Melton “Bits” Braudaway passed peacefully to the heavens surrounded with love by family and friends on January 5, 2017. He was born December 15, 1941 in Fort Worth, TX to John Henry Braudaway, Sr. and Elenora Kotara Braudaway both deceased.  Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 51 years, Margie Roberts Braudaway, daughter Chaliise Braudaway Mackey, Doug of Victoria, TX and son Britton Braudaway, Susan of Port O’Connor,TX, grandchildren Lauren Preston, Kevin of Roanoke, TX and Terrell Braudaway of Cedar Park, TX.  Brothers John Braudaway Jr, Charlene of  Karnes City, TX, Jessie Braudaway, Carolyn of Springfield, VA, Alton Braudaway, Karen of Zephyr, TX.  Sherwin “Joe” Braudaway deceased.  Sisters Genevia Hahn, Charles of Cuero, TX, Sharon Champagne, Keith of Bedford, TX and numerous nieces and nephews. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, and friend.

Bits attended Texas State University. He worked for Oscar Mayer for ten years after which he had a successful 37 year career in the structural steel business.  He was a member of the Choate Baptist Church and proudly served in the United States Marine Corp.  He enjoyed his recent retirement, traveling, and his love for his place in Port O’Connor, TX.  He was a remarkable man of wit and wisdom.  Through his strength and courage he made every day a joy to his family and friends.

The viewing will be Monday, January 9, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 P. M. at Eckols Funeral Home in Kenedy, TX. The service is Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. at Eckols Funeral Home with internment at Choate Cemetery in Choate, TX.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 4241 E. Piedras Dr, Suite 171, San Antonio, TX 78228 or Choate Cemetery, 6433 State Hwy 239, Kenedy, TX 78119.

Pauline M. Hollan, Age 95 of Kenedy, TX passed away January 1, 2017 in Karnes City, TX. Pauline was born on January 8, 1921 in Kenedy, TX to the late Luis and Emilia Foncesa Martinez.  She was a Beauty Shop Owner and operator for many years in Kenedy.    She married Jimmie Hollan Sept. 9, 1939 in Kenedy.  She is survived by her 3 daughters Alice Cantu of Beeville, Grace (Armando) Aguirre of Kenedy, and Helen (Rudy) Gutierrez of Tempe.  She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Cindy Cantu, Jimmy (Elsa), Geno (Deb), Dennis (Laura), John (Mary Alice), Grace (Paul), Jessica (Tim), Alice (Rob); 11 Great-grandchildren and 1 Great-great-grandson. She is preceded in death by a brother, Juan Martinez; and son in law Lorenzo Cantu.

A Holy Rosary will be recited Tue., Jan 3, 2017 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held Wed. Jan. 4, 2017 at 10AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.  Interment will follow in the Loma Alta Cemetery.  Grandsons will be serving as pallbearers.

