Claude Ray Morgan, 89 of Choate, Texas was called home to his mansion not built by human hands Tuesday, September 18, 2018.

Ray was born Oct. 10, 1928, to Neal and Bertha (Baker) Morgan in Choate, Texas. He was a 1946 Graduate of Kenedy High School. He enjoyed his work on the farm until he proudly answered the call to serve his country.  He served in the 40^th Division, 224^th Regiment Charlie Company during the Korean War.  He married Joyce Drapalla on December 14^th, 1952.  He continued to work on the farm until the drought of the 1950’s forced him to seek seek employment in town.  He was employed by Donaho Refining Company in Pettus until 1963 and then worked for Kaufmann Motor Company as Parts Manager for over 30 years.  Ray served on the Hondo Creek Water Shed Board and on the Pettus School Board, but is he is most remembered for his service in Choate Baptist Church.  He loved the Lord and missions.

He was preceded in death by his parents’ brother, Clyde Morgan; sisters; Lucy Bell Ryan, Gladys M. Wilson; and beloved wife Joyce Morgan.

Survivors include his son David (Kathy) Morgan, Gary (Nan) Morgan; 4 grandchildren, Jonathan, Amanda, Thomas, and Will; a niece Nancy Ellen Wilson and numerous cousins and family.

Visitation will be held at Eckols Funeral Home Chapel Friday, September 21, 2018 from 6PM to 8PM. Funeral Services will be Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 10AM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Aaron Corporon and Rev. Jay Fleming officiating.  Graveside Services and Interment will follow in the Choate Cemetery, Choate, TX.

Pallbearers will be Will Morgan, Charlie Morgan, Chaco De Los Santos, Chris Johnson, Philip Bush, and Jonathan Morgan.

Honorary Pallbearers are Thomas Morgan, Duane Nutt, J.E. Baker and Butch Weatherly.

In Lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Choate Cemetery Trust Fund or NADA(Neighbors Against Destroying Aquifers) in memory of Ray Morgan.

Jonelle Wheatley Thornton, age 78, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, September 23, 2018, in her home in Helena, Texas, with Bill Thornton, her husband of 57 years, and her loving family surrounding her. Born on October 27, 1939, Jonelle grew up in Brownsville, TX, with her parents, Marshall and Ruth Clark. Jonelle attended Southwestern University, where she was a member of the outstanding Southwestern A Cappella Choir and Delta Delta Delta sorority. She was selected as a School Beauty and as the Kappa Sigma Dream Girl of 1960. During her time at Southwestern, Jonelle met Bill Dozier Thornton, the love of her life, and they married in 1961. They had three children, Brian, Steven, Matthew. They lived in Austin, Temple, the Rio Grande Valley, South Padre Island, and, in retirement, on their ranch in Helena. Jonelle was a beacon to her family. Her light shone bright and her love ran deep. Jonelle  was preceded in death by her sons, Brian and Matthew Thornton. She is survived by her husband, Bill Thornton; son, Steve (Lorie); grandchildren, Jennifer (David) Pierson, Phillip and Dylan Loveland, and Wyatt Aikman-Thornton; great grandchildren, Rebecca and Madeline Pierson; nieces, nephew, and other relatives; and her beloved Chihuahua, B.B. Visitation will be held Friday, September 28, 2018 from 3:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. at Eckols Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 1:00p.m. at Karnes City Cemetery with Rev. Danielle Knapp officiating of the Karnes City United Methodist Church.

Diana “DeeDee” Marie Villanueva, of Karnes City, TX born on March 22, 1965 to the late Edward “Wasso” De La Garza and Mary Guerra De La Garza passed away Saturday, September 22, 2018 at the age of 53. DeeDee was a Business office Manager for Kenedy Health and Rehab in Kenedy, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, a friend to many who loved arts and crafts, sewing, cooking and baking. She is preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her husband, Gilbert Villanueva of Karnes City, TX; her daughter, Cerise (Joe) Quesada, Jr., of Corpus Christi, TX; her son; Gilbert “G.J.” Villanueva, Jr. and fiancé, Hillary; grandsons, Joseph Quesada and Ian Quesada; her sisters, Sandra De La Garza, of Karnes City, TX, Mandy (Christopher) Grullon, of New Braunfels, TX and Terri De La Garza, of Victoria, TX; brother, Eddie (Sandy) De La Garza, of Kenedy, TX; several nieces and nephews and other relatives. A Holy Rosary will be recited at 7PM Tuesday, September 25, 2018 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass will be Celebrated Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 10AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Norbert Hermann officiating. Interment will follow in the Loma Alta Cemetery. Pallbearers: Gilbert Villanueva, Jr., Raymond Villanueva, Eddie De La Garza, Joe Quesada, Chris Grullon, Mike Gonzales, and Davy Villanueva.

