Justo R. Salas, a lifelong resident of Pawnee, Texas, passed away, Sunday, September 29, 2013 in the Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital Kenedy, Texas at the age of 81 years, 2 months and 10 days. Justo was born, July 9, 1932 in Nell, Texas the son of Vicente Salas and Juanita Rodriguez Salas. On April 15, 1956, Justo married Elida Gonzales in Three Rivers, Texas.

He is survived by his daughter, Carolina Yzaguirre husband Heraclio; his 2 grandchildren, Veronica and Heraclio, Jr.; his brothers, Julian Salas and wife Carmen, Vicente Salas and wife Louisa, Chico Luna and Juan Salas and wife Christina and his sisters, Licha Gonzales and husband Raul and Gloria Contreras and husband Jose. Mr. Salas is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his sons, Juan Carlos and Jose Carlos and his siblings, Eulalio R. Salas, Jesusa S. Cuellar, Ruben R. Salas, Damas Velasquez and Nate Luna.

Visitation will be held, Tuesday, October 1, 2013 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with a rosary to be recited at 7 PM, Tuesday in the chapel. Funeral mass will be celebrated, 10:30 AM, Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Kenedy. Interment will follow in the Nell Cemetery.

Annie Mary Johnson, a former resident of Pawnee, Texas, passed away, Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at 8:45 A.M., in the Hacienda Oaks Nursing Canter in Beeville, Texas at the age of 95 years and 21 days.

Annie was born, September 4, 1918 in Marlin, Texas the daughter of Frank Schroller and Annie Haferkamp Schroller. She graduated from Pawnee High School and later went on to become a teacher for Pawnee. On June 14, 1939, Annie married the love of her life, Charles Edward Johnson in Pawnee, Texas. Charles preceded Annie in death on February 20, 1979.

Annie is survived by her children, Charles Edward Johnson, Jr., and wife Lanna; Norman Ray Johnson and wife Marcella; Gary Johnson and Betty and Mary Ann Kolodziej and husband Wilbert; her sisters, Leona Smith and Janie Metting and her 9 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Ms. Johnson is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Emma Schroller, Mary Page and Willis Mueller; her sisters, Olivia Ellis, Lorene Polozeck and her brother Leo Schroller.

Visitation will begin at 10 AM Saturday, September 28, 2013 in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Kenedy, Texas with funeral services to follow at 11 AM, Saturday. Interment will follow in the Pawnee Cemetery, Pawnee, Texas.

James Allen Donnell, age 56, of Kenedy, Texas, passed away, Tuesday, September 24, 2012, at the Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas at 5:50 P.M. James was born, February 16, 1957 in Kenedy, Texas the son of R.V. Donnell and Frances Waltersdorf Donnell.

James is survived by his beloved wife of 19 years, Brenda Moses Donnell; his father, R.V. Donnell; his daughter, Heather Gomez; his son, Colton Donnell; his sister, Brenda Kotzur and husband Jesse; his brother, Douglas Rose and wife Becky and his grandchildren, Dezhmen, Bella and Payton.

Visitation will be held from 6-8 PM, Friday, September 27, 2013 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy. Funeral services will begin at 3 PM, Saturday, September 28, 2013 in the Eckols Chapel with interment following in the Choate Cemetery, Choate, Texas.

Robert Anthony Hinojosa, a lifelong resident of Kenedy, Texas, passed away in his home, September 22, 2013, at the age of 44 years, 3 months and 17 days. He was born June 5, 1969 in Pasadena, Texas the son of Richard B. Hinojosa and Criscelia Villanueva Hinojosa.

Robert is survived by his mother, Criscelia Villanueva Hinojosa of Kenedy; his daughters, Celeste Marice and Devon Hinojosa of Kenedy; a son, Robert Anthony Hinojosa, II, of San Antonio; his brothers, Roger Hinojosa of San Antonio and Richard Hinojosa of Beeville and 1 grandchild.

Visitation will be held, Tuesday, September 24, 2013 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with a rosary to be recited at 7 PM, Tuesday in the chapel. Funeral mass will be celebrated, 11 AM, Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Kenedy with Rev Norbert Herman officiating. Interment will follow in the Loma Alta Cemetery.

Albert Ernest Schroeder passed to his heavenly home, from the comfort of his earthly home near Fashing/Peggy, on Sunday, September 8, 2013 at the age of 91. He was born on March 14, 1922 in Fashing, Texas, a small town whose name originated from his father.  Albert was a farmer/rancher all of his life.  His father passed away following a farming accident when Albert was 6 years old.  Being the only boy in the family, he left school in the 8th grade to help provide for his Mom and 5 sisters.

