Doris Eloise Duncan Ross, 94 of Kenedy, Texas, passed away, Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Corpus Christi. Doris was born on August 28, 1919 in Milan County, Texas the daughter of Joe P. Duncan and Aurie Fields Duncan.  She married Denver T. Ross on March 6, 1940 in Karnes City, Texas.

She was a very loving and devoted mother, grandmother and a tremendous woman of faith.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Denver T. Ross, her parents and her brother, Paul Duncan. She is survived by her daughter, Dortha Rivera and husband Rudy of Corpus Christi, Texas, and her granddaughter Dorissa Rivera of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Visitation will be held, Tuesday, March 25, 2014 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Funeral Services will begin Tuesday, March 25, 2014  at 1:00 P.M., in the Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Walter Hill, III officiating.  Interment will follow in the Karnes County Memorial Park Cemetery in Kenedy, Texas.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to all the past and present staff of the Corpus Christi Nursing and Rehab Center for the care they have shown and provided Doris the past 7 years.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial be made to the South Texas Children’s Home, P.O. Box 1210, Beeville, Texas 78104; or the charity of donor’s choice.

Maria Guadalupe Reyna Ramos, a longtime resident of Kenedy, Texas, passed away, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 65 years, 1 month and 3 days.

Maria was born February 15, 1949 in Kenedy, Texas the daughter of Simon T. Reyna and Manuela Garcia Reyna. Maria was of the Catholic faith.

Maria is survived by her daughters, Doris Segura and Adela Jew both of San Antonio; her son, Joe Simon Sandoval of San Antonio, and her brother, Jimmy Reyna of Kenedy. She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Inez R. Hernandez, and her brothers, Manuel G. Reyna and Francisco G. Reyna.

A rosary will be recited, Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 7:00 P.M., in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Kenedy, Texas. Funeral mass will be celebrated, 10:00 A.M., Friday, March 21, 2014 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy, Texas. Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Kenedy, Texas.

Jamie M. Falvella Foster Smith a resident of Hallettsville, Texas and formally of Kenedy, Texas, passed away on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at Lavaca Medical Center in Hallettsville, Texas, at the age of 76 years, 3 months and 20 days.

Jamie was born on November 23, 1937 in Alice, Texas the daughter of James William and Lois Henderson Falvella. She graduated from Kenedy High School, Class of 1956 and from Texas A&I College in 1960. In 2000, Jamie retired as a Special Education teacher for the Kenedy Independent School District.

Mrs. Smith is preceded in death by her father, James William Falvella; her husband, Malcom C. Smith and brother, Frank Falvella. She is survived by her first husband, Fritz Foster; her mother, Lois Falvella; her daughter, Kathleen Foster of Austin; her sons, James Foster and wife Janet of Hallettsville, Joe Foster of Kenedy, and Jeff Foster of Corpus Christi; and her grandchildren, Preslie Foster, Gunnar Janak, and Jacki Foster.

The family will receive friends and relatives beginning, Wednesday, March 19, 2014 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held 10:00 A.M., Thursday, March 20, 2014 at First Baptist Church in Kenedy, Texas with Rev. Tim Williams officiating. Interment will follow at the Kenedy Cemetery. Serving as pall bearers will be, Joe Foster, Jeff Foster, Shelby Dupnik, Fred Nichols, Jamie Brown and Gunnar Janak.

Michael F. Mattingly, a longtime resident of Refugio, Texas, passed away, Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the Palma Real Nursing Home in Mathis, Texas at the age of 64.

Michael was born in Batesville, Indiana, April 16, 1949, the son of Frances Edward Mattingly and Mary Faith Tracey.

Michael is survived by his 2 sons, Rodney Mattingly and wife Maria of Conroe and Tony Matting of San Marcus; his sisters, Cherie F. Wood and Maria Mattingly, and his brothers, Patrick and Matthew Mattingly. He is also survived by his 3 beloved grandchildren. Mr. Mattingly is preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Terrance Mattingly.

