Rogelio Ramírez

June 24, 1919-October 24, 2011

Rogelio was born in “el rancho Del Oscar” near Pawnee, Texas to Salomé and Josefa Ramírez, a farming family and farmed until retirement. Rogé’s interests and skills were varied, ranging from growing pomegranate trees, vegetables, mammoth sunflowers and geraniums to creating concrete memorial markers, quilting, bird watching and astronomy.   Dad relished watching and feeding birds, cardinals being his favorite and sharing astronomical events with his children and late wife.  Grandpa was an amateur weatherman, a skilled carpenter and log splitter.  Being a man of faith, Papi built a small sanctuary chapel to honor St. Jude. PoPo was a homeschooled farmer-mathematician who adroitly used an abacus to assist his school-age children with their algebra homework.  Tío Rogelio was a member of the Knights of Columbus, cherished his grandkids and was known for his bone-crushing handshakes.

His six children: Ramiro (Eva) Ramírez, Olga (the late Bob) Lynch, Mary (George) Gongora, Zoila (John) Drost, Soraida Ramírez, and Roberto (Emma) Ramírez, nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren,  one great-great granddaughter,  numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, brothers-in-law and host of friends survive and mourn him.

 Mr. Ramírez is preceded in death by his wife, Gregoria, parents, Salomé and Josefa Ramírez, and all of his sisters, Celvia, Baby Hortensia, Hortensia, Celia, Ofelia and Christina and a son-in-law, Robert Lynch.

 For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to:  Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (Pawnee), c/o Sacred Heart Catholic Church, P.O Box 729, Three Rivers, Texas 78071.

 In remembrance of Rogelio, plant some geraniums or view the night skies and enjoy!

Visitation will begin at 5:00 PM on Friday, October 28, 2011 at Eckols Funeral Home in Kenedy, Texas. Rosary will be recited at 7:00 pm that same evening.  Rite of Christian Burial (Mass) will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Pawnee, Texas on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 10:00 AM.  Final Committal follows at Our Lady of Guadalupe Cemetery in Pawnee, Texas.                 .

This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24.

CARLOS R. DIAZ SR.

Winter Haven, FL – Carlos R. Diaz Sr., 68, of Winter Haven, FL, formerly of Kenedy, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011. He was born on Nov. 4, 1942 in Kenedy, to the late Isidoro Diaz and Celvia Ramirez Diaz.
He is survived by his wife, Yolanda Muniz Diaz; daughters, Anna Maria Coronado, Esther Marie Diza, and Dahlia Glass; son, Carlos R. Diaz, Jr.; and sisters, Yolanda Villarreal and Irma Cruz; brothers, Isidro Diaz, Salome Diaz, and Humberto Diaz; 13 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, at Eckols Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Pettus, with Rev. Norbert Hermann officiating. Burial will follow at Pettus Cemetery.

Dan Moody Gaskins, age 84, of Kenedy passed away May 24, 2011. He was born in Berclair, to Emma and John Franklin Gaskins. He married Charline Daubrava Rees in Beeville on April 20, 1972.
Dan went to work for Civil Services in Beeville at Chase Field Naval Base in 1942. In 1944 he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He did his basic training at Camp Wood which is now Fort Hood in Killeen. From Camp Wood he was sent to California for desert training in the Pacific, then to Seattle, Wash., and then to South Korea. He was in South Korea for about a year. Dan was honorably discharged Dec. 2, 1946.
Dan went to work for South Western Bell Telephone Co. in 1947. He started out as a lineman, then to construction foreman, combination man, then as a switchman. He worked in Beeville, Yorktown, Freer, and Kenedy. He retired March 25, 1981 with 34 years of service.
Dan is survived by his wife, Charline; his son, William and his wife Mary Gaskins; daughter, Marilyn Hollman Williams and husband Alton; daughter, Gerrie Gaskins, and son-in-law, Robert Noah; stepsons, Dan Rees and Zane Rees; sisters, Mary Louise Everett and Linda Allen and her husband Mel; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Cynthia Gaskins Noah; son, Danny M. Gaskins; great-grandson, Lance Yanta; sisters, Leona Gregory, Margaret Vickers, and Lois Everett; and brothers, Davis, John, and Archie Gaskins.
Dan was in law enforcement for many years. He was a cowboy at heart. He enjoyed spending time with friends at Barth’s Restaurant, family reunions and “Ole” Cars. He enjoyed hunting and ranching.
A celebration of Dan’s Life will be held Saturday, May 28, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Eckols Chapel in Kenedy.

