to be at the event. Staff Photo by Burlon Parsons

When the Samora clan decides to have a family gathering it takes a place with a lot of room.

This year they chose the Tee Pee Motel for their New Year's gathering.

With 50 to 60 people expected they rented all 10 tee pees and set up tents for the overflow.

They chose the site because the nine Samora siblings remembered the Tee Pee Motel symbolized home. They knew they were close when they saw the tee pees.

All nine siblings were reared in Newgulf. Their parents are Nieves and the late Lupe Samora Sr. Their dad worked for Texas Gulf Sulphur for 38 years and then for the Boling Independent School District.

Their mom now lives in Rosenberg and the children are scattered throughout the state and nation.

The family tries to get together as often as they can. They make big deals out of holidays, birthdays and special events.

The younger Samoras were always intrigued by the tee pees. While some of the boys had stayed in them in later life, none of the girls or mom had seen the inside of them.

"Whenever I saw them I wondered what they looked like on the inside," sibling Norma Navarro said. "I really got sad when there was talk of them being torn down or moved. I'm so glad they were saved and renovated."

The tee pees served as a perfect backdrop for the Samoras' New Year's Eve party.

Sibling Diana Rodriguez said her daughter suggested them and she got with Norma about it.

Though it was the middle of the day New Year's Eve, family members were busy cooking different foods ranging from barbecue to fajitas for the evening meal.

Plans included fireworks, eating and dee jay music for dancing. Most expected to stay up most of the night talking about "old times."

Family members were arriving during the day from San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Austin, Pasadena, Bay City, Rosenberg, Van Vleck, Freeport and Nacogdoches.

Only one sister and her family from Florida would not be in attendance.

Excitement was already running high with each new arrival.

Norma, one of the organizers for the event, said she was already thinking about reserving the tee pees for another gathering in the near future.