A rosary will be recited, Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 10:00 A.M., in the Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Refugio, Texas. Mass will be celebrated immediately following the Rosary.

Charlene L. Williams, 67, went to be at peace with her heavenly father on the evening of February 25, 2014.  She will be greatly missed by all those who loved her.

She is survived by her best friend and companion Dean Maltsberger, her children Lesle (Slade) Dial, Jim (Paula) Woodside, Seana (Mark) Towner, her grandchildren (Britni, Carissa, Sarah, Kathryn, Christian, Shiloh, Jenna, Wyatt, Peyton, Kaedyn, Brogan and Archer), her siblings (Jacgue, Pam, Bobby, Kathy, and Frank) and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the animal rescue society of your choice.  Arrangements were entrusted to Eckols Funeral Home, Inc.  Kenedy, Texas.

Devoted, Loyal and faithful Husband, Father, Grandpa, Grandson and son. We will always love and miss him dearly! He may be gone but he won’t ever be forgotten! His memory will live on forever till the day we meet again. Gone to soon.

Timmy L. Baxter, Sr., a resident of Odessa, Texas, passed away, Saturday, February 22, 2014 at the age of 52. Timmy was born, December 3, 1961, the son of Howard Baxter and Leta Johnson.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 31 years, Lisa Carrion Baxter; his daughter, Ashely Baxter; his sons, T.J. Baxter and Blake Baxter; his granddaughters, Mya Baxter, Esperanza Baxter and Maddalynn Baxter and Minnie our puppy- she misses him so much. Mr. Baxter is also survived by his nannie, Verla Johnson, his dad, Howard Baxter and his sister, Tammy Baxter. Timmy is preceded in death his son, Christopher Baxter; his mother, Leta Johnson; his grandfather, Damon Johnson; grandparents, Virgil and Rosie Baxter; his aunt, Robbie Baxter, uncle Sonny Johnson; cousin, Gayla McDonald; his father and mother-in-law, Delfino A. Carrion, Sr. and Petra Carrion; his brother-in-laws, Delfino Carrion, Jr., and Cosme Carrion, Sr., and his nephew, Cosme Carrion, Jr.

Visitation will begin after 10 AM, Friday, February 28, 2014 in the Eckols Chapel and a prayer service will begin at 7 PM, Friday also in the chapel. Following the prayer service, Mr. Baxter will be cremated.

Oneta L. Van Winkle, a longtime resident of San Antonio, Texas, passed away, Friday, February 14, 2014 at 5:16 A.M., in the Connally Memorial Hospital in Floresville, Texas at the age of 90 years, 11 months and 19 days.

Oneta was born, February 26, 1923 in Coy City, Texas, the daughter of Crocket Bynum Ferrell and Minnie O. Brister Ferrell. On December 12, 1941, Oneta married Jesse Van Winkle in Harlingen, Texas. Jesse preceded her in death on April 10, 2010.

Oneta is survived by her sons, Jimmy L. Van Winkle and wife Bonnie of Floresville, and Jack Van Winkle and wife Vickie of San Antonio; her daughter-in-law, Margaret Van Winkle of San Antonio; her sister, Fay Ollie Wessels; her 7 grandchildren, Jimmy Van Winkle and wife Teresa, Darla Van Winkle, Shane Van Winkle and wife Brandy, Dillon Van Winkle, Jack Van Winkle, Jr., and wife Jeannette, Jenica McGann and husband Nathan, and Andrew Van Winkle, and her 10 great-grandchildren, Jimmy, III, Justin, Nicole, Gus, Tate, Emory, Jack, III, Jonathan Van Winkle and Ella and Bennett McGann. Ms. Van Winkle is preceded in death by her parents; her son, Lowell D. Van Winkle; her sister, Melba and her brothers, Ben, and John Ferrell.