Mary Ann (Johnson) Kolodziej passed away on Monday, December 26, 2016 in Live Oak Nursing Center after suffering with Alzheimer’s since 2010. Mary Ann was born June 12, 1940 at Kenedy Hospital in Kenedy, Texas to Charles Edward Johnson and Annie Mary (Schroller) Johnson. She married Wilbert Lee “Caliche” Kolodziej on June 13, 1959 in Pawnee, Texas. After graduation from Pawnee High School in 1958, Mary Ann started out as a housewife following her husband and his job all over South Texas, which included the towns of Falfurrias, Beeville, Robstown, and Alice. On December 21, 1960, while living in Beeville, they welcomed their first child, Calvin Michael. Shortly after his birth, they were relocated to Robstown, and on July 31, 1962 they welcomed Cynthia Michelle, who completed their family. Once both children were in school, Mary Ann went to work for Walter F. Hartman, MD and continued to work for him over the next 17 years. After being relocated to Alice, Mary Ann worked for Dodson’s Jewelers. In 1991, after Wilbert retired from Halliburton, they moved to Sinton where Mary Ann worked for Eleanor’s Boutique, Beall’s, and then finally decided to try substitute teaching, which she enjoyed until her retirement due to Alzheimer’s. In April of 2010, Wilbert and Mary Ann fully retired to Tuleta, Texas.  Mary Ann and Wilbert’s favorite pastime was to go dancing. They, along with their children, spent many nights at the Robstown Community Hall and surrounding dancehalls in South Texas, with Mary Ann and Wilbert dancing while Michael and Michelle were asleep on pallets underneath a table. Their favorite band was the Pavelka’s Orchestra.  Mary Ann was a nurturer and a spoiler. She loved to take care of her family, which included waiting on them hand and foot. Known as MeeMaw to her grandkids and as GiGi to her great grandkids, she loved spoiling them, it was just what she did and it made her happy.  Mary Ann is preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert, her parents- Edward and Annie Johnson, her brother, Charles, and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leon and Meta Kolodziej. Left behind to cherish her memory are her two brothers- Norman Ray (Marcella) Johnson and Gary (Betty) Johnson, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lynette and Clem Jarzombek, sister-in-laws- Kay Francis Eldridge and LaAnna Johnson, numerous nieces and nephews, children- Michael (Kim) Kolodziej of Sinton, and Michelle (Danny) Morris of Tuleta; grandchildren- Jenifer Lyn (Chris), Ashley Nicole, Lindsey Renee (Richard), Reagan Beth, William “Will” Tyler, Taylor Marie, and Brandon Kyle (Carina); and great grandchildren- Brooke Avery, Carter Ryan, Landon Michael Lee, and one due in June 2017.  The family of Mary Ann (Johnson) Kolodziej wishes to thank all of you for your prayers, love, and support through this difficult time. May God bless you all!  Memorial gifts honoring Mary Ann may be given in the Memory of Mary Ann Kolodziej to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 29, 2016 form 10AM to 11AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  Services will begin at 11AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  Interment will follow in the Pawnee Cemetery, Pawnee, TX.

Pallbearers: Jason Eldridge, Lance Johnson, Chris Johnson, Will Kolodziej, Jeffrey Johnson and Brandon Morris.

The ladies of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will have a luncheon prepared following the graveside service at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in Kenedy, Texas for those that are able to attend.

Agnes Remmer, age 94 of San Antonio, TX formerly of Kenedy, TX was born on August 15, 1922 in Praha, TX and passed away on December 25,2016 in San Antonio, TX . Agnes is survived by her brother Edwin Kubena of San Antonio, 2 Sons Victor Remmers Jr and wife Rose of Fort Worth and Dennis Remmers and wife Dorothy of Three Rivers, 5 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Agnes was preceded in death by her husband Victor Remmers,Sr. and son Louis Remmers.  Agnes was born in Praha Texas to Bohumir and Frances Kubena.  Agnes was a loving mother who worked hard to support her family. She loved her children &her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the light of her life.

A Holy Rosary will be recited Friday, December 30, 2016 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 10AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Norbert Hermann officiating.  Interment will follow in the Kenedy Cemetery.

Margaret Padron Cano was born in Kenedy to Felix Padron Jr. and Argelia Padron. She was a homemaker and cook for restaurants. She attended Kenedy Public Schools. She is survived by her sons and daughters: Ruben Anthony Cano Jr. of San Antonio, TX, Kevin (Mary Jane)Cano, of Karnes City,TX, Wendy Cano, of Runge,TX and Tiffany Cano (Austin Blanco), of Runge,TX; brothers and sisters, Martha (Carlos) Soto, of Kenedy,TX, Melinda Padron, of Kenedy,TX, Felix (Mary Louise) Padron, III, Karnes City,TX, Fabian (Sylvia) Padron, of Karnes City,TX, Frank (Becky) Padron, of Kenedy,TX, Magdelena (Don) Cornelius of New York, NY Mary Ann Garcia, of Karnes CIty,TX, Minerva (Lloyd) Crawford, of Houston,TX and Marina (Prudencio) Sifuentes of Runge, TX. and 14 grandchildren. Visitation and Prayer Service was held on Friday, December 23, 2016 at Eckols Chapel.