Adolfo G. “Duffy” Aguirre, of Dickinson, TX born on May 29, 1958 in Karnes City, TX passed away on September 14, 2018 at the age of 60. He worked for Howell Electric for many years. He is preceded in death by his parents, Francisco “Kiko”and Herlinda “Linda” Garza Aguirre and his siblings, Francisco “Frank” Aguirre, Alfredo “Freddy” Aguirre, and Linda Ann Aguirre. He is survived by his son, Adolfo Duffy “D.J.” Aguirre, Jr. and wife Katherine; his five grandchildren: Anthony Lette, Christian Lette, Brealynn Lette, Adolfo Davian Aguirre, and Ashlynn Aguirre; his brothers and sisters: Gilbert Aguirre, Robert (Anita) Aguirre, Yolanda (Roy) Garcia, Sulema (Gregorio Jr.) Gonzales, Carolina Duenes, and Samuel (Carol) Aguirre; numerous nieces, nephews, former spouse, Mary Alaniz; and other relatives. Visitation Hours: Monday, September 17, 2018 from 9:00a.m. to 9:00p.m. with a Prayer Service at 6:00p.m. then a Rosary to be recited at 7:00p.m. at Eckols Chapel. Funeral services Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at 12:00p.m. at Eckols Chapel with interment in Our Lady of Guadalupe Cemetery, Pawnee, TX. Pallbearers: Amanda Daniels, Fredrick Wayne Duenes, Donovan Garcia, Gilbert Aguirre Jr., Gregorio Gonzales, Jr., Jerry Duenes, Anthony Lette, Christian Lette.

Rose Marie Villarreal Gomez, Age 60 of Kenedy, TX passed away Sunday, September 9, 2018 at home surrounded by her loving family. Rose was born on March 31, 1958 in Karnes City, TX to Seferino P. and Eleanor Hernandez Villarreal. In October of 1984 she married Jon Gomez in Three Rivers, TX.  Rose was a Rural Mail Carrier for the United States Postal Service; a loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt and Friend to many.

She is preceded in death by her father, Seferino P. Villarreal and a daughter Deidra Marie Gomez.

She is survived by her husband John Gomez of Kenedy, mother, Eleanor Hernandez Villarreal of Kenedy, daughter, Jayme Ochoa Martinez of Kenedy; sons, Steve Ochoa of San Antonio, Jon Erik Ochoa of Kenedy; grandchildren, Andre Martinez of Kenedy, Gabrielle Martinez of Kenedy; sisters, Velma Garza of Kenedy, Hilaria Cano of Kenedy, Norma Longoria of San Antonio, Rebecca Villarreal of Kenedy, Diana McGowan of San Antonio, Rachel Asevedo of Floresville; brothers, Seferino Villarreal, III of Kenedy, Robert Villarreal of Floresville, Can Villarreal of Austin and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

A Prayer Service will be held Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with the Chaplin Lydia Luna officiating. A private inurnment will take place in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Cemetery in Pawnee, TX at a later date.

James Allen McKee, born on May 31, 1937 to Jesse Hicks and Audie Martin McKee passed away on September 8, 2018 at the age of 81. Mr. McKee is preceded in death by his wife Mollie and infant, Becky McKee. Survivors include his sons, Bobby Joe (Jamie) McKee and David Allen (Jessica) McKee, of Kenedy, TX; grandchildren: James Wade McKee, Lisa JoAnn McKee, Christopher Michael McKee, Jason Trevino, Dylan McKee, Kenley McKee; great grandchildren: Kenneth, Bethany, Starr and Ivory Johnson and Maddie McKee; and other relatives. Visitation hours: Thursday, September 13, 2018 from 12 to 9:00p.m. at Eckols Chapel. Funeral services Friday, September 14, 2018 at 10:00a.m. Eckols Chapel with interment in Kenedy Cemetery.

Julia Caballero Cruz, Age 83, of Kenedy, TX passed away on Thursday, September 6, 2018 in Kenedy, TX. Julia was born on April 12, 1935 in Nell, TX to the late Andres and Elodia Alejandro Caballero.  She was a loving mother, grandmother, nurse’s aide and a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.  She is preceded in death by her parents, Andres and Elodia Alejandro Caballero and brothers, Edward Caballero, Gilbert Caballero and Anselmo Caballero.  She is survived by her daughter, Anna Cruz Benavides of Kenedy, Johnny Cruz of Goliad, Luis Cruz of Kenedy, granddaughter, and Alyssa Benavides of Alice.  A Holy Rosary will be recited Monday, September 10, 2018 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 10AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Norbert Hermann officiating.  Interment will follow at the Loma Alta Cemetery in Kenedy, TX