Ramona “Mona” Pena DeLeon Age 37, of Kenedy, TX passed away on Feb. 27, 2015 in San Antonio, TX.  She was born on Oct. 10, 1977 in San Antonio, TX to Irma Garza Pena and the late Alberto Pena.  She was a Human Resource office manager for Lariat Construction Company and a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

She is preceded in death by her father Alberto Pena and infant daughters Gabriella and Arisela DeLeon.

She is survived by her husband Gilberto DeLeon and daughter Abigail Faith DeLeon of Kenedy; mother Irma Pena of Kenedy; brothers, Jesse Albert Pena of Georgia, Lionel Pena of San Antonio; nieces Taylor Pena of Georgia and Illiana Arisela Pena of San Antonio; nephews Aaron Pena of Georgia, Jordan Elijah Pena of San Antonio, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A Rosary will be recited Wed. March 4, 2015 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  A Funeral Mass will be held Thur. March 5, 2015 at 9:30 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Norbert Hermann Officiating.  Interment will follow in the Loma Alta Cemetery in Kenedy, TX.

Serving as Pallbearers will be Felix Saenz, Lee Hext, Matthew Hinojosa, Rudy Casarez, Jacob Hinojosa, Zeke Jacquez, Michael Arrieta, and Michael Medina.

This story begins in 1932 when James Edwin Russell, Jr. was born in Mauldin, Massachusetts on August 3^rd to parents James Edwin Russell and Mabel Veale Russell. He lived a long and happy life for almost 83 years and left to meet his Lord on February, 28^th, 2015. Highlights of his life are too numerous to completely list but include an Eagle Scout ranking,  flying solo while in the Air Force, a 42-year career in Education, a 29 year marriage, raising two kids and a lifelong love of beagles.

His family returned to their home in Floresville, TX where Jim was raised and graduated from high school in 1949. He received his B.A. from Baylor University in 1955 and then his Masters of Education degree in 1957. After that, he served as a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Air Force in Merced, CA. He began his teaching career in Temple, TX in 1960 teaching science and math.  He married Bonnie Frances Miller in 1961 and moved to Austin in 1962 where he taught science at Fulmore Junior High.  He furthered his career into school administration as Assistant Principal of Brownfield High School in 1965 and then Principal of Brownfield Junior High School. In 1968, he moved to Austin and later to New Braunfels in 1970 as Assistant Superintendent of Comal Independent School District.  During this time, he further studied and received his PhD in School Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1972. Jim continued as Assistant Superintendent at C.I.S.D. until 1983 when he accepted a new position as Assistant Superintendent of Personnel at Hays Consolidated Independent School District.  Moving with his family to Buda at that time, he continued there until his retirement in 1994. During “retirement” he worked seasonally for the I.R.S. for ten years.

Jim was an active person who enjoyed basketball, tennis, water skiing, snow skiing, scuba diving, bowling, and many other activities. Jim also enjoyed music and sang throughout his life with church choirs, barbershop groups, and his gospel quintet. He was an active member of the First Baptist Churches in New Braunfels, Manchaca, and later at Allandale Baptist.

Jim is survived by his son, James Lawrence Russell (Jimmy) and wife Tamara; by his daughter Laurie Frances Garrant and her husband Tony; by his sisters Jeanne Ruhmann and Karen Ewing and their families; and by numerous nephews, nieces, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Ed Ruhmann, nephew Paul Ruhmann, and brother-in-law Paul Miller.

Services will be held at Eckols Funeral Home in Kenedy, TX  (420 W. Live Oak.) on Thursday, March 5^th at 2:00 p.m. with viewing starting at 1:00 p.m. Burial to follow at Kenedy Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the following charities:  Accolade Hospice,  Alzheimer’s Association, and University United Methodist Church in Austin, TX.  Accolade:  PO Box 525, Yoakum, TX 77995  University United Methodist Church: 2409 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705  Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org

