Walter C. Busby, age 89, of Kenedy, died July 15, 2011. Walter was born July 26, 1921, in Mercedes, to Wylie and Lena Mae Braun Busby. He graduated from Kenedy High School in 1939 and earned a degree in agriculture science from Texas A&I University in Kingsville. He taught vocational agriculture in Kenedy and La Vernia school districts during a career that spanned four decades and three generations of agriculture students. He married Jewel Claire Martin Washam on June 17, 1978.
Active in the Soil Conservation Service and the Karnes County Retired Teachers Association, Walter was a craftsman who enjoyed making all sorts of things, big and small, in his backyard shop. He also loved country music (he was an accomplished fiddle player in his younger days), telling stories, working cattle, riding horses, and practically everything involving this outdoors.
Survivors: son, Kevin and wife Nora Busby; stepdaughters, Sue Washam Johnson and husband Robert, Lydia Washam-Morgan and husband Paul; one grandson, Kevin Hardy Ewick; four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Ewick.
Visitation will be Sunday, July 17, from 6-7 p.m. at the Eckols Chapel. Funeral services will be Monday, July 18, at 10 a.m., in the Eckols Chapel. Interment will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, in the Concrete Cemetery in La Vernia.
Pallbearers will be Larry Kiesling, Virgil Poole, Dan Ahrens, Robert Krawietz, James Griffin, and Larry Dement.
Honorary pallbearers will be “Pee Wee” Boltin, Bob Copeland, James Johnson, and Harvey Kahlden.

Judy Donnell Hedtke, age 69, of Karnes City, died Saturday, July 30, 2011. Judy was born in Kenedy Dec. 23, 1941 to Tom and Beulah Sanders Donnell Jr.
Judy was an LVN nurse in Kenedy for many years. She loved nursing and especially loved her patients.
She is survived by her husband, Allen Hedtke; sister, Ellen and her husband Willie Audilet; and brothers, Charles and wife Eunice Donnell, R.V. Donnell, Gene and wife Donna Donnell, and Tommy Kenneth Donnell.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Vickie Lynn Hedtke; and sister, Fay Rathmell.
Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011, at the Eckols Chapel. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011, in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the New Bremen Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Wade Hedtke, Scottie Audilet, Randy Mills, Shane Grayson, Terry Seeger, and Jerry Seeger.
Honorary pallbearers are Garrett Hedtke, Ethan Chesser, Rodney Chesser, William Chesser, and Russell Chesser.

Clifton Miller, 87, of Karnes City, passed away Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011. He was born July 2, 1924, in Allen, to the late Jessie and Annie (Hyden) Miller. He married Christina Bednarz  Oct. 31, 1974. He was an oil field consultant and a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He was a member of OKMH Auxiliary and past president of Stars & Stripes Dance Club.
He is survived by his wife, Christina (Bednarz) Miller of Karnes City; daughters, Carolyn Matlock of Whitney, Kristi Miller, Teri Miller and Sharon Eckert, all of Victoria, Dawn Fullbright of Mission Valley, Sue Ann Evard of Baytown, and Dottie Dordey of Ohio; stepdaughter, Linda (Sale) Omohumdro; sons, Jessie (Nancy) Miller of Callahan, Darryl Miller of Victoria, and Robert Miller of Houston; stepson, Douglas (Debbie) White Jr. of Alice; sister, Toby Webster of Baird; and numerous grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at Eckols Chapel in Kenedy.
The funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the Rev. Wally Schievelbein officiating. Interment will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Poth.
Memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Building Fund or to the donor’s choice.

Raul Merino, 61, of Kenedy, passed away Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011, in San Antonio. He was born April 22, 1950, in San Diego, Mexico, to Teodolo Gutierrez of Mexico and the late Francisca Garcia. He was a handyman.
   He is survived by his wife, Minerva Zaiontz; daughters, Teresa Zaiontz, Elizabeth Zaiontz, Pauline Zaiontz; son, Joe Zaiontz; sisters, Carmen Hernandez, Bridget Ramos, Maria Eastburn, Margarita Marino, Josephina Merino, Lupe Merino.
   He was preceded in death by his mother.
   A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, at Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery

Adela Elizondo Hernandez, 89, of Kenedy, passed away Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011. She was born Sept. 4, 1921 in Tivoli to the late Jose and Wenselada (Ybarra) Elizondo. She was a retired door greeter at Walmart in Kenedy, and she was a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.
   She is survived by her daughter, Gloria (Gilbert) Puente of Kenedy; sons, Ben (Linda) Hernandez of Victoria and Alfred Hernandez of Kenedy; sister, Eva Hill of Houston; brother, Joel Elizondo of Houston; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
   She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Benito Hernandez; sister, Elida Morales; and brothers, Robert Elizondo and Emerico Elizondo.
   A rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011, at Eckols Chapel.
   The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, with the Rev. Norbert Hermann officiating. Interment will follow at Loma Alta Cemetery in Kenedy.

Andrew “Andy” Morgan, 46, of Kenedy, passed away Saturday, July 30, 2011 in San Antonio. He was born Aug. 25, 1964, in Kenedy, to Bobby Morgan of Kenedy and the late Theresa Olenick Morgan. He was an oil field gauger and a Baptist.
He is survived by his father; wife, Sarah (Wiatrek) Morgan; sons, Jordon Morgan and Maxwell Morgan, both of Kenedy; sister, Becky (Terry) Frazier of Kenedy; and brothers, Marshall Morgan of Marble Falls and Everett (Krista) Morgan of La Vernia.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Eckols Chapel in Kenedy. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, at Eckols Chapel. Interment will follow at Choate Cemetery in Choate.
Pallbearers will be Sean O’Brien, James Linder, Joe Baker, Edwin Gawlik, Jim Helms, and Pat Whitin.

Soila Villanueva, 90, of Kenedy, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011. She was born March 4, 1921 in Goliad County to the late Majin Villanueva Sr. and Maria (VaRela) Villanueva. She was a retired Our Lady of Peace housekeeper and a Catholic.
She is survived by her sister, Mary Villanueva of Kenedy; brother, Majin Villanueva Jr. of Kenedy; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Juanita Villanueva and Eusebia Villanueva; and brothers, Eugenio Villanueva and Jose Villanueva.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, at Eckols Chapel. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, with burial at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Jose Diaz ” Cote” Alcantar, 62, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011. He was born on Aug. 26, 1949 to the late Ferman and Leonarda Alcantar.
He is survived by sisters, Guadalupe A. Rosas, Belmont, brothers, Margarito Alcantar and Robert Diaz Alcantar, of Kenedy, Johnnie Diaz Alcantar, Gilbert Alcantar and Marcos Alcantar of Dallas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ferman and Leonarda Diaz Alcantar, wife, Yolanda Cruz Alcantar, brothers, Tim and Marcos Alcantar.
Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011 , 7 p.m. at Eckols Chapel, in Kenedy. Services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Leon Rubaj officiating. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Kenedy.