Obituaries

May 2003 Obituary Listings

Meda Anna Reus Ahr, age 92, of La Coste passed away May 24, 2003, in Castroville. She was born July 10, 1910, in La Coste. Funeral service was held Tuesday May 27, 10 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Castroville. Interment at Zion Lutheran Cemetery.

Rosa Maria Balenzuela, age 58, passed away May 5, 2003, in Denver, CO.

Ismael Botello, age 43, of Castroville passed away on May 30, 2003, in San Antonio. He was born April 26, 1960, in Castroville. Visitation was held Monday, June 2, 12 noon to 8 p.m., at Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home with Rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church. Interment was at St. Louis Catholic Cemetery in Castroville.

Hazel Mae Bragg, age 92, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away May 25, 2003, in San Angelo. Graveside service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, in Glen Cove Cemetery with Jack Cosby officiating.

Mason H. Butler Jr., age 52, of Castroville went to rest with God May 15, 2003. He was born April 12, 1951, in Victoria . Funeral service was held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Thrift Memorial Chapel at Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio. Interment was at San Jose Burial Park. A reception followed the graveside service at the Fellowship Hall at Trinity Baptist Church.

Ceferino Cabrera, age 83, passed away May 3, 2003, in San Antonio. He was born November 8, 1919, in Biry. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, and the funeral service was at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 5, both at the Guinn-Horger Funeral Home. Interment followed at the Yancey Cemetery.

Roberto N. Campos, 59 of Taylor, formerly of Hondo, died Monday, May 12, 2003, at the Temple VA Hospital, after a year-long battle with cancer.
Rosary was recited at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 14, 2003, at Providence Funeral Home. Celebration of Life Mass was at 2 p.m., Thursday, May 15, 2003, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Taylor with Father Tom Chamberlain officiating. Burial was at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Cemetery in Taylor.

Naomi "Sugar" Carter, age 83, of Natalia passed away Saturday, May 17, 2003, in San Antonio. She was born in Devine, Feb. 13, 1920. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, at Hurley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John Greene officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery Devine.

Jose C. Contreras Sr., age 96, passed away May 19, 2003, at Medina Community Care Center in Hondo. He was born in D'Hanis, Jan. 9, 1907. Rosary was recited Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Rushing-Estes-Knowles Chapel in Sabinal. Mass of the resurrection was at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 22, in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Sabinal, with Father Einer Ochoa officiating. Interment followed in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Sabinal.

Jose Roberto "Bobby Joe" Cortez, age 50, passed away May 1, 2003, in D'Hanis. He was born January 21, 1953, in Hondo. Rosary was recited at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 5, and the Funeral Mass
followed the rosary, both at the Holy Cross Catholic Church. Interment followed at the San Francisco Cemetery.

Michael Ray Cruz was still-born May 7, 2003, at Southwest General Hospital in San Antonio. The baby is survived by his parents, Adolfo Cruz III and
Andrea Rodriguez of San Antonio. Graveside service was held Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Hillcrest Cemetery.

Our angel, Reagan Mercedes Duncan, 16 months, was called by our Lord on Saturday, May 17, 2003.
She is survived by her parents, Ray E. and Denise Duncan of Devine; sister, Haleigh; brother, Ryan; Funeral service was held at 9 a.m. May 21, at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, San Antonio. Interment followed at Lytle Community Cemetery, Lytle.

Thelma L. Felts, age 98, passed away May 6, 2003 in Hondo. Graveside service was at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 9, at the Sabinal Cemetery.

Paul Eugene Ferguson, age 78, of Rio Medina passed away May 24, 2003, at his home. He and his wife are owner/ operators of Rio Medina Riverside Park. Funeral service was held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Grace Community Church, Castroville, with Rev. Kent Carnley officiating. Interment was at Mission Burial Park North in San Antonio.

Wilbur Karl Grell, age 64, of Llano passed away May 5, 2003. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Friday, May 9, at St. James Lutheran Church, Llano. Interment followed in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Mills County.

Nancy Jane Hardt, age 73, of Port Lavaca, formerly of Devine, passed away May 13, 2003, in Houston. Visitation was from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home, Port Lavaca. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Monday, May 19, at the First United Methodist Church of Hondo. Interment was at Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section.

Helen A. Hecox entered into rest May 21, 2003, in Schertz at the age of 80. She was born Dec. 1, 1922, in Hondo. Funeral service was held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Schertz United Methodist Church in Schertz. Interment followed at Sunset Memorial Park.

Josefina "Josie" G. Hernandez, age 48, of Devine passed away Monday, May 26, 2003, in San Antonio.
Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, in Hurley Funeral Home Chapel. Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 29, in St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery.

Doris Lavie Hitzfelder, age 81, of Natalia passed away May 19, 2003, in Devine. She was born in Sayre, OK, July 1, 1921. Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at First Baptist Church, Natalia, with Rev. Jason Walters officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery, Devine.

Sister Dorothy Louise Hoog, CDP, age 79, passed away May 13, 2003, in San Antonio. Wake was held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15. Funeral Mass held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 16. Both services were located at Our Lady of the Lake
Chapel, San Antonio.

Marilyn L. Jolley, age 44, lost her battle to cancer on May 28, 2003. She was born May 13, 1959. Funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 31, in the Faith Community Bible Church in Hondo with Pastor Michael Lopez officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery, Devine.

Mark Ellis Kearton, age 39, of Miami, FL, passed away Thursday, May 1, 2003. He was born in Fayetteville, NC, on Sept. 10, 1963. Graveside service was at Longview Cemetery, Bigfoot with Pastor Dale Brynestad officiating.