Erwin John Smolik Sr., age 83, of Kenedy, passed away on May 21, 2011. “Big John”, as he was affectionately known by family, was born on Jan. 11, 1928 in Karnes City to the late William H. and Lucy Mikulenka Smolik. He married Joyce Thigpen on Sept. 30, 1948 in Karnes City. He owned and operated Smolik’s meat market in Kenedy and was a member of St. Cornelius Catholic Church in Karnes City.
He is survived by his lovely wife of 62 ½ years, Joyce Thigpen Smolik of Kenedy; daughters, Jan and husband Nicholas Millington of Karnes City, and Jamie and husband Jory McPhail of Dallas; sons, Dr. John Smolik Jr. of Austin, Jerry and wife Pat Smolik of Rockport, Jim and wife Debbie Smolik of Austin, and Jeff Smolik of Kenedy; sister; Agatha Winters of Boerne; brother, George Smolik of Karnes City; grandchildren: John Ross Smolik, Dr. Kristen Smolik, Kara Smolik, Dr. Jeremy and wife Annalese Smolik, Jake Smolik, Chelsea and husband Mitch Herr, Kelly and husband Mark Contreras, Erica and husband Andrew Wilson, Brittany Smolik, Tiffany Smolik, Dr. Ryan and wife Riana Millington, Patrick Millington, Caitlyn Millington, Taylor Millington, Josh Smolik, Lindsey Smolik, Corey Smolik, Lauren McPhail, and Alyssa McPhail; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by both parents and one brother, Bill Smolik.
A rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, with funeral Mass following at 11 a.m., at St. Cornelius Catholic Church in Karnes City. Interment will follow at the Kenedy Cemetery in Kenedy.
Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons: John Ross Smolik, Dr. Jeremy Smolik, Jake Smolik, Dr. Ryan Millington, Patrick Millington, Taylor Millington, Josh Smolik and Corey Smolik.
Memorial contributions may be made at the donor’s discretion to the charity of choice.

Eugenio G. Gonzales Jr. was born on Feb. 22, 1924, in Choate and passed away on June 4, 2011, at the age of 87 years old. He was born to Eugenio Gonzales and Aurelia Garcia. He was the owner and operator of E.G. Gonzales Trucking Company and the owner of Mr. G’s convenient store in Kenedy.
   He was preceded in death by a son, Robert Gonzales; a daughter, Olga Herrera; and a granddaughter, Eunice Gonzales.
   He is survived by his children, Eugene Gonzales of Kenedy, Sylvia (Dan) Colin of Montgomery, Roy (Mary Helen) Gonzales of Victoria, Roland (Irene) Gonzales of Corpus Christi; his sister, Dora (Eliseo) Salinas of Corpus Christi; and a son-in-law, Raymond Herrera of San Antonio; 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
Eugenio served with the Army 102nd Evacuation Hospital during World War II and was awarded the EAME Campaign Medal with five Bronze Stars, World War II Victory Medal, American Theater Campaign Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.
   Visitation will be on Monday, June 6, 2011, from 3-9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. that evening at Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday morning, June 7, 2011, at 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy. Interment will follow at Loma Alta Cemetery.
   Serving as pallbearers will be Geno Gonzales, Woody Gonzales, Michael Herrera, Bobby Gonzales, Raymond Herrera, and Dan Colin.

Elmo C. Martin Jr., age 88, of Kenedy, passed away on June 4, 2011 in Karnes City. Elmo was born on Sept. 8, 1922 to the late Elmo C. Martin Sr. and Henrietta Batey Martin in Leesville. He was a rancher and worked for the Texas Animal Health Commission for 20 years as a cattle inspector and served in the Army from 1942 to 1946. Elmo and Peggy never had children but were both very fond of kids. Elmo liked small children and taught quite a few how to ride and rope. Elmo and his wife helped raise some girls. He was a kind and gentle man and never met a stranger. Elmo was also an avid hunter. He was a great uncle and will be missed dearly. His legend will live on.
   He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmo C. and Henrietta Batey Martin Sr., and one sister, Ioleene Ahrens
   Elmo is survived by his wife, Peggy Nusom Martin of Kenedy; sister, Jewel and husband Walter Busby of Kenedy; nieces and nephews, Joy Nusom LeLeux , Roy Ahrens, Dan Ahrens, Sue Washam Johnson, Lydia Washam Johnson, and Jeff Clark.
   A visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Eric Travieso officiating. Interment will follow at the Leesville Cemetery in Leesville.
   Serving as pallbearers will be Jeff Clark, Dan Ahrens , Roy Ahrens, Mike Ramirez, James Garrison, and Sonny Batey.
   Honorary pallbearers will be W.E. Butler, James Blackburn, and Jim Bailey.

