Jewel Norene Davidson was born August 15, 1927, in Choate, Karnes County, Texas to Richard Howard Hunt and Iva Agnes Loftin Hunt.  She was the youngest of ten children and upon birth was given the nickname “Peaches” by her father who said, “she was fuzzy as a peach.” She was preceded in death by her father and mother, an infant son, a brother Seth Hunt, and seven sisters Lucille Brown, Leora Carpenter, Edith Sawey, Mable Black, Ada Brown, Gussye Howell, and Marie Hogan and their husbands, as well as daughter Marsha Davidson Holt and identical twin grandsons, children of Marsha Holt.  Peaches married John H. Davidson, Jr. On July 15, 1945 in Choate, Texas.  She is survived by her husband John, a daughter Laura Marie (Penny) Davidson Craig, her husband Dr. William H. Craig, a grandson John William Craig, two great grandsons, and one great granddaughter.

She became a member of the Choate Baptist Church at the age of 12 and in 1950 moved her membership to the Pawnee Baptist Church.  After moving back to Pawnee from Beeville in 1980 she worked at seeing that the Pawnee Baptist Church had a face lift.  She helped design and construct two large stained glass windows for the front of the sanctuary which were her pride and joy.  She taught the young peoples’ Sunday School class for several years and then taught the Adult Sunday School class for almost 20 years while serving as the church treasurer at the same time.  She later became a member of the Pawnee Methodist Church.  She was a retired legal secretary having worked for John C. Beasley at the law firm of Beasley & Beasley in Beeville for more than 20 years.  She and her husband lived in the Pawnee Community for more than 60 years.  She had a full and happy life.

Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Eckols Chapel.  Funeral Services will be held Monday May 26^th. At 11:00 AM from the Eckols Chapel.  Interment will be in the Pawnee Cemetery.

Majin V. Villanueva, Jr. was born on June 25, 1931 in Goliad County to his parents Majin, Sr. and Maria and passed to his eternal rest on May 18, 2014 at the age of 82. He was proceeded in death by his parents, Eva, his wife of 62 years, brothers Joe and Eugenio, and sisters Eusebia, Soila and Juanita. He is survived by his sister Mary and his eight children Martina (Ruben) Garcia, Mary Jane (David) Lerma, Majin III, Mario (Yolanda), John David (Elizabeth), Edward (Brenda), Mary Christi (Alex) Martinez, and Adam Joseph (Michelle), 15 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Majin was a loving, caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. His kind spirit, generosity, and loyalty will be dearly missed by those whose lives he touched.  As a resident of Kenedy for most of his life, he devoted himself to his family and community.  Majin was an extremely hard worker for many years at Hubbard’s Grocery Store and later as an insurance agent for the American National Insurance Company. Insurance sales proved to be his calling in life. He was extremely successful as an agent, staff manager and as a district manager with the company. His dedication to his profession brought him great success in the way of awards and promotions into management positions. It also gave him and his wife the opportunity to travel the world to attend conventions sponsored by the company as a reward for a job well done.  Majin was a devout Catholic and a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church and participated in the Spanish Choir for the church. He belonged to several organizations of the community of Kenedy and served several years on the Board of Trustees of Kenedy ISD.

Majin encouraged his loved ones, from the oldest to the youngest, to excel and follow their dreams. Together he and his wife raised a successful family, all who have shown the same belief as his – that you can achieve whatever you put your mind and body to. Each of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren held a special place in his heart. There was nothing more that could bring a huge smile and a twinkle to his eye than to have his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren around him.

He was an honest man and never hesitated to express his opinion. He stood strongly by his convictions, always in a respectful, dignified manner. He faced life head on and never let anything discourage him. He fought through serious illness, the illness and death of loved ones and other circumstances that would have made others despair and give up. To the very end he was strong and talked, not about the misfortune of being ill, but about the opportunity to see his beloved wife again. With his children beside him in the last days of his life he knew that they loved him and that they strongly cared about him. He passed peacefully from their loving arms to the arms of his Lord, Jesus Christ.

Visitation was held from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Wednesday, May 21 at Eckols Funeral Home in Kenedy.  The rosary was recited at 7:00 PM. that evening.  A Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10:00 AM. Thursday, May 22, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.  Interment followed at the Kenedy Cemetery. Serving as pall bearers were his five sons Majin III, Mario, John David, Edward and Adam Joseph, his grandsons Alex Martinez, Jr. and Edward Lee Villanueva and son-in-law Ruben Garcia.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Kidney Foundation.

