Robert Hubbard Kibbe passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2015.  Robert was born February 2, 1953 in San Antonio, Texas to Robert Hardin and Wyble Lea Hubbard Kibbe.  He married Karen Berrey on December 29, 1973.  During their 41 years of marriage they were blessed with two children, a son and a daughter.

He was preceded in death by his father and one older brother, Gary Kibbe.  He is survived by his wife, son Robert G (Lisa) Kibbe, daughter Rachel (Nick) Williams, grandchildren: Robert T., Kimberly, Joshua and Rebekah Kibbe, Aaron and Grace Williams, his mother, one brother Charles (Margaret) Kibbe, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Robert graduated from Stockdale High School, Howard Payne University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He served as an enlisted Chaplain’s Assistant in the Army and as a Chaplain in the Army Reserve.  He also served 20 years as a chaplain with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institution Division.  In that capacity, he ministered to the prisoners and staff of seven units.

Bob’s calling in life was to present the gospel and minister to those who are marginalized by society.  He also loved working with his hands, crafting many useful and beautiful objects.  All who have encountered him recently can testify to his enjoyment of seeing Phil. 1:12 being worked out in his life.

Services are being conducted by Eckols Funeral Home.  The visitation will be there on Wednesday, March 25 from 5:00 to 9:00 and a Celebration of his life will be held at the Echols Funeral Chapel on Thursday, March 26 at 10:00 AM with interment at the Kenedy Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, those who would like can give donations to: Forgiven Ministry, Inc. (One Day with God) 200 Macedonia Church Road, Taylorsville, NC  28681; Prison Fellowship, P. O. Box 1550 Merrifield, VA  22116-1550; or the South Texas Children’s Home Ministries, P. O. Box 759 Beeville, TX  78104-0759

Kaye Smith died peacefully on March 16, 2015 in Houston, TX., where she was surrounded by all her loved ones. She was 58.

Kaye was born December 7, 1956 in Bay City, TX to her parents, Joe and Tommie Griggs.  She married the love of her life James “Bubba” Smith in 1978.  After moving around some they settled in Rockport with their two sons.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandma, and friend that would take anyone in and care for them no matter what.  She had a great sense of humor and always loved a joke.  One of Kaye and Bubba’s favorite loves was to ride their Harley Davidson and watch the band Riptide.

Kaye is survived by her husband James “Bubba” Smith, her son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Amanda Smith; her son, Thomas Smith; her daughter, April Benavidez; her sister Carolyn Sue; her sister, Becky Dolan; her brother and sister-in-law, Joe Bill and Rosie Griggs; her brother, Jimmy; and 5 grandchildren.

She will be greatly missed and always kept in our hearts. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, March 20, 2015, at 2:00 P.M. with Family Visitation starting at 12:00 Noon in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel in Kenedy, TX.  Interment will follow in the Kenedy Cemetery, Kenedy, TX

Enrique Medina, Age 64 of Karnes City, TX passed away on March 17, 2015 in Karnes City, TX.  He was born on June 6, 1950 in Kenedy, TX to the late Refugio, Sr. and Maria Ybarra Medina.  He was retired from the oil field and a Christian.

He is survived by a daughter Sandra Medina of Karnes City, a son Darrell Medina of Kenedy,6 grandchildren and 2 grt-grandchildren

A Prayer Service will be held Thurs. March 19, 2015 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Services will be Friday March 20, 2015 at 10AM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will follow in the Kenedy Cemetery.

