Gilberto S. “Gilbert” Garza, 72, of Richmond, TX, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2012 at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX.

Born March 9, 1939, in Bishop, TX, he was the son of the late Felipe Flores Garza and Elvira Sainz Garza.  He worked on the family farm and family businesses in Kenedy, TX.  On November 3, 1962 he married Ofilia Garces of Runge, TX.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1963.  While in the service, he completed his high school education.  He was in active Reserves until 1967.  He worked as a Meat Cutter in Houston from 1966 to 1981.  He opened a market & grocery store, with his wife, brother and sister-in-law in Kenedy, TX from 1981 to 1985.  He opened a market & grocery store with his wife in Victoria TX from 1985 to 1988.  He worked grocery in Houston from 1988 until he retired in 2001.

Gilbert is survived by his wife, Ofilia; two daughters, Carolyn Kramer and husband Steven of Richmond, TX, Sandra Lundquist and husband Carl of Kenedy, TX; one son, Gilbert Garza Jr. and wife Misty of Sugar Land, TX; seven grandchildren, Anastacia Lundquist, Alyssa Lundquist, Alejandro Compian, Lee Kramer, Aileen Lundquist, Caleb Garza and Luke Garza; one great-granddaughter, Zoe Ramirez; one sister, Alicia Corbin and husband John of Victoria, TX; four brothers, Felipe Garza Jr. and wife Rosalinda of Stafford, TX, Henry Garza and wife Sylvia of Stafford, TX, Ignacio Garza of Kenedy, TX, George Garza and wife Patricia of Stafford, TX; one sister-in-law, Reyitas Guerra and husband Bonifacio of Sinton, TX; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Lupita, and two twin daughters, Elvira and Eloisa.

Beyond his health struggles late in life, Gilbert was a loving husband, father and grandfather. We will greatly miss him.

A Rosary was recited on Monday, February 27, 2012 at 7:00 PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Kenedy, TX with the Rev. Herman Norbert officiating.  Interment followed in the Loma Alta Cemetery with Military Honors.

Serving as Pallbearers were his Nephews- Jesse “Sonny” Ramirez Jr., Felipe S. Garza, III, Henry Garza Jr., Luis Garza, Alberto Garza, and Travis Garza.

Veretta Catherine “Cathy” Corderre, a longtime resident of Kenedy, Texas passed away at her home, Monday, February 13, 2012, at 6:45 P.M., at the age of 58 years, 1 month and 11 days.

Cathy was born on January 2, 1954 on the Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia to Douglas Joseph Queen, Sr., and Cherry Cleleitolia Johnson Queen. Her father was in the military so Cathy and her family moved from time to time, during this time Cathy attended many different schools.

In 2002, Cathy and her husband Rick Rutledge moved to Kenedy, they were active members at The Word Fellowship Church.

Cathy is survived by her husband, Rick Rutledge; her children, Teena Gorecki of Vista, California, Michael F. Gorecki, Jr., of Escondido, California and Timothy A. Gabel, Jr., and wife Roxanne of Williamsburg, Virginia; her grandchildren, Andreena Tana Young, Tavis Tomas Stewart, Luke Owen Gorecki, Dana Lynne Gorecki, Tag Gabel, III and Lakin Gabel; her sisters, Eva Diane Sleight and husband Mike, Sharon Elizabeth Cohn and husband Brad Dorcee and Saundra Lee Schultz and husband Johnny; and her brother-in-laws, William Miles and Marty Ruiz.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Joy Lynn Ruiz; and her brother, Douglas Joseph Queen, Jr.

Visiation was held Saturday, February 18, 2012 beginning at 11:00 A.M., in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Services were held at 12:00 Noon, Saturday in the Eckols Chapel with Rev. Walter Hill, III, officiating.

E.C. “Chunky” Payne, Choate, Texas passed away Saturday, February 11, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 93 years.

Chunky was born April 15, 1918, in Choate to Wiley Payne and Nancy Ellen Yeater Payne.

Chunky proudly served his country in the United States Navy and was a Veteran in WWII. After a career in the Navy, he went on to CP&L where he retired from after thirty-five years as a service man. Chunky was an active member of the Choate Baptist Church.  In is free time he also enjoyed and loved playing baseball and softball.

Chunky married Lottie Moses Payne. Together the two of them raised a beautiful family. They had two daughters and two sons.

He is survived by his wife, Lottie Moses Payne; his two daughters, Mary Lee Taylor of Santa Fe and Jackie Rutledge of Choate; his son, Wiley Payne and wife Debbie of Portland; his eleven grandchildren; thirty-two great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Robert Elvin Payne; his brothers, Alvin, Delbert, Ollie, and Albert Payne; and his sister, Lucy Mary Wagner.

Visitation was held 4:00 – 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy, Texas. Funeral Services began at, 10 A.M., Monday, February 13, 2012 in the Eckols Chapel, with Rev. Larry Odom officiating. Burial followed in the Choate Cemetery, with Philip Bush, Tommy Jimerson, Ty Moses, Ty Moses, II, Amos Moses and Matt Seitzer; serving as Pallbearers.

Rodolfo A. “Fito” Saenz, Sr., passed away, Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 3:50 P.M., at the age of 86.

Rodolfo was born in El Oso, Texas, on October 18, 1925 to Jose Angel Saenz and Dolores Trevino Saenz. He was a lifelong resident of Kenedy; growing up he attended school in Kenedy and later meet his wife, Elisa Carvajal Saenz. After 58 years of marriage, Elisa preceded him in death on April 28, 2008.