Jose G. “PePe” Reyna Jr., 71, of Bryan, formerly of Kenedy, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011. He was born July 31, 1940 in Colby, Wyo. to the late Emilia (Garcia) and Jose Reyna Sr. He was a retired truck driver and a Catholic.
   He is survived by his son, Joe E. Reyna of Victoria; and sisters, Rosita Barrera of Karnes City and Nora Del Bosque of Corpus Christi.
   He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Beatrice (Martinez) Reyna; and brothers, Rufino Reyna and Ricardo Reyna.
   A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. tonight at Eckols Chapel in Kenedy. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, the Rev. Herman Norbert officiating. Interment will follow at Loma Alta Cemetery in Kenedy.

Grace M. Terry, 92, of Kenedy, passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2011. She was born Sept. 23, 1918, in Kenedy, to the late Fletcher Moses and Holly Tidwell Moses. She was a beautician and a member of First Baptist Church of Kenedy.
She is survived by her daughters-in-law, Sherry Shaw of Goldwaithe and Janie Shaw of Tuleta; brothers, Homer Moses of Goliad; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her sons, Jesse Shaw Jr. and Bobby C. Shaw Sr.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2011, at Kenedy Cemetery, the Rev. John Wheat officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to South Texas Children’s Home.

Walter C. Busby, age 89, of Kenedy, died July 15, 2011. Walter was born July 26, 1921, in Mercedes, to Wylie and Lena Mae Braun Busby. He graduated from Kenedy High School in 1939 and earned a degree in agriculture science from Texas A&I University in Kingsville. He taught vocational agriculture in Kenedy and La Vernia school districts during a career that spanned four decades and three generations of agriculture students. He married Jewel Claire Martin Washam on June 17, 1978.
Active in the Soil Conservation Service and the Karnes County Retired Teachers Association, Walter was a craftsman who enjoyed making all sorts of things, big and small, in his backyard shop. He also loved country music (he was an accomplished fiddle player in his younger days), telling stories, working cattle, riding horses, and practically everything involving this outdoors.
Survivors: son, Kevin and wife Nora Busby; stepdaughters, Sue Washam Johnson and husband Robert, Lydia Washam-Morgan and husband Paul; one grandson, Kevin Hardy Ewick; four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Ewick.
Visitation will be Sunday, July 17, from 6-7 p.m. at the Eckols Chapel. Funeral services will be Monday, July 18, at 10 a.m., in the Eckols Chapel. Interment will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, in the Concrete Cemetery in La Vernia.
Pallbearers will be Larry Kiesling, Virgil Poole, Dan Ahrens, Robert Krawietz, James Griffin, and Larry Dement.
Honorary pallbearers will be “Pee Wee” Boltin, Bob Copeland, James Johnson, and Harvey Kahlden.

Judy Donnell Hedtke, age 69, of Karnes City, died Saturday, July 30, 2011. Judy was born in Kenedy Dec. 23, 1941 to Tom and Beulah Sanders Donnell Jr.
Judy was an LVN nurse in Kenedy for many years. She loved nursing and especially loved her patients.
She is survived by her husband, Allen Hedtke; sister, Ellen and her husband Willie Audilet; and brothers, Charles and wife Eunice Donnell, R.V. Donnell, Gene and wife Donna Donnell, and Tommy Kenneth Donnell.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Vickie Lynn Hedtke; and sister, Fay Rathmell.
Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011, at the Eckols Chapel. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011, in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the New Bremen Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Wade Hedtke, Scottie Audilet, Randy Mills, Shane Grayson, Terry Seeger, and Jerry Seeger.
Honorary pallbearers are Garrett Hedtke, Ethan Chesser, Rodney Chesser, William Chesser, and Russell Chesser.