Lora Bernice Homeyer Madsen, born August 23,1925 in the Karnes City Area to William (Bill) Homeyer and Annie P. Cowan, entered Heaven March 3, 2015.Lora comforted her children during her last days as much as they comforted her.  Her faith and peace that passes our understanding was a daily testimony to her daughter Phyllis Stanley and her son Tom Madsen as well as to others around her.Lora married Arthur Eugene Madsen June 21, 1946 in Kenedy.  Lora was active in P.T.A, Little League Mothers, Band Mothers and other school activities.  Lora was a member of First Baptist Church Kenedy, Texas serving over the years as nursery and middle school teacher, secretary for the Adult Department, Church Secretary and Sunday school class member. Lora and Arthur both worked many years for Stimson’s Furniture Company, enjoying the Christian atmosphere of the company and family.Lora was a dedicated daughter to William (Bill) Homeyer and Annie P. Cowan (both deceased), faithful wife to Arthur Eugene Madsen (now deceased), and loving mother to Tom (Kasia) Madsen of Bandera and Phyllis Stanley of Kenedy.  Three of Lora’s brothers preceded her in death: Jim, Dan and Joe Homeyer.  Surviving Lora is her brother Bob (Ruth) Homeyer of Kenedy.  Lora’s joy was her grandsons Clint Madsen of Robstown, Travis Madsen of San Antonio and Carl J. ( Mary) Stanley of Norman, Oklahoma and great grandchildren Cienna Madsen of San Antonio, and Baylee, Nash, Camden, and Jaxon Stanley of Norman, Oklahoma.The family she joins in Heaven  were responsible for the character traits she learned at an early age. She saw faith in action through her parents and adopted that as her own through Jesus Christ.  She learned responsibility through helping her mother raise four rambunctious boys.  She often went to help other family members with new babies or during illnesses learning service and compassion.   The fruits of the spirit show through Lora’s life.The family Lora leaves behind have benefited from her Christian witness through her actions and words.  She wondered what purpose the Lord could have leaving her alive blind, very hard of hearing, weak,and unable to be out of the house; but it was enough for her that God was in control. After years of feeling that she had to be working, busy and productive all the time, she realized what God really wants is for us to spend time with Him. So she did. She prayed constantly and talked to her Lord.

Family Visitation was held Friday, March 6, 2015 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral Services were held Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 10AM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Matt Homeyer officiating.  Interment followed in the Karnes City Cemetery in Karnes City, TX.

Bobbie Faye (Brock) Hunt went to rest with the Lord on the 16^th of March, 2015.  She was born on September 29^th, 1924, to parents Robert and Ada (Copeland) Brock, the youngest and last of the family.  She is survived by daughter Sandy Hunt Satterfield (husband Jack), grandson Shawn Williams and great-grandson Timothy Williams and their families.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William Cledy Hunt, whom she married in 1946; her parents; sisters Katie May Burns and Bertha Steubing; and brothers, Fred and Pleas Brock.

After high school graduation she completed Business College in Amarillo.  Soon after WWII was initiated with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Bobbie went to work as a clerk for the War Department.  Twenty five years later, she retired from her management position with the Department of the Army.

She was active in her church throughout her life and was a member of many organizations, such as Business and Professional Women, Eastern Star,  Daughter of the Nile, and the Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital Auxiliary to name a few.  She survived two serious attacks of cancer and was saved by surgery and other treatments each time.

She was a friend to all she met, and is dearly loved and missed by her family.  There will be an empty place in our hearts and it will be in the shape of our “Honey”.

The Family will receive friends Wed. March 18, 2015 from 5PM to 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Graveside Services will be held Thurs. March 19, 2015 at 10AM in the Choate Cemetery with the Rev. Larry Odom officiating.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Choate Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.

6355 St. Hwy 239, Kenedy, TX 78119

Amelia Marie “Emily” Munsch Kanak passed away Thursday, February 26, 2015 in Beeville, TX at the Age of 103.  Emily was born March 16, 1911 in Houston, TX.  She was the second of six children born to Anna Sitka Munsch and Joseph Munsch.  Emily was a very loving and giving person and will dearly missed by her family and friends.  She lost her father when she was 13 years old.  Emily and her older sister did odd jobs to help support the family.  Emily married Louis J. Kanak on Oct. 15, 1929 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Halletsville, TX.  They were the proud parents of seven sons.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband four sons, two sisters, two brothers, one daughter-in-law and one grandson.  Emily is survived by three sons, A.L. Kanak and wife Mildred of Pettus, TX, Tommy Kanak and wife Barbara of Kenedy, TX, Daniel Kanak of Victoria, TX, one daughter-in-law Lily Kanak of San Antonio, TX, a sister Helen Jones of Houston, TX, nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Sunday, March 1, 2015 from 3PM to 5PM with a Holy Rosary to follow at 5PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, March 2, 2015 at 10AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pettus, TX.  Burial will be held at 2PM in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Halletsville, TX.

