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.

Juanita Contreras of Kenedy died Oct. 27, 2016 at the age of 86. She was born in Yorktown to Francisco and Nicolasa Perez Contreras.  She was a house kepper and a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

She is survived by sisters  Rosalinda Alaniz of Dallas, Sylvia Rangel of Edna, Mary Jane Jaramillo of LaVernia. Brother, Rogelio Contreras.   She is preceded by her sisters Carmen Reyna, Susana Garcia and Josephina Garcia, and one brother Nicholas Contreras.

A rosary will be recited Sunday, October 30, 2016 at 7 PM from the Eckols Chapel. Funeral mass will be held Monday October 31, 2016 at 10:00 AM from Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy.

Albert Dufour age 23 of Thomball, TX died Oct 27, 2016.  He is the son of Alberto and Ofelia Cruz Dufour.  He was catholic and a college student.  He is survived by his mother Ofelia Cruz and brothers Omied Sadeghi of Spring and Navied Sadeghi of Houston.  Funeral Mass will be held Sat. Nov. 5, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.  Interment will be in the Loma Alta Cemetery.

Hortencia Canales Guerra, Age 71 of Karnes City, TX passed away on October 31, 2016 in Floresville, TX. She was born on October 20, 1945 in Monterey Nuevo Leon, Mexico.  She was a homemaker and of the Catholic Faith. She is preceded in death by her parents.  She is survived by her loving husband Roberto F. Guerra, Sr. of Karnes City, daughter, Irma Patricia Guerra of Karnes City; son Roberto F. Guerra, Jr of Seguin.  A Holy Rosary will be recited Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 9AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Norbert Herman officiating.  Interment will follow in the Guerra Family Ranch Cemetery.

Charlene G. Stockton age 88 formerly of Kenedy died Oct. 27, 2016 in Universal City. She was born in Kenedy to Charles & Josie Shaw Gruenwald.  She married Walter Stockton Aug. 3, 1963 in Karnes City and he preceded her in death Aug. 10, 2006.

She is survived by her daughters, Talitha (Jim) Allee of Sandia, TX, Lisa (Larry) Novak of Kenedy, sons Tracy (Elizabeth) Nash of Universal, City and Wayne (Darlene) Stockton of Kenedy.

A visitation will be held Monday at the Eckols Chapel from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Funeral services will  be at 2:00 PM in the Eckols Chapel with Bro. Jeff  Spendlove officiating.  Interment will be in the Kenedy Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Jim Allee, Wayne Stockton, Larry Novak, James Linder, Wesley Nash, Josh Stockton.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Joseph Maxted, and Trace Nash.

Maria “Cora” Puente Elizondo, Age 87 of Kenedy, TX passed away Tuesday, October 18, 2016 in San Antonio, TX. Maria was born on March 10, 1929 in Kenedy, TX to the late Arnulfo and Saragosa Vasquez Puente.   She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother a homemaker and a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

She is preceded in death by her husband Dolorez Elizondo; parents, Arnulfo and Saragosa Puente; brothers, Martin Puente, Lupe Puente, Valentin Puente, Alfonso Puente and Big John Puente.

She is survived by her daughters Lupe Guerrero and husband Tito of San Antonio, TX, Julia Sanchez of San Antonio, TX; son, Kelly Elizondo and wife Ofelia of Austin, TX; sisters, Tila Solis of Kenedy, TX, Fannie Lopez of Edinburg, TX; brother, Gilbert Puente of Kenedy, TX; granddaughters, Amaris Guerrero of San Antonio, TX, Merida Elizondo of Austin, TX and great-grandson Tristan Dorado of San Antonio, TX.

A Holy Rosary will be recited on Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, October 21, 2016 at 11AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Norbert Hermann officiating.  Interment will follow in the Loma Alta Cemetery.

Serving as Pallbearers will be Martin Puente, Jr., Michael Solis, David Puente, Johnny Puente, Ricky Puente, and Rene Solis.