On July 15, 1950 Albert married his beloved “Tuttie” (Bernice Irene Esse) and they resided between the Fashing and Esseville communities their entire lives.  Albert loved softball.  He was the pitcher for his brother-in-law Joe Theis’s “Magnolia” softball team. He could throw the ball fast or slow, overhanded or underhanded, often tricking the batter into swinging. Later he taught his daughters to play ball and all 3 were pitchers for the Fashing Polecats!

He was an exceptional farmer, often running test plots for DeKalb  to determine the best performing varieties and highest yielding sorghums.  In 1960, 1961 and 1962 Albert received awards at the National level from DeKalb for high yield sorghums.  In 1967 Albert was awarded “Comeback Farmer of the Year” by the Rotary Club in Atascosa County.   He served on the Board of the Karnes County Farm Bureau 25 years, and for 10 of those years he was the Board President.  In 1986, he served at the state level on the Texas Farm Bureau Blue Ribbon Goals Committee.  The Texas Farm Bureau presented Albert with the Pioneer Award honoring him for his pioneering leadership and exceptional service to Farm Bureau and Agriculture.  In 1990, Albert received an Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Resource Conservation by Atascosa County and in 1991 the Pleasanton Lion’s Club also awarded Albert as a Soil and Water Conservation Farmer.   He served as a director on the Fashing/Peggy Water Supply Corporation for 9 years.

While he loved being a farmer and rancher, his greatest joy came from his devotion to the Lord and to his family.  He served as Lay Leader of the Fashing United Methodist Church for 45 years and worked on numerous Emmaus Walks.  He walked the talk and lived the word “love”.  “I love you” were the most used words in his life.  All who crossed his path were blessed by his kind temperament and positive words. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, “Tuttie” (Bernice). He loved hearing his wife sing, even to his last moments on this earth.  While he was blessed with 3 daughters, he always said that his boys would come later—he loved his son-in-laws as his own. He is survived by his daughter Shirley Jambers and her husband Tim from Whitsett, Sharon Purser and her husband David from Karnes City, Sandra Gibbs and her husband Kip from Corpus Christi. His grandchildren will never forget the many rides “Papa” gave them in the Jeep, the Yellow Bird Grain Truck, and Tractors/Combines.  At a young age they got their hands dirty feeding cubes to the cows.  His surviving grandchildren are: John Jambers and his wife Sarah and great-grandson Jack of Conroe; Sharla Jambers Myers and her husband Travis of Katy; Kendall and Jeremy Purser of Karnes City; Justin and Katrina Gibbs of Corpus Christi.

Albert is preceded in death by his mother and father, Albert H. and Charlotte Rex Schroeder; his sisters Elsie Jonas (Walter), Louise Kellner (Herman), Charlotte “Mutzie” Henke (Felix), Alice Theis (Joe) and Helen Johnson (Kyle).  His brother, Herman K. Schroeder passed away when Albert was an infant. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Albert’s family extends sincere appreciation to every doctor, nurse, CNA and helper that made Albert’s last years so comfortable: Dr. Gutierrez, Annette, Kelly, Anna, Mary, Tammy (Wynette), Melinda, Adriana, Sylvia, Lila, Debra, Leslie, the staff of Nurses In Touch, Serapio and Chaplin Mary Theresa.

Pall Bearers are Albert’s 6 Grandchildren: John Jambers, Sharla Jambers Myers, Kendall Purser, Jeremy Purser, Justin Gibbs and Katrina Gibbs. Honorary Pall Bearers: Shelby Henke, Ronnie Retzloff, Serapio Luna and Ernesto Martinez.

Memorials may be made to the following organizations or to a charity of your choice:

Fashing United Methodist Church  Memorial Fund

7272 FM 99

Campbellton, Texas 78008

Fashing Cemetery Association

Shelby Henke

3030 CR 407

Campbellton, Texas 78008

Providence Place-formerly Methodist Mission Home

6487 Whitby Road

San Antonio, Texas 78240

Methodist Children’s Home

P.O. Box 5010

Waco, Texas 76708

January 5, 1939 was one of the Lord’s best days.  He blessed Annie Selina Givens-Spencer and Dennis Charles Martin with a beautiful baby girl.  They named her Anna Kathryne Martin.  She was so beautiful everyone thought she looked like a baby doll; hence the name BabyDoll.

Her mother made sure all of her children knew the Lord Jesus Christ and BabyDoll was baptized at her family church, Brown Chapel A.M.E., in Kenedy, Texas.  BabyDoll loved Kenedy and lived there her entire life.  Her pride and joy was her children.

She gave birth to four boys, Ruben Michael Martin (Mike), Charleston Foley Martin (Chuck), Denny Charles Martin and Albert Kevin Martin (Kevin).  Although she only gave birth to the four above, she was a mother to all who needed one.  Anthony Owens, Sr. (Tony) was not her son by birth, but by love.

