Paula Marie Martinez, 45, unexpectedly passed away on December 29, 2020 in Victoria, Texas. She was born on June 12, 1975 in Kingsville, Texas. Those who knew Paula lost a shining light in their lives. The hole left by her absence is impossible to fill. She was a selfless, caring and loving daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her husband Alfred and children were her world. Everything she did, she did for them. Family came first and was above all else to Paula, a value she instilled in all those around her. Paula was in the banking industry for over 15 years and met so many incredible people who’s lives she touched. Making friends came so easily to her that she never met a stranger. Her laughter and smile will forever be engraved in our hearts. She is preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents and aunt: Elvia Vasquez. Survivors include her husband of 10 years: Alfred Martinez of Kenedy,TX; her mother: Gloria Reyes Cavazos; father: Pedro Cavazos; daughters: Samantha Martinez of Huntsville, TX, Kailee Martinez of Kenedy, TX, Amy Martinez, of Houston, TX, and Alyssa Martinez of Kenedy, TX; sons: Ryker Martinez of Kenedy, TX, Alfred Lee Martinez of Corpus Christi, TX, John Eric Martinez of Houston,TX, and Eugene Martinez of Kenedy,TX; sister: Clarissa Cavazos of Corpus Christi, TX; brother: Orlando Reyes of Lubbock, TX; niece: Haley Reyes and other relatives. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 16th, 2021 from 1:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. at Eckols Chapel. A Rosary will be recited Saturday, January 16th, 2021 at 2:00p.m. at Eckols Chapel with Rev. Norbert Hermann officiating.  Services to conclude at Eckols Chapel. Paula will be taken to her hometown for a Rosary/ Funeral Services on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 10:30a.m./11:00a.m. at the St. Gertrude Parish, 1120 S. 8th St. Kingsville, TX 78363 with interment to follow in the Chamberlain Cemetery in Kingsville, Texas.

Maria Trinidad (Trini) Collins, age 82 of Kenedy, Texas, passed away on Friday, January 8, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas. Maria was born on July 19, 1938, in Kenedy, Texas to the late Celso Alvear and Eloisa Acosta Alvear. Maria was the oldest of 18 children. Her father passed away at an early age, which caused Maria to step in and assist her mother in raising her siblings. She learned to hunt, farm, sew, cook, and be a caretaker from a young age. She was resilient and had plenty of stories and wisdom to share. On July 23, 1974, Maria married the love of her life, Lewis Gyles Collins, in Kenedy, Texas. She was a faithful and devout member of First Baptist Church, Kenedy for many years. Maria loved Jesus and lived that love out loud. She volunteered as Sunday School teacher, Mission Friends teacher, youth group helper, and made many meals for Wednesday night fellowships. She would start her day sharing a cup of coffee and devotional time with her husband. She was a hard-working, smart, active, funny, and loving wife, mother, and friend. Maria cherished her children and her grandchildren, and received great joy from feeding people. If you ever visited the Collins’ household you knew there would always be room for you at their table and there was always plenty to go around. She and her husband were both amazing cooks, grew their own vegetables, and enjoyed traveling together. Maria valued the talents she learned at an early age and appreciated hard work. She never allowed her children to go without, even if it meant working multiple jobs and doing things by hand. She taught her children and grandchildren how to make homemade Playdough, arts & crafts, and would occasionally bring out her sewing machine to make a shirt for her daughters, or blankets for a grandchild, or any other project she was in the mood to accomplish. Maria loved reading novels, Readers Digest and National Geographic magazines. She also enjoyed tending to her cats, her plants, and taking care of others.

Maria is preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Gyles Collins; parents, Celso and Eloisa Acosta Alvear; sisters, Diana and Maria Elena; brothers, Lorenzo, Celso, Miguel, George, Alberto, and David; and grandsons, Guadalupe Rodriguez III and Thomas Ray (Tray) Vickery III.

Maria is survived by her daughters, Sally Dovalina of Gonzales, Rosemary Vickery and husband Tommy of Kenedy, Sarah Booker and husband Michael of Floresville; sons, Roger Dovalina and wife Belinda of Helotes, John Dovalina and wife Rachel of Austin; sisters, Mrs. Romeo Garcia (Eloisa) of San Antonio, Mrs. Edward Salazar (MaryAnn) of Victoria, Mrs. Randy Horn (Elvira) of Cushing, Alicia Palacios of San Antonio, Mrs. Santiago Cruz (Lydia) of Alvin, Susie Alvear of Oklahoma, and Maria Luisa Garza of Michigan; brothers, Soilo Alvear of League City, and Luis Alvear of Highlands; grandchildren, Victoria (Tory) Reyna, Erica Miranda, Mrs. Lillian (Lillie) Smith, Alyssa Miranda, Edward (Eddie) Dovalina, Laurel Vickery, Travis Vickery, Mia Dovalina, Nicholas Dovalina, Collin Booker, Deacon Booker, Elijah Booker; and great-grandchildren Giovanni Reyna, Vicente Reyna, Aribella Reyna, Manolo (Manny) Reyna, Katarina (Lola) Reyna, and Sophia Rodriguez.