Earvin Hume Snell Jr. was born to the union of Earvin Hume Snell Sr. and Annie Houston on June 26, 1961 in Ballinger Texas. He professed a belief in Christ at an early age. He attended Ballinger ISD. He furthered his education by attending Career Point Institute. Earvin served proudly in the US Army and received an honorable discharge.  He entered into a union of marriage with Linda Lopez which were born two daughters. He served the Kenedy Police Dept. as an officer and chief of police. Then he proudly joined the Karnes City Police dept. before joining the Karnes County Sheriff’s Dept.

He is survived by his mother Annie Snell, daughters Brigette Snell, Halle Snell, son Jermaine Clark, Step daughter Megan Harrison (Jason spouse), and stepson Robert Torres. Sister-Katherine Snell Robertson (Anthony Robertson spouse), Shawnae Snell (Niece), Dhawnae Snell (nephew),  Charlie Loud IV (nephew)(Brittnay spouse),  Akheel Cochran (nephew), Jaleel Cochran (nephew), Tramaneece Robertson (Niece), Brother-Michael Snell Sr., Michael Snell Jr. (nephew), Phillip Snell (nephew), Aleesha Snell (Niece).  Brother-Charles Snell, Caleb Snell (nephew). And Aunties, Uncles and cousins, friends and family who loved him dearly.

               A visitation was held Thursday, May 22, 2014 from 6P.M. to 8P.M. in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral Services were held Friday, May 23, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Burial was in the Menard Cemetery in Menard, TX on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 2:00 P.M.

Mrs. Lena G. Cano age 85 of Kenedy, TX passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at John Paul II Nursing Home.  She was born on March 14, 1929 in Kenedy, TX to the late Exiquio and Elissa Cantu Garza.  She was a housewife and member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church.

She is survived by her daughters Elma (Juan) Cantu, Nancy (Gerald) Mooney, Dora (Rudy) Saenz, Sons Roy (Lula) Cano, Joe (Hilaria) Cano Jr. , brother Leo Garza and  numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She is preceded in death by her parents Exiquio & Elissa Cantu Garza, husband Jose Cano, Sr., daughter Eva Casarez, Nora Rodriguez, and son Romeo Cano.

Rosary will be held Monday May 5, 2014 at 7 PM at the Eckols Chapel, Mass will be Tuesday at 10 AM at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church.   Interment will be in the Kenedy Cemetery

Myrtle Dean Freeman Booe, 89, passed away on May 13, 2014 at Blossom Care Assisted Living in Leon Springs, Texas.  She was born on January 21, 1925 in Galveston, Texas to Allan Brown Freeman and Myrtle Harris Freeman.

Myrtle grew up in Galveston, and after graduating form Ball High School at the age of 16, she enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin where she ultimately received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy. Myrtle lived the majority of her adult life (64 years) in Kenedy, Texas where she worked as a Pharmacist in Kenedy and the surrounding communities until age 75.

Myrtle married Everett L. Booe Jr. (Buddy) in 1943 in Galveston, Texas.  They were happily married for 58 years until Buddy died in 2001.

Myrtle was a member of Good Shepard Evangelical Lutheran Church. Her activity with the church brought Myrtle great joy.  In her latter years, she enjoyed working at the Thrift Center.  Most of all she loved being with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Myrtle was proceeded in death by Myrtle Harris Freeman, Allan Brown Freeman, and Everett L. Booe Jr.

Myrtle is survived by her sister Claudette Pfennig High, by her daughter and sons Barbara Ann Manley (Charles R. Manley III), Everett L. Booe III (Janet Booe), and Allan F. Booe (Diane R. Booe), by grandchildren Barbara A. Haney (Daren Haney), Jonathan E. Booe, Taylor W. Booe (Tyra Booe), Charles R. Manley IV, Denise Booe Williams (Justin R. Williams), and Philip F. Booe, and by great grandchildren Kendell Haney, Brent Haney, Saxon Haney, Elizabeth Haney, Tosher Haney, Raylen Booe, and Ryder Booe.

A visitation will be held at Eckols Funeral in Kenedy, Texas on May 15, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  A funeral service will be held at Good Shepard Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenedy, Texas on May 16, 2014 beginning at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org/donate)

Katherine Gibbs Barnes Age 43 of Floresville, TX passed away on May 8, 2014 in Floresville, TX.  She was born on August 2, 1970 in Floresville, TX to Homer and Sue Gibbs.  She was a dental hygienist and a member of the Cowboy Fellowship Church in Pleasanton, TX. 