Ramona “Mona” Pena DeLeon Age 37, of Kenedy, TX passed away on Feb. 27, 2015 in San Antonio, TX.  She was born on Oct. 10, 1977 in San Antonio, TX to Irma Garza Pena and the late Alberto Pena.  She was a Human Resource office manager for Lariat Construction Company and a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

She is preceded in death by her father Alberto Pena and infant daughters Gabriella and Arisela DeLeon.

She is survived by her husband Gilberto DeLeon and daughter Abigail Faith DeLeon of Kenedy; mother Irma Pena of Kenedy; brothers, Jesse Albert Pena of Georgia, Lionel Pena of San Antonio; nieces Taylor Pena of Georgia and Illiana Arisela Pena of San Antonio; nephews Aaron Pena of Georgia, Jordan Elijah Pena of San Antonio, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A Rosary will be recited Wed. March 4, 2015 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  A Funeral Mass will be held Thur. March 5, 2015 at 9:30 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Norbert Hermann Officiating.  Interment will follow in the Loma Alta Cemetery in Kenedy, TX.

Serving as Pallbearers will be Felix Saenz, Lee Hext, Matthew Hinojosa, Rudy Casarez, Jacob Hinojosa, Zeke Jacquez, Michael Arrieta, and Michael Medina.

This story begins in 1932 when James Edwin Russell, Jr. was born in Mauldin, Massachusetts on August 3^rd to parents James Edwin Russell and Mabel Veale Russell. He lived a long and happy life for almost 83 years and left to meet his Lord on February, 28^th, 2015. Highlights of his life are too numerous to completely list but include an Eagle Scout ranking,  flying solo while in the Air Force, a 42-year career in Education, a 29 year marriage, raising two kids and a lifelong love of beagles.

His family returned to their home in Floresville, TX where Jim was raised and graduated from high school in 1949. He received his B.A. from Baylor University in 1955 and then his Masters of Education degree in 1957. After that, he served as a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Air Force in Merced, CA. He began his teaching career in Temple, TX in 1960 teaching science and math.  He married Bonnie Frances Miller in 1961 and moved to Austin in 1962 where he taught science at Fulmore Junior High.  He furthered his career into school administration as Assistant Principal of Brownfield High School in 1965 and then Principal of Brownfield Junior High School. In 1968, he moved to Austin and later to New Braunfels in 1970 as Assistant Superintendent of Comal Independent School District.  During this time, he further studied and received his PhD in School Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1972. Jim continued as Assistant Superintendent at C.I.S.D. until 1983 when he accepted a new position as Assistant Superintendent of Personnel at Hays Consolidated Independent School District.  Moving with his family to Buda at that time, he continued there until his retirement in 1994. During “retirement” he worked seasonally for the I.R.S. for ten years.

Jim was an active person who enjoyed basketball, tennis, water skiing, snow skiing, scuba diving, bowling, and many other activities. Jim also enjoyed music and sang throughout his life with church choirs, barbershop groups, and his gospel quintet. He was an active member of the First Baptist Churches in New Braunfels, Manchaca, and later at Allandale Baptist.

Jim is survived by his son, James Lawrence Russell (Jimmy) and wife Tamara; by his daughter Laurie Frances Garrant and her husband Tony; by his sisters Jeanne Ruhmann and Karen Ewing and their families; and by numerous nephews, nieces, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Ed Ruhmann, nephew Paul Ruhmann, and brother-in-law Paul Miller.

Services will be held at Eckols Funeral Home in Kenedy, TX  (420 W. Live Oak.) on Thursday, March 5^th at 2:00 p.m. with viewing starting at 1:00 p.m. Burial to follow at Kenedy Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the following charities:  Accolade Hospice,  Alzheimer’s Association, and University United Methodist Church in Austin, TX.  Accolade:  PO Box 525, Yoakum, TX 77995  University United Methodist Church: 2409 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705  Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org