Geraldine "Geri" Buckner Lessing, 78, of Natalia passed away Sunday, May 4, 2003, in Jourdanton.
Visitation was held Tuesday, May 6, 2 to 9 p.m., with Rosary recited at 7 p.m. in the chapel of the Hurley Funeral Home, Devine. Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Interment was in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Devine.

Jorah Michelle Burrow Long, age 36, of San Antonio passed away on May 7, 2003. She was born on July 14, 1966, in Magnolia, AR. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North, San Antonio.

Juan Herrera Martinez, age 76, of La Coste passed away Thursday, May 1, 2003, at his home. He was born Feb. 8, 1927, in La Coste. Visitation was Monday, May 5, 2 to 8 p.m., with Rosary recited at 7 p.m. at the Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home in Castroville. Funeral Mass was held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, La Coste. Interment
was held at 1:15 p.m. with full military honors at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

Reymundo Martinez, age 26, of Devine passed away Sunday, May 4, 2003, in Devine. He was born April 7, 1977, in Libertyville, IL. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 8, Hurley Funeral Home
Chapel with Bro. J.D. Saunders officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery.

MSGT Warren "Mac" McDaniel, USAF retired, age 81, of Castroville passed away Sunday, May 18, 2003, in Castroville. He was born Nov. 25, 1921, in
Columbia, MS. The Rosary and Funeral Mass were Wednesday, May 21, 10 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church. Interment with full military honors was at St. Louis Cemetery in Castroville.

Mary Meyer, age 82, of Lytle passed away Saturday, May 3, 2003, in San Antonio. Graveside service was held Thursday, May 8, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio.

Margarita Monreal, age 76, of Devine passed away Tuesday, May 6, 2003, in San Antonio. Funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 9, at Betania Mission Baptist Church. Interment followed at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Terry Ann Morris, age 62, of Pearland passed away on May 14, 2003, in MD Anderson Hospital in Houston. Memorial service was on Sunday, May 18, in Pearland at Corl's Funeral Home.

John Devereaux Pursley, age 67, of Bandera and formerly of Devine, passed away Sunday, May 4, 2003, in San Antonio. Funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10, in Hurley Funeral Home Chapel. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery.

Lucy Quiroga, age 83, of Natalia passed away Saturday, May 31, 2003, in Natalia. She was born in Gold Finch, Feb. 1, 1920. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 5, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church with Father Romeo Olivares officiating. Interment was in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery.

Leonor C. Reyes, age 77, of Natalia passed away May 19, 2003. She was born in Dilley, Dec. 16, 1925.
Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 22, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church, Natalia, with Father Romero Olivares officiating. Interment followed in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Devine.

E. Jewell Cloud Riff, age 82, passed away May 1, 2003, in Hondo. She was born October 2, 1921, in Connehata, MS. Funeral service was at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, at the New Fountain United Methodist Church. Interment followed at the Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section.

Shirley Madge Engelina (Haby) Saathoff passed away May 11, 2003. She was born June 24, 1921, in the Sturm Hill Community of Medina County. Funeral service was at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 13, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hondo.

Luz Saldana, age 77, of Natalia, passed away Saturday, May 31, 2003, in San Antonio. She was born in Devine, Dec. 31, 1925. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 4, at St. John Bosco
Catholic Church with Father Romeo Olivares. Interment followed in Moore Catholic Cemetery.

Dollie Mae Savage, age 98, of Devine passed away Sunday, May 11, 2003. She was born Dec. 27, 1904, in Grand Saline. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, at First Baptist Church with Rev. Gregory Savage and Dr. Glenn Young officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery.

Walter Cody Sellers of Moore passed away Sunday, May 4, 2003, in Devine at the age of 20. He was born in San Antonio, June 22, 1982. Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, at First Baptist Church, Devine, with Dr. Glenn Young officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery.

Philip Walter Steinmacher, age 44, born Aug. 12, 1958, passed from this life Sunday, May 10, 2003.
Visitation was held Wednesday, May 14, from noon - 9 p.m. Holy Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, May 15, at 2 p.m., at St. John's Catholic Church.

Floyd Glen "Cody" Tomerlin, age 83, of San Antonio, formerly of Hondo, passed away May 24, 2003. He was born July 11, 1919, in Tarpley. A memorial service was held Wednesday, May 28, at 9 a.m., at First United Methodist Church of Hondo. A reception followed in the fellowship hall of the church.

Lucille Pichot Tomerlin, age 81, of San Antonio, formerly of Hondo, passed away Monday, May 12, 2003. She was born Aug. 11, 1921, in D'Hanis.
Memorial service was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, at First United Methodist Church, Hondo. Reception followed in the Fellowship Hall of the
church immediately after the services.

Joseph Aelred "Allie" Tondre, born January 10, 1922, in Castroville died Thursday, May 1, 2003, at the age of 81. Visitation was Saturday, May 3, 3 to 9 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. Mass was held Sunday, 2 p.m., at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, La Coste. Interment, with military honors was at Our Lady of Grace Cemetery in La Coste.

Alton J. "Brutz" Tschirhart, age 77, of Castroville passed away Saturday, May 3, 2003, in San Antonio. He was born Feb. 16, 1926, in Castroville. Visitation was Tuesday, May 6, 3 to 6 p.m., at Tondre-Guinn Chapel and Funeral Mass was celebrated at 7:30 p.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church. Rosary was recited at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home in Castroville. Entombment was at St. Louis Cemetery Garden Mausoleum in Castroville followed the Rosary.