Katherine is survived by husband Michael Wayne Barnes, Sr. of Kenedy, TX , her parents Homer and Sue Gibbs of Floresville, TX , daughter Hannah Jansky and son  Hunter Jansky of Poth , TX, step-daughters Cyresia Soto of Kenedy, TX, Andrea Rodriquez of Converse, TX, Stephanie DeLosSantos of Karnes City, TX, Step-son Michael Wayne Barnes, Jr. of Kenedy, TX , brothers Lee and  Doyle Gibbs of Poth, TX and Aunt Ruby of  Floresville, TX.

Memorial Services will be held Friday, May 16, 2014 at 5:00 PM in the Eckols Funeral Home, Chapel with the Rev. Scotty Smith officiating.

Dr. Johnye Cannon Sturcken passed away at Providence St. Peter Hospital, Olympia, Washington, on Thursday, April 24, 2014, at the age of 90 after a struggle with congestive heart failure. She was born on December 7, 1923, in Kenedy, Texas, to John Bunton Cannon and Lola Reasoner Cannon. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Clem Reasoner Cannon, her sister, Jeanne Cannon Leslie, and her niece, Jerrye Cannon Arnold.

            Johnye was a graduate of Kenedy High School. In 1944, while attending Baylor University, she married Edward Butler Sturcken, of Kenedy, who predeceased her. She graduated from Baylor in 1945. In the early 1950s, she taught at Kenedy High School and coached the girls’ basketball team there before pursuing her graduate degrees. She received her Ph.D. in British Literature and History from the University of Texas at Austin in 1964. After teaching English at Central Missouri State College, Warrensburg, Missouri, she became an associate professor of Literature and Languages at East Texas State University, now Texas A&M  University- Commerce, where she spent the rest of her career. In 1972, she was appointed Dean of ETSU’s Graduate School. In 1973, she was appointed Dean of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts, becoming the first woman to serve as an academic dean in the university’s history. In 1976, she resumed teaching English as a full professor in the Department of Literature and Languages at ETSU, retiring as a Professor Emerita in 1993. Her academic specialties were English Renaissance literature and Shakespeare. She was a talented, respected and dedicated teacher who always maintained high academic standards for the benefit of all her students. The Texas A&M University– Commerce flag was flown at half- staff on May 1, 2014, in her memory. During her career, she was active in the International Modern Language Association, the American Studies Association of Texas, the Shakespeare Society, the Southwest Modern Language Association, the Western American Literature Association and other academic organizations.

            Johnye was very generous, social and fun-loving, and she had lots of friends throughout her life. She loved giving dinner parties for her friends and participated for years in the Commerce, Texas, Wine & Cheese Society. She also was adventurous and loved to travel. Johnye visited every continent except Antarctica, but her favorite destination was Europe- especially Great Britain and France. Even after she was afflicted with macular degeneration, which eventually left her legally blind, she bravely continued to travel within the US to visit family and friends. In 2006, she joined the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sacajawea Chapter, in Olympia, Washington.

            Johnye is survived by: her sisters-in-law, Mary Cannon Quillian, and Betty Gay Kennedy; her cousin, Edwin P. Ruhmann, III, and wife Jeanne and their family; her sister’s children, Thomas R. Leslie, IV, and Jeanne Leslie; her brother’s children and their families- her nieces Christy Cannon and Lisa Cannon Theriot and husband Michael, grandniece  Michelle Whitten and husband Keith, grandnephew Brandon Cass and wife Virginia, grandniece Laura Morgan and husband Buck, grandniece Mary Champagne, grandniece Lauren Arenas and husband Jesse, and grandnephew John Theriot; and the family of her late cousin, Saralyn Pietsch. She is also survived by: many long-time friends in Washington State, Texas, and elsewhere, including Dr. Dorys Crow Grover, Caroline Coble, Maryetta McClurg, Dr. Keith McFarland, and Dr. Richard Tuerk; her childhood friends in Kenedy, Nancy Avant and Amanda B. Reid; and her kind personal assistant and caregiver in Lacey, Washington, Louise Hay.

            The funeral will be held Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at 1:00 pm at Eckols Funeral Home, Kenedy, Texas, with Reverend Sue Huntsman officiating. Honorary pallbearers are Edwin P. Ruhmann, III, Thomas R. Leslie, IV, Michael Theriot, Brandon Cass, John Theriot, and Jesse Arenas. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to South Texas Children’s Home, P O Box 1210, Beeville, Texas 78104-1210.