Bertha Lee Malaer age 95 of Tuleta, Texas passed away Dec. 17, 2016 in her home. She was born on Oct. 3, 1921 in Center, Texas to Charlie and Eunice Clark Allen.

Bert married Clifton Malaer on Aug. 5, 1939 in Luling, Texas. She retired from the Pettus ISD school cafeteria and the Tuleta Post Office.  Granie Bert loved and enjoyed her children, grandchildren, all of her “great grands” and her many nieces and nephews.  Gardening and quilting were two of her favorite activities.

Bert was a member of the First Christian Church of Pettus. There she served the Lord in many capacities.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant son, her daughter –in-law Shirley Malaer and three brothers.

Survivors include her son, Louis Malaer of Tuleta, daughter Katy Dusek and husband Jim of Victoria, brother Weldon Allen and wife Loyce of San Antonio, 8 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 3 great- grea t grandsons and many nieces , and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM at the Eckols Chapel.  Funeral services will be held at the Eckols Chapel at 11:00 AM on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016.  Interment will follow in the Beeville Memorial Park in Beeville, TX.  Memorial may be made to the First Christian  Church of Pettus, PO Box 133 Pettus, Texas 78146.

Werner E. Ahrens, 90, of Fashing, TX passed away Thursday, December 1, 2016. Mr. Ahrens was born in New Bremen, TX on November 3, 1926 to Rudolph and Elizabeth Ahrens. He was a member of Fashing Methodist Church, a farmer and insurance salesman for RVOS and SPJST. He is survived by his wife, Clara Bell of Fashing; sons, Calvin (Leslie) Ahrens, of Cuero, TX, Darwin (Ellen) Ahrens, of Luling, TX and Randall Ahrens, of Fashing, TX; four grandchildren, Dayna Mendez, Benjamin Ahrens, Philip Ahrens, Cameron Ahrens; two great grandchildren, Jude Mendez and Lorelai Ahrens. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 5, 2016 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 2:00 PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Cindy Rauser officiating.  Interment will follow in the Karnes City Cemetery, Karnes City, TX.  Serving as Pallbearers will be Dennis Ahrens, Kenneth Ahrens, Mark Heinsohn, Benjamin Ahrens, Philip Ahrens, and Cameron Ahrens.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Joe Weigang, Leroy Weigang, Gary Hierholzer, Jim Harlohs and John Kruger.

Mr. Antonio T. Davila passed away on November 26, 2016 in Kenedy, Texas at the age of 93. He was born June 29, 1923 in Woodsboro, Texas and spent his entire life in the small towns of South Texas.  He never learned to read or to write, but all of his surviving sons would get college degrees. He was a hard-working man who could fix anything – he ran a mechanics shop in Kenedy for many years and loved fixing tractors.  He loved the land and was also a longtime farmer and rancher, raising cattle and growing corn and watermelon, two of his favorite foods. He was very stubborn but a survivor – he survived being swept away in his truck by floodwaters, angioplasty surgery when he was in his 80s (shortly after his hospital stay, he hitchhiked home to his farm, catching rides with two deputies along the way) and a rattlesnake bite not long after that. Mr. Davila was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years Claudia Guerra Davila, whom he missed terribly, and by two sons, Tony Guerra Davila and Manuel Guerra Davila. He is survived by: sons, Alfred Guerra Davila, and his wife Viola Ann, and Rudy Guerra Davila, and his wife, Sylvia; daughter-in-law Madelon Davila; by five grandchildren, Cynthia Davila Johnson, Stephanie Davila Rodriguez, Tony Davila, Rudy Davila Jr., and Vianna Davila; and by great-grandchildren Gabriella and Luke Espurvoa, Trinity and Nathan Rodriguez, and Kortney Taylor. Viewing will be held at Eckols Funeral Home in Kenedy, Texas on Friday, December 2, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  A mass will be held at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy at 11:30 a.m.  Burial will follow.

Librado “Leo” Garza, Age 85 of Kenedy, TX passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2016   in Kenedy, TX.  Leo was born on December 11, 1930 in Kenedy, TX to the late Exiquio and Eliza Garcia Garza. He married Viola Lopez on June 23, 1953 in Kenedy, TX who preceded him in death. On May 27, 1973, he married Evangelina Salinas in Kenedy, TX. He retired from the Kenedy Compress as a Cotton Gin Operator and was a devout member of Calvary Baptist Church in Karnes City, TX.