BabyDoll was well known for her cooking skills, especially baking.  She didn’t wait for a holiday to cook huge, festive meals, the only reason she needed to cook was a  “hey BabyDoll I’m hungry, what you got in there?”  The stove and oven would immediately go full blast.

BabyDoll was the epitome of a strong woman.  She raised four strong young men and countless others along the way.  If you needed a place to stay and eat, you could just call on her.

The Lord saw that strength ebbing away and he thought it was a mighty good day to give her that sweet blessed sleep early Sunday morning, September 8, 2013.

Her son Ruben Michael Martin (Nelda) preceded her in death as well as parents and the following brothers and sisters:  Charles, Ernest, Ruben, Joe Louis, Bradley, Myrtle, Callie Mae, Sammie Lee, and Charlotte.

She leaves to mourn her passing three sons, Charleston Foley Martin (Liz), Denny Charles Martin and Albert Kevin Martin (Teresa) and that one niece that just would not go away, Bettye Gaye Clay (Joe).   Two sisters, Christine and Carlette (Elmorris, Sr).  Six grandchildren, Anthony Owens, Jr. (Tony), Anna Maria Martin, Jessica Martin, Brittany Martin, Dominique Martin and Anja Martin and a host of great grandchildren and other family members.

Funeral services will begin at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, September 12, 2013, in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy, Texas. Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Angelica “Kela” Garza, Age 79 of Kenedy, Texas passed away on September 7, 2013 in Kenedy.  Kela was born on June 5, 1934 to the late Jose Garza and Rafaela Villanueva in Kenedy.  She was a loving Mother and homemaker and a faithful member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Angelita Villanueva and brother Thomas Villanueva.

She is survived by her daughters, Patricia Alvarez, Clara Garcia,  Irma  Garza (Tino) ;  sons Edward Garza (Terri), John Earl Garza, Randy and wife Donna Garza of Kenedy, Texas, Connie and wife Rosie of San Marcos, Texas, James Garza of Spring, Texas,  Eleazar “Shorty”  and wife Helen Garza of Karnes City, Texas; sisters Maria and husband Ascencion Carrizales of Beeville, Texas , Irene Garcia of Port Lavaca, Texas, a brother Candido Villanueva, Sr. of California and 29 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren

A Rosary will be recited Monday, September 9, 2013 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy, Texas.  Interment will follow at the Loma Alta Cemetery in Kenedy. Texas.

Pomposa Lopez Rodriguez, a resident of Kenedy, Texas, passed away, Friday, September 6, 2013, at 3:54 A.M., at DeTar Hospital in Victoria, Texas at the age of 87 years, 11 months and 18 days.

Pomposa was born in Kenedy, Texas on September 19, 1925, the daughter of Cecelio Lopez and Dolores “LoLa” Hernandez Lopez. She worked as both a dietary cook for Green’s Nursing Home and then later as a cook for May’s Restaurant. She was of the Catholic faith and attended Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy.

Pomposa is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Pedro Rodriguez, Sr.; her sons, Edward, Paul and Jesse Rodriguez; her sisters, Natalie Garcia, Luciana Lopez, LoLa Sauceda and Petra Morales and her brothers, Tommy, Pablo and Macario Lopez. Ms. Rodriguez is survived by her daughters, Mary DeSalme of San Antonio and Cynthia Valderrama and husband Phillip of Victoria; her sons, Lucio Rodriguez and wife Beatrice P. of Victoria, Pedro Rodriguez of Corpus Christi, Pedro Rodriguez, Jr., and wife Mary Ann of Victoria, Juan Rodriguez of Kenedy and Alejandro Rodriguez and wife Janie of Kenedy and her sister, Frances Skotzko of Chicago. She is also survived by her 105 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and her 5 great-great grandchildren.

Visitation will begin, Sunday, September 8, 2013 and a rosary will be recited Sunday at 7:00 P.M., in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy, Texas. Funeral mass will be celebrated, 10:00 A.M., Monday, September 8, 2013 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy, Texas. Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery,
Kenedy, Texas.

Fred Guerra, III, passed away, Wednesday, September 4, 2013, at the Metropolitan Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 40 years, 11 months and 24 days. Fred was born, September 11, 1972, the son of Fred Guerra, Jr., and Frances Garcia Guerra.

Fred is survived by his parents, Fred Guerra, Jr., and Frances Garcia Guerra of Kenedy; his sister, Lisa Rapstien of Karnes City and one niece.

A rosary will be recited, Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 11:00 A.M., at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy, Texas. Funeral mass will be celebrated, Saturday, at 11:30 A.M., also in the Church with Rev. Norbert Herman officiating. Interment will follow in the De Ntra Sra De Guadalupe Cemetery, Pawnee, Texas.