Rodolfo and his wife, Elisa began their life in Kenedy and started a family. The two of them had two children; Rodolfo “Rudy” Jr., and Suzanne. Rodolfo later went on to own and operate his company, Saenz Service Station.

Rodolfo is survived by his children, Suzanne A. Nuñez and husband Joe of Kenedy and Rudy Saenz and wife Dora of Kenedy; his beloved grandchildren, Kartney Lynn Nuñez Bylar, Ariel Eileen Nuñez and Justin R. Saenz; his great-granddaughter, Alexandria Bylar; and his sister, Alicia Garza.

Rodolfo is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elisa Carvajal Saenz; his sisters, Maria Escobedo, Otila Martinez and Elia Vasquez; and his brother Ray Saenz.

Visitation began, Friday, February 10, 2012, in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel; a rosary was recited at 7:00 P.M., Friday in the Chapel. Funeral Mass was celebrated, Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 1:00 P.M., at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, with Father Norbert Hermann officiating. Interment followed in the Loma Alta Cemetery.

Serving as Pallbearers were, Rudy Rodriguez, Jimmy Loya, Danny Salais, Javier Villarreal, David Zambrano and Albert Losoya.

James David “JD” Ferron, of Kenedy, passed away Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at the age of 1 year, 10 months, and 2 days.

He was born April 1, 2010, in Austin, TX to David Ferron and Erin Kristin Kroemer Ferron of Kenedy. He was a Christian.

He is survived by his parents; his paternal grandparents, Bailey Scott and Lisa Lynn Atkinson, and David Jr. and Sarah Ferron; maternal grandmother, Mary Regina Kroemer; and sister, Madeline Sadie Ferron. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Karl Kroemer III.

Memorial Services were held at 5:00 P.M., on Friday, February 10, 2012 at the First Baptist Church, with Rev. John Wheat officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Nurses In Touch or Donor’s Choice.

Grace Marian Griffith Franklin passed away, Tuesday, January 31, 2012, at 1:15 P.M., in Amarillo, Texas, at the age of 86 years, 10 months and 6 days.

Grace was affectionately called “Gracie” by all that knew her and “Gigi” by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren she loved so much.

Gracie was born March 25, 1925 in Lubbock, Texas the daughter of, Harold Hinman Griffith and Grace Marian Andrews Griffith. Since her dad was Military – she bounced around a lot, but grew up mainly in Lubbock, Amarillo and Kenedy, Texas, living with relatives and friends of the family.  She attended high school in Lubbock and Kenedy, Texas.  After graduating high school, Gracie went off to attend Amarillo Junior College, TWU and in 1966 graduated from Southwest Texas State.

While in high School she met her husband to be, and on October 26, 1944, she married Ruhman C. Franklin. From this union, Ruhman and Gracie had 4 children; Richard, John “Don”, D’Anne and David.

Gracie and her family lived in Kenedy for most of their life.  Gracie was a school teacher and loved her classroom children very much. She retired from teaching after 24 years of service – building our community through educating our children.  During her career she also made time to be a mother to three, grandmother of four and be the Mayor’s wife.

She belonged to Delta Kappa Gamma and the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs for many years serving as the Alamo District Club President for one term and was chosen as Outstanding Club Woman.  She was an annual UIL Sponsor and International Hostess.

Gracie was a member of the First Methodist Church in Kenedy, where she was very active helping with the MYF and served as the Junior Choir Director for many years.  She later joined the First Baptist Church in Kenedy in 2003, where she belonged until she moved in 2004.  Gracie moved to Amarillo to an assisted living facility near her older son Richard.  While in Amarillo, Gracie was president of the Red Hat Society, taught Sunday School, was active in crafts and managed the gift shop. She also organized and operated the library.

Gracie is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 53 years, Ruhman C. Franklin; her son David Michael Franklin and her foster brother, John V. Spikes, Jr.

Gracie leaves behind her children; Dr. Richard H. and Tonja Franklin of Amarillo, Don and Becky Franklin of Katy and D’Anne and John Conrad of League City. Gigi’s Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren; Carla Anne and husband Javier Pruneda and their daughter Melania Grace Pruneda, Michael Bates and his wife Carol Franklin and their children Mollie Elizabeth and Braden Bates Franklin, Bryan Carl Houck and his children Kaylee Nicole and Kameron Ruhman Houck and John D. Jr.  “John” and his wife Sarah Franklin.

Other surviving cousins and relatives include: Jeanne and Eddie Ruhmann, Russ, Yvonne, Zachary and Trent Ruhmann, Donna and Morris Atkins, Karen and Bill Daugherty, Frank and Cathy Griffith, Lynne, Don, Dixie and Bill Wallace,Tommy and Mollie Wyrick,Don and Wanda Bengochea, George Griffith, Sonny Griffith, and Harold and Vera Griffith.

Visitation was held, Saturday, February 4, 2012, from 1:00 – 3:00 P.M., with Funeral Services following at 3:00 P.M., in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy, Texas, with Richard Robinson officiating. Interment followed in the Kenedy Cemetery. Serving as Pallbearers were, Michael Franklin, John Franklin, Bryan Houck, Javier Pruneda, Russ Ruhmann and Zachary Ruhmann. Serving as an Honorary Pallbearer was, Trent Ruhmann.

In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123; or to the charity of your choice.