Benny Leon Alexander, born June 16, 1934 in Stephens County Oklahoma, left this life on April 26, 2015 at his home in Kenedy, Texas.  He is preceded in death by his parents Alpha Carson Alexander and Charles (Choc) Alexander as well as his sister, Shirley Ann Alexander, all of Duncan Oklahoma.

Benny was an ambitious and hard worker even at an early age. Before he was ten years old Ben had a paper route, and later he set up pins at a bowling alley.   In his early teens he raised hogs, and as a freshman in high school, he leased the school agriculture land and raised crops.

Ben followed World War II as a grade school student reading the war news avidly since his beloved uncles and father were serving overseas. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy early because he was so anxious to serve his country. He celebrated his 18^th birthday on board a ship.  He visited many places while in the Navy including, Korea, Japan, South Africa, and Hawaii.  Ben’s entire life he was fiercely patriotic. After September 11, he was disappointed that he was unable to serve his country.

Ben graduated from Mississippi Southern College and later did graduate work at West Texas State.

Ben married in 1957, and was blessed with two beautiful daughters of whom he was always immensely proud.

Later, Ben moved to Kenedy, Texas where he taught Science. The students Ben taught during the early 60’s would remain special to him his entire life, attending many of their reunions and becoming lifelong friends with several.

While in Kenedy, he leased land and bought his first Santa Gertrudis cattle. This was the beginning of Ben’s now well respected herd of A + cattle.  Although Ben rarely ran more than 300 head, the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International Association acknowledged his tremendous impact on the breed by inducting him into the SGBI Hall of Fame this past March.   When told of this honor, Ben was humbly proud, especially pleased his children and grandchildren would know he had done the best he could and had been honored by those in his business.

Ben married Robbin Homeyer of Kenedy, Texas in Utopia, Texas on July 22, 1981, and they made their home northeast of Kenedy for almost 34 years.  Ben was blessed again with three more children. Alongside his new workforce of children, he cleared the land and left it better than he found it.

Ben has five children: Jayne Fry of Wichita, KS; Jana Wooderson (Chris) of Ark City, KS; Amy Seal (Robert) of Karnes City, TX; Gina Sugarek (Jim) of Beeville, TX; and Ben Ross Alexander (Genna) of Karnes City, TX.  He leaves six grandchildren: Suzanne Fry, Corbyn Fry (Ali), Kayce Jo Mayes, Hunter Mayes, Decker Seal and Samantha Sugarek.   He has one great grandchild, Corbyn and Ali’s son, Noah.

Ben lived a full life, raising children and cattle, traveling the world, and learning all he could.  Always striving for excellence in every aspect of life.  He leaves a tradition of putting forth A+ effort in all you do for A+ quality results.

There will be a visitation held Thursday April 30, 2015 from 5-6:30pm and a memorial service to follow at 6:30.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Chisolm Trail Church of Christ in Duncan, Oklahoma, the

Raul Garza age 77 of Kenedy died April 25, 2015.  He was born Dec. 19, 1937 in Runge to Diego & Dora Caballero Garza, Sr.  He married Mamie Beltran Oct. 17, 1964 in Karnes City.  He was a retired truck driver.  He is survived by Sisters Lydia (Edward) Downey, Patricia (Dan) Salais, Elvira Garza, Alice Sanchez, Cynthia (Patrick) Seals.  Brothers Fidencio (Connie) Garza, Manuel Garza, Albert Garza, Diego (Elizabeth) Garza, Jr., Leroy (Anna) Garza, & James Garza.  A Rosary will be recited Tue. April 28, 2015 at 7 PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Mass will be held Wed. Apr. 29, 2015 10 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Interment will follow at a later date in the Runge Cemetery.