Family Visitation will be Thursday, January 14, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Services will be held Friday, January 15, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Kenedy, with Pastor Matt Singleton officiating. Interment will follow at the Kenedy Cemetery, Kenedy, TX.

Serving as Pallbearers will be, Edward Dovalina, Travis Vickery, Nicholas Dovalina, Collin Booker, Hosea Smith, and Tony Cruz.

Honorary Pallbearers are Roger Dovalina, John Dovalina, Thomas Vickery II, Michael Booker, Giovanni Reyna, Vicente Reyna, Deacon Booker, Elijah Booker, and Raymond Martinez.

Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church Kenedy or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Anna Mae Kopplin Nesloney, Age 88 of Pawnee, TX passed away on Wed. January 6, 2021 in Boerne, TX. Anna was born on July 30, 1932 in her parents’ home near Ray Point, TX. She was baptized on Dec 26, 1932, confirmed on March 15, 1947 and married Herbert Nesloney on Nov. 3, 1951. She was a Sunday School Teacher and was a member of Pawnee Methodist Church since 1952. She had 4 children, Herbert Henry Nesloney, Jr., Bruce Neil Nesloney, Brenda Ann Nesloney Moczygemba, and Beverly Kaye Nesloney Schauer. She was on the board of directors of Pawnee Foundation Cemetery Association. Held officer positions in all categories of the church. She was named Conservation Homemaker of the Year in 1978. She was 4H Leader for 20 years and a room mother for all 4 of her children in Pawnee School. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend to many and a member of the Pawnee United Methodist Church.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Hugo and Anna Wieding Kopplin; husband, Herbert Henry “Pete” Nesloney, Sr.; daughter, Brenda Ann Nesloney Moczygemba; and son, Bruce Neil Nesloney.

She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Kaye Schauer and husband, Fred of Beeville, TX; son, Herbert “Bert” Nesloney, Jr. and wife, Gay of Mason, TX; son-in-law, Tommy Moczygemba and wife, Susan of Panna Maria, TX; grandchildren, Casandra Schauer Matheson and husband, Matthew, Beeville, TX; Amber Rouse and husband, Walon of Kenedy, TX; Tifnee Gay Nesloney of Mason, TX; Billy Bob Moczygemba and wife, Briana of Montgomery, TX; Cody Moczygemba and wife, Kalyn of Panna Maria, TX; Herbert Nesloney, III and wife, Jaime of Austin, TX; Cuatro Schauer and wife, Randi of Tuleta, TX,Brandon Neil Nesloney ; great grandchildren Kooper Matheson; Addison Rouse; Kipton Rouse; Kanon Rouse; Kyler Moczygemba; Taven Moczygemba; Brynlee Moczygemba; Quint Schauer; Henry Nesloney; and Benjamin Nesloney.

Family visitation will be held Friday, January 8, 2021 from 5P.M. to 7P.M. in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 2P.M. in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ken Norton officiating. Interment will follow in the Pawnee Cemetery, Pawnee, TX.

Serving as pallbearers: Billy Bob Moczygemba, Cody Moczygemba, Herbert Nesloney, III, Matthew Matheson, Cuatro Schauer, and Walon Rouse.