Visitation will be held Sunday, February 16, 2014 from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M., in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy, Texas. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 P.M., Monday, February 17, 2014 in the Eckols Chapel with Rev. Kyle Key officiating. Interment will follow in the Karnes City Cemetery, Karnes City, Texas.

Randall C. “Randy” Walker went home to be with his Savior, Sunday, February 9, 2014 at his residence in Choate, Texas, surrounded by his family at the age of 75 years, 11 months and 2 days.

Randy was born March 7, 1938 in Kenedy, Texas the son of Wilson H. Walker and Blanche Baker Walker. He married Mary Beth Copeland on November 22, 1956 in Choate, Texas; from this union came 4 children. Randy was a Deacon at Choate Baptist Church, where he proudly served. Randy retired from DuPont in 1998 after 31 years. Mr. Walker also served on the Pettus ISD School Board for 20 years. He had a servant’s heart and devoted his life to helping others. He was a kind man that never met a stranger and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Randy is survived by his beloved wife of over 57 years, Mary Beth Walker; his daughters, Staci Johnson and husband Patrick of San Antonio and Jana Maddox and husband Jason of Tuleta; his sons, Scott Walker and wife Marietta of Choate and Jeffery Walker and wife Mary of Choate, and his 11 grandchildren. Mr. Walker is preceded in death by his parents, Wilson and Blanche Walker, and his grandson, Jeffery Paul Walker II.

Visitation will be held, Wednesday, February 12, 2014, from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M., in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy, Texas. Funeral services will begin, 2:00 P.M., Thursday, February 13, 2014 in the Eckols Chapel with Rev. Vernon Andrews and Bro. Curt Moyer officiating. Interment will follow in the Choate Cemetery, Choate, Texas with his grandsons, Randall Scott Walker II, Michael Moravits, Justin Moravits, Kevin Johnson, Derek Walker, Noah Maddox and Danny Broll, serving as pallbearers. Serving as an honorary pallbearer will be Casey Walker.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Choate Baptist Church Cemetery Maintenance Fund; 1441 CR 129, Kenedy, Texas 78119.

Sam G. Hemby, 85, passed away Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, at his home in Kenedy.

He was born June 24, 1928, at Rancho Grande in Lenz, to Sam Houston and Sadie Magee Hemby.  He graduated in 1946 from Kenedy High School and entered the U.S. Marine Corps. He served from 1946 to 1948 with Unit T in the First Tank Battalion, stationed at Camp Pendleton, and was a tank commander.  After service to his country, he returned to South Texas and went to Southwest Texas State University on the G.I. Bill. He worked in the oilfields of South and Central America before returning to his hometown to settle down, raise a family and farm and ranch on his acreage in Kenedy. He continued to work in the oil and uranium industries until retiring in 1982 from Chevron Resources.

In 1967, he married Kay Krause.  She preceded him in death in 1986. He married Pat Crowell in 1987. They enjoyed traveling. He also craved gaining knowledge about anything he could. He liked talking about arrowheads, his days in the oilfields of South America, his Limousine cattle and the crops on his farm.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Kay; his five older siblings Medley Hemby, Mildred “Sis” Ladewig, Alta Blaise, Thelma “Mim” Hyltin and Nell Olsen; and his son Bill Hemby.

He is survived by his wife Pat; two sons Jim (Lisa) Hemby of Highlands, Texas, and Doug (Flordilisa) Hemby of Ore City, Texas; his daughter Julie (Fred) Nichols of Karnes City; five grandchildren Gerald Hemby of Fayetteville , Ark., Devon Hemby of La Porte, Texas, Meagan Hemby of Highlands, Dylan Nichols of Karnes City and DJ Hemby of Ore City; and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, at Eckols Funeral Chapel, Kenedy. Funeral services began at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, at Eckols Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Sue Huntsman of First United Methodist Church, Karnes City, officiating.  A military burial followed in the Kenedy Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Karnes City, to the American Heart Association or to the charity of one’s choice.