Karnes City, TX  Rudolph died April 25, 2015. John Polasek was born Apr. 9, 1933 to Tom & Alice Bordovsky Polasek in Coy City, TX. He was a veteran of the Korean War.  He retired from Enserch in 1988 & became a farmer & rancher.  He was active in the old machinery and engines where he was a member of the Rio Grande Machinery and Antique Club.  He is survived by his wife Betty June Lieke Polasek, two brothers Mike (Ruby) Polasek of Coy City, Tommy Polasek of Hobson, Sisters Frances Zidek of Pleasanton, JoAnn Kroll of Hobson.  A Rosary will be recited Monday, at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.   Funeral Mass will be Held Tuesday at St. Cornelius Catholic Church at 10:00 AM in Karnes City, TX with the Rev. Jeff Polasek officiating.  Interment will follow at the Lauback Family & Friends Cemetery.

Weldon H. Anderson age 71 of Kenedy died April 10, 2015.  He was born in Kenedy July 12, 1943  to Howard and Ruby Carlson Anderson, who preceded him in death.  Weldon graduated from Kenedy High School in 1961.  He married Jan Lewallen Aug. 9, 1975 at the First Baptist Church in Kenedy.  He retired from Ashland  as a Process Operator after 40 plus years.  He was a Deacon and served on numerous boards, primary the House & Grounds at the First Baptist Church., also served on the Kenedy Parks Board.He is survived by his wife Jan Anderson of Kenedy, son Chris Anderson of Marina Del Ray, CA, Sister Eleanora (Lorry) Sandahl of Rockford, IL Brother Ken Anderson of Gatesville, TX.Visitation will be Sunday, April 12, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Eckols Chapel.  Funeral Services will be Monday, April 13, 2015 at 10:00 AM from the First Baptist Church in Kenedy.

Memorials may be donated to First Baptist Renovation Fund or the South Texas children Home.

Ignacio S. Garza, Age 61 of Kenedy, TX passed away on Monday, April 6, 2015 in San Antonio, TX.  He was born on Dec. 21, 1953 in Kenedy, TX to the late Felipe and Elvira Sainz Garza.   He was a retired Meat Cutter and a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Guadalupe Garza and a brother Gilbert Garza.He is survived by his daughters; Valerie Garza of Beeville, Veronika Alyssa Ramirez of Houston; sister, Alice Corbin and husband John of Victoria; brothers, Felipe Garza and wife Rosalinda of Stafford, Henry Garza and wife Mary of Richmond, George Garza and wife Patricia of Stafford; grandchildren; Anthony Villarreal, Jr., Christin Villarreal, Kaitlyn Ashlee Sauceda, Cameron Bryce Terrell; and a great grandchild Ayden Anthony Villarreal.A Rosary will be recited Wed. April 8, 2015 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral Mass will be held Thur. April 9, 2015 at 9:00 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.  Interment will follow in the Loma Alta Cemetery.

Vivian Alaniz Cases, Age 30 of Seguin, TX passed on April 2, 2015 as her life was taken early.  She was born on April 22, 1984 in Aguna, Guam to Andrew Balanag Cases and Palmira Alaniz Cases.  She was a beloved daughter, mother, sister, loved to sing had an open heart loving everyone and was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Seguin, TX. She is preceded in death by her maternal grandfather Santiago S. Alaniz, Jr. and paternal grandfather Felix Cases.She is survived by her father, Andrew Balanag Cases of Seguin; Mother Palmira Alaniz Cases of Corpus Christi; children; Sariah Boston, Neveah Baird and Elijah Grimaldo of Corpus Christi; sister, Abby Fuller of Seguin and brother, Andrew Alaniz Cases of San Antonio, maternal grandmother Maria Rivas Alaniz of Pawnee, paternal grandmother Florentina Cases of the Phillipines and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.A Rosary was recited Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel in Kenedy, TX.  Funeral Mass was held Friday, April 10, 2015 at 10AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy, TX with the Rev. Norbert Hermann officiating.   Interment will follow in the De Ntra Sra De Guadalupe Cemetery in Pawnee, TX.