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rustic birdhouses add to the store’ s appeal. If it’ s not part of the store, it’ s probably for sale.
After Coffer experienced a health issue, McGowen said he was ready to let go of the store. She visited with her friends Reba Beck and Lynnel Boyles, and also vendors.
“ I said, let’ s try to keep it going. So they all chipped in and helped and we kept it going,” she said.
Not long after, Coffer offered to sell her the store and keep the building to rent to her.
She also mentions Rhonda Miller, who had a booth for years, and was the original owner of Rustic Attitudes, which is now Buzzard’ s Nest that Diane Gann started. Now, Miller has her own store across the street at the corner of U. S. Highway 81 and Main Street, Studio 81, and there’ s also Cowtown Corner, and the flea market.
McGowen says once all of their children became adults and the grandkids came along, that became a priority, too.
“ But it worked out really good. Bob has kept a booth here and when he can, he works. I’ ve got a lot of good vendors. And honestly, I could not do it without Reba and Lynnel’ s help,” she said.
She credits her family, daughters Jennifer and Jamie and their families.
“ I have grown adult kids and sons-in-law. I also have five granddaughters and so they’ ve all stepped up big time.”
She brags on the Comanche Chamber of Commerce for the advancements of the community.
“ We have such a good little community. It’ s just growing by leaps and bounds, so I’ m excited. I
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didn’ t think I would live long enough to see new sidewalks, and you know, these old buildings getting new businesses put in.”
She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chamber a few years ago. And last year, she and husband Gary were designated the Parade Marshals for the annual Christmas parade.
“ I know it’ s work, but some days it does feel like I’ m just the luckiest person in the world,” she said.“ Especially because Bob got it all set up and we just followed his plan.”
And vintage trends may seem like a thing to younger generations, but for McGowen and all the booth proprietors, it’ s always been“ in.”
“ Just the fact that wood furniture, solid wood, is so much better. It’ s built so much better than the newer stuff today. I think that’ s one of the reasons these people come in and want solid wood furniture and things that aren’ t made in China,” she said.“ Another thing that sells is anything that is homemade, like the needlework or oil paintings. Anything handcrafted.”
HOW MUD CREEK CREATIONS
GOT ITS NAME
Bob Coffer, original owner, was raised on Mud Creek, east of Comanche. He created the sign that hangs over the counter, which he also built.
“ The old car door came from his father’ s car that was in the creek. Bob dug it out so I could paint a Mud Creek Creation sign on it,” McGowen said.“ That’ s where the name Mud Creek Creations originated.”
That door is red now, but at one point, it was a rustic rusty white version.
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