Memorials may be made to The Pawnee United Methodist Church

Juan C. De Los Santos Jr. of Kenedy, Texas was born on January 19, 1948 in Choate, Texas to Felipa Cortez De Los Santos and Juan De Los Santos Sr. passed away on December 30, 2020 at the age of 72 in Seguin, Texas. Mr. De Los Santos was a member of the Buen Samaritano Church of Kenedy and also a Lay Leader. He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Vicenta De Los Santos Rios, Esperanza Carrillo Moreno, Aurora Renteria and Dortea De Los Santos; brothers: Baldomero De Los Santos, Ruben De Los Santos, Arnulfo De Los Santos, Rev. Emmitt De Los Santos, Juan De Los Santos, Samuel Del Los Santos, and Esmeraldo De Los Santos. Survivors include his wife: Frances Paiz De Los Santos; daughters: Jessica Raye De Los Santos of Karnes City, TX, Vanessa (Chris) Scott of Georgewest, TX, Sonia (Tony) Rodriguez of Houston, TX, Rosario “Rose” Barrera of Kenedy, TX; his sons: Simon (Jaymie) De Los Santos of Pheba, MS, David De Los Santos of Pheba, MS, Juan X (Stephanie) De Los Santos III of Falls City, TX, Anthony (Nicole) Hernandez of Seattle,WA and Vicente Barrera of Kenedy, TX; sisters: Lucy (Robert) of Runge, TX, Nena (Ron) Albert of Mission Valley, TX; brothers: Rudy (Lydia) De Los Santos of Elmendorf, TX, and Gilberto De Los Santos of Runge, TX; 25 grandchildren: Michael Ranger De Los Santos, Marina Nunez, Jordan Nicole De Los Santos, Victoria Jane De Los Santos, Jaden De Los Santos, J.D. De Los Santos, Justin De Los Santos, Christian De Los Santos, Jon David De Los Santos, Jacob De Los Santos, Juan Denzel De Los Santos, Favian Nathan De Los Santos, Justin Wade Martin, Solana Alicia De Los Santos, Michaela Attalla McLean, Kaylee Scott, Bubba Scott, Eliza Scott, Anthony Hernandez Jr., Emilia Hernandez, Laila Congdon-Hernandez, Aliyah Congdon-Hernandez, Andrew Rodriguez, Mateo Rodriguez, and Ryan Rodriguez; numerous great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 11, 2021 from 10:00a.m. to 9:00p.m. at Eckols Chapel. A Prayer Service will be held on Monday night on Jan. 11, 2021 at 7:00p.m. at Eckols Chapel. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 11:00a.m. at Eckols Chapel with Pastora Maria Vela officiating. Interment to follow in the Runge Latin Cemetery. Pallbearers: Simon De Los Santos, David De Los Santos, Juan X De Los Santos, Juan Denzel De Los Santos, Vicente Barrera and Chris Scott.

Clifford Baker, age 68, died December 30, 2020 with his wife Rhonda by his side. Though Cliff’s stories often ran on, this obituary will not.  Cliff was born October 19, 1952 in Kenedy, Texas to Thomas “Buddy” Baker and Natalie Bain Baker. Buddy was postmaster in Kenedy for many years, and Nata served as the church organist as well as raising their three lively boys.  Cliff spent his earliest years in Choate, Texas, igniting his life-long love of the San Antonio River and all of the South Texas wildlife. He was heartbroken when his family moved to “the city”, but soon made the best of it. He graduated from Kenedy High School in 1971, earning his private pilot’s license that summer. In 1973, after six years of dating, he married his true love and soul mate, Rhonda McGowan. Cliff and Rhonda both graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1975 and quickly began their next adventure when Cliff joined the Air Force in 1976 as a finance officer. During his tour in Turkey, he was accepted into pilot training, and as a pilot he flew the T-36, the F-106, and the F-16. After fourteen different bases, two kids, and service in the Gulf War, he retired from duty and moved with his family back to Kenedy, Texas. He then began a second career serving Kenedy ISD as a teacher and later, technology coordinator. After 9/11, he felt called to return to active duty and served for an additional four years, including a deployment to the Middle East. Upon returning to Karnes County, he picked up his career in education, serving as grant coordinator, then school administrator.  When not spinning an elaborate yarn, Cliff’s many hobbies and interests included photography, model trains, and all things outdoors, including managing the Baker family farm.

He is survived by his wife Rhonda, son Cliff, daughter Jamie and grandson Levi; mother Natalie Bain Baker and brothers Thomas Bennet Baker, Jr. (Linda) and James Alan Baker (Barbara); Mother-in-law Billye Jo McGowan and sisters-in-law Teresa McGowan Agee and Nancy McGowan Johnson (Joe Mac), as well as many beloved nephews and nieces.

Due to the current pandemic, funeral services will be private; however Cliff’s family looks forward to celebrating his life with a memorial for family and friends which will be held at a later date.

Donations may be sent to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation

Albino Hernandez Albiar of Runge, Texas was born on November 6, 1927 in Runge, Texas to Alfredo and Audencia Hernandez Albiar passed away on December 30, 2020 at the age of 93. Mr. Albiar is preceded in death by daughter: Diana Pozada; sisters: Norma Mendoza, Adelina Leal, Amelia Rodriguez, Aurora Albiar; brothers: Alejandro,, Adolio, Abraham, and Adolfo Albiar; son: Armando Albiar. He is survived  by his daughter:  Evangelina Cardona, Minnie Tinkle, Angelica Albiar; sons:  Allen Albiar and Armando Lopez; numerous grandchildren; great grandchildren;nieces, nephews and other relatives. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 10:00a.m. at Eckols Chapel. Funeral services will also be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2020 at 11:00a.m. at Eckols Chapel. Interment to follow in the Runge Latin Cemetery where Mr. Albair will be laid to rest near his parents. Pallbearers: Rudy and Johnny  Rodriguez, Phillip Pinkard, Abraham Albiar. The Albiar family would like to give a special thanks to the Pinkard family, Vangie Cardona, Esther Rudolfo , Carrie Lopez for everything they did for their dad.