He is preceded in death by his first wife Viola Lopez Garza; parents, Exiquio and Eliza Garcia Garza; son Alberto Garza; sisters, Elva Lara, Lena Cano; brothers, George Garza, Exiquio Garza and a grandson Michael Damien Garza.

He is survived by his loving wife Evangelina Salinas Garza of Kenedy; daughters Elisa Salais and husband Jesse of Kenedy, Elsie Lopez and husband Johnny of Beeville, Estella Garza of Kenedy, Ellia Garza of Kenedy, Sharon Beard and husband Robert of Dyresburg, TN, Anna Lisa Garcia of Kenedy; sons Arturo Garza and wife Judy of Kenedy, Lee Anthony Garza and wife Lori of Kenedy, Christopher Scott Garza and wife Crystal of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, David Garza of Runge; 33 grandchildren and 19 grandchildren.

Etta Lucille Gentry Champagne, Age 86 of Pettus, TX passed away Saturday, November 12, 2016 in Seguin, TX. Etta was born on March 1, 1930 in Cordell, OK to the late Walter Dabney and Selma Zenobia Guenther Gentry. On July 8, 1950, she married Gilford P. Champagne, of Houma, LA in Victoria, TX.  She graduated from Patti Welder High School and Victoria College in Victoria, TX and continued her education graduating from Texas A & I University in Kingsville in August of 1964.  She began teaching in Pettus as their Home Economics teacher that Fall…until she retired in 1997.  She was a resident of Pettus from 1964-2011. During her years as a Home EC teacher in Pettus, she served as the advisor for the Pettus Future Homemakers of America (FHA) where she had 2 State Officers, 9 Area X Officers, 4 Region V officers, 2 STAR Event participants that advanced to the State level, one of which won a Gold Medal at the National FHA Leadership Conference.  Etta had a servant’s heart as she dedicated her life to serving others, especially children, and loved to see them succeed.  She was an active member of the Bee County Junior Livestock and Homemakers Show Board; Charter member of Vocational Home Economics Teachers Association of Texas; Pettus Youth Boosters; Little League volunteer in Victoria, Beeville, and Pettus, serving as Secretary-Treasurer in Beeville; Boy Scout Den Mother in Victoria, Beeville and Pettus; PTA Secretary at Smith Elementary in Victoria and PTA President at Maddrea-Flournoy Elementary in Beeville; Brownie Scout Leader in Pettus.  She was an active Rotary “Ann” assisting in fundraisers and entertaining numerous District Governors’ wives during their visits to Pettus Rotary Club.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gilford P. Champagne; parents, Walter and Selma Gentry; sister, Frieda O’Hara; brothers, LeeRoy Gentry, Marcus Gentry, Kenneth Gentry, and Edward Gentry.

She is survived by her daughter, Kristy Michelle Keach and husband Sam of George West; sons, Keith Paul Champagne and wife Sharon of Bedford, Kyle Lynn Champagne and wife Donna of Pettus; 8 grandchildren:  Stephen (Monica) Champagne, Joanne (Jay) Sparks, and Preston Durham all of the DFW metro area; Kay Lynn (Doug) Hawkins of Seguin, Kerri (JD) Went of San Antonio, Kevin (Summer) Champagne of Ray Point, Katelyn and Kailey Keach, both students at Texas Tech University in Lubbock; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Peggy Gentry and Rosetta Gentry of Victoria, and Barbara Gentry of Meyersville; and her brother-in-law Alvin Bonvillain of Houma, LA…along with numerous nieces and nephews in Victoria, Cuero, Meyersville, Abilene, San Antonio, Rockport, Houston and the Houma, LA area.

Family Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 16, 2016 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel from 6PM to 8PM. Services will be held Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 10AM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Don Hessong officiating.  Interment will follow in the Beeville Memorial Park Cemetery in Beeville, TX.

In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the donor’s choice.