Eunice Levora Rogers Schroller went home to be with her Lord at 9:00PM
on Sunday, February 22, 2015. She was greeted in heaven by Leo,
1913-2005 and Leo Jr, 1945-1969, granddaughter Cheryl, 1962-2011 and
daughter Charlotte Ann, 10-24-1939–12-09-2014.
She was born in Choate, TX on January 7, 1917 to Hubert William Rogers
and Ida Lee Vickery Rogers. Eunice attended Green School and married
Leo Joe Schroller September 4, 1937. They spent 68 years together.
They had four children and were active in the Pawnee Baptist Church and
Windsor Park Baptist Church in Corpus Christi. Eunice was a Teachers’
Aide in Pawnee and Corpus Christi for 17 years.
She is survived by daughter Irene and Ellis Brasher, Rusk TX and
daughter Elaine and Reginald Gregory, Dallas TX and son-in-law Charles
Dekle, Corpus Christi, TX and son, Kyle Alderink. She was known as Big
MaMa to surviving grandchildren, Carol and Stephen Smith, Branson MO,
Candice and Paul Mills, Corpus Christi, TX and Rocky and Shari Bassham,
Corpus Christi, TX. She was loved by 8 great grandchildren and 15 great
great grandchildren. To know Eunice was to love her. Eunice and Leo
taught us love and were perfect examples in their daily life. “Love is
all we have, the only way each can help the other”.  Funeral Services will be on Friday, February 27, 2015 at 1:00PM at Eckols Funeral Home
Chapel in Kenedy, TX with burial to follow at Pawnee Cemetery

James A. Stewart died peacefully in his sleep on February 5, 2015, one day short of his 95^th birthday.  The fifth child of Ollie Bull and Maude Stewart, James was born on February 6, 1920, in Kenedy, Texas.  Shortly after, they make their home in Karnes City, where he proudly called home for the rest of his life.  He is preceded in death by his sister Irene Sawyer, and brothers Brainard, Virgil and Edward.  After graduating from Karnes City High School, he received a music scholarship to attend college in Denton, TX. However, college was cut short with the outbreak of WWII when he joined the armed forces. He was assigned to the 36^th Texas Division of the U.S. Army and deployed to North Africa and Italy.  James was a decorated veteran as well as a member of the Army band.

After 5 years of service and the end of WWII, James returned to Karnes City and soon met the love of his life of 69 years, June Killingsworth.   He had a hardware store for a short while, before he and June opened Stewart Avenue Cleaners.  He and June worked side-by-side for many years offering this service to the community.

A patient, kind and loving husband and dad, he is survived by his wife June; his three sons and their wives, Ronnie and Nancy, Buddy and Marnie, and Gerald and Karen.  He was also devoted to his four grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

With a strong Christian faith being central in his life, James was an active leader in his church and the community.  He was a member of the Karnes City United Methodist Church for 89 years and was involved in several civic organizations including Jaycees, Masons, Chamber of Commerce, volunteer fire department, 4H club and Boy Scouts.  In retirement he enjoyed fishing, golf, gardening and having coffee with his many local friends.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10:00 on Saturday at United Methodist Church in Karnes City.  The family welcomes all to attend and celebrate the life of their beloved husband, father and grandfather.

Rodolfo “Rudy” Cruz, Sr., Age 68 of Kenedy, TX passed away on Thur. Jan.29, 2015 in Victoria, TX.  He was born on July 4, 1946 in Karnes City, TX to the late Gumecindo, Sr. and Yrenia Sauceda Cruz.  He was a retired heavy equipment operator and a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

Rudy is preceded in death by his parents Gumecindo, Sr. and Yrenia Sauceda Cruz; sister Petra Cruz Rodriguez; brothers, Crespin Perez, Cruz, Sr., and Felipe Cruz, Sr.

He is survived by his daughters, Pamela Hernandez and husband Jesus of Kenedy, Christi Rangel of Kenedy; sons, Rudy Cruz, Jr. and wife Alesha of Kenedy, Simon Cruz and wife Rose Marie of Kenedy; sisters, Connie Aguero  of Karnes City, Cynthia Cruz-Rosales o Karnes City; brothers, Eugenio Perez-Cruz of Bloomington, Joe Cruz, Sr. of Karnes City, Daniel Cruz of Karnes City, Pablo Cruz, Sr. of Karnes City, Rick Cruz of Karnes City, Gumecindo Cruz, Jr. of Kenedy; 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

A Rosary will be recited Fri. Jan 30, 2015 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated Sat. Jan. 31, 2015 at 10AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Norbert Hermann officiating.  Interment will follow in the New Bremen Cemetery.