Lillie Elevena Thomas
1918-2012
Lillie Elevena Wendler Thomas, 94 years young, passed away Dec. 31, with her family by her side. She was just a few days shy of celebrating her 95th birthday.
She was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland to Paul and Agnes Wendler, who were from Olesnitz, Germany. The couple had 19 children of which Miss Lillie was the second eldest daughter.
Her love of journaling led to a long career of writing poems and stories taken from her interesting life - some of which were published. She also won a trip on Southwest Airlines for a Thanksgiving story she had written.
Miss Lillie moved to Texas after a home invasion occurred in her native Baltimore. During her grand new life in Boerne, she became the first volunteer sales person at Seasons, the Rainbow Senior Center Thrift Shop. She worked there until her health began to fail, forcing her to resign in January 2011.
Miss Lillie was a member of St. John Lutheran Church.
She leaves behind two daughters, Eleanor Perez and Frieda Dalton; seven grandchildren, including Toba Perez-Wright of Bandera; 13 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, with two more on the way; and three sisters and a brother, as well as by many nieces and nephews.
Miss Lille was predeceased by her husband, Fred Thomas.
Donations may be made in Miss Lillie's name to the Kronkosky Senior Center in Boerne.
A funeral service was held at Vaughn's Funeral Home in Boerne with interment in Baltimore.
Miss Lillie's soaring spirit and unbridled enthusiasm will be forever missed.
David L. dela Moriniere
1948-2013
David L. dela Moriniere passed from this world Tuesday, April 23. He was born in Kingsville on Dec. 31, 1948.
David served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He has been a resident of Bandera for more than 15 years.
David is survived by his son, Esten D. dela Moriniere of Sealy; mother Jane dela Moriniere and brother David Wilson and family, all of Houston; and brother Ralph dela Moriniere Jr. of San Antonio; as well as by a number of cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at noon, Saturday, May 4, at the Pavilion at the Bandera Beverage Barn, 1407 Highway 16 North.
John Robert Smith
1993-2013
John Robert Smith tragically passed away Friday, April 26, in Brownsville. He was born on May 23, 1993 in Lawton, Oklahoma.
He attended the Bandera Independent School District and graduated from Bandera High School in 2011, where he excelled in the sports program.
John was employed as a warehouse supervisor by the New Park Drilling Fluids of Cotulla.
His family and friends will remember John as a caring, compassionate individual who was referred to as "a gentle giant" and "a big teddy bear." He always had a smile on his face, a sparkle in his eye and hug for anyone he met.
In his short life, John touched many lives and made a huge impact on everyone he met. He loved to joke and have fun and make light of any situation.
Surviving family members include his mother and father, Anita and Spencer "Ernest" Smith, of Rancho Viejo; sister LeighAnn and her husband, Travis Reed, of Norfolk, Virginia; brother Jacob "Jake" Smith and his fiancée, Alexsandra Lopez, of Rancho Viejo; the love of his life, Gretchen Brosz of Bandera; great-grandmother Vonda L. McMillin of San Antonio; grandparents Bill and Janice Lamb of Pipe Creek; nephew Jacob Landon Smith of Abilene; niece KayLynn Elizabeth Reed of Norfolk; aunts, Sherry and James Leeper of Pipe Creek, and Michelle and Joseph Marshall of San Antonio; uncles, Billy and Samantha Lamb of El Dorado, Arizona, and Stacey and Rhena Smith of Amarillo; cousins, Josh and Cassandra Leeper of Lubbock; Nicholas Leeper of Pipe Creek; Amanda Smith and Clinton Smith both of Amarillo; Payton (Witten) and Daniel Fox of Junction City, Kansas; Madison Marshall, Matt Marshall, Jason Marshall, all of San Antonio; and Liam Lamb of El Dorado, along with many other aunts, uncles, cousins and numerous friends.
John was predeceased by his biological father, Edward Monroe Sanderson.
Pallbearers will be Jesse Stouflett, Michael Rivera, Travis Whitehead, Cole Hubble, Tyler Hall, Matt Groff, Jayce Lobert and Brodie Lester.
Honorary pallbearers will be Travis Reed, Joseph Marshall, James Leeper, Billy Lamb, Josh Leeper, Nicholas Leeper, Michael Dobson and Alex Connely.
The family would like to express their gratitude for the excellent care John received from Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera. The family would also like to express their gratitude to all of the many friends, families and the community of Bandera for the outpouring of love and support expressed during this time of grief.
A viewing for John will be held from 6 pm to 9 pm, Thursday, May 2, with services at 11 am, Friday, May 3, at Grimes Funeral Chapel in Bandera.
Internment will be at the Pipe Creek cemetery.
A luncheon will follow and those wishing to contribute are asked to call Monica Wilson, Anna Rivera or Sherry Leeper.
Albert 'Al' Garland Hamilton
1927-2014
Albert "Al" Garland Hamilton passed away Thursday, May 8, in Boerne. He was born Dec. 22, 1927, in Tupelo, Mississippi, to AG and Minnie Lee Hamilton.
A graduate of Mississippi State University and the University of Texas Law School, Al served honorably with the United States Navy during World War II.
His long and storied professional career included serving as a certified public accountant, attorney at law, oilman, industrialist, banker and rancher. Al also served as CEO, advisor and board member to numerous companies and charitable organizations.
While living on a ranch in Bandera, Al was active in the Bandera United Methodist Church.
He was also an accomplished tennis player, pilot, woodworker and storyteller. Al will be remembered not only as a wonderful husband and father, but also as a strong and innovative businessman and professional.
Al is survived by his wife, Sandra Martin Hamilton, of Boerne; daughters, Lisa Hamilton Youngdahl of Wayzata, Minnesota, and Lucy Lee Hamilton of Midland; son Stephen Lee Hamilton of Denver, Colorado; stepson Michael Allison of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and six grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his father, Arthur Garland Hamilton; mother Minnie Lee Hamilton; sister, Martha Frances (Ham) Embree; and brothers, Jack Spencer Hamilton and William Calvin Hamilton.
The funeral was held Monday, May 12, at St. John Lutheran Church. Interment followed at Boerne cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. John Lutheran Church of Boerne Building Fund, PO Box 1081, Boerne 78006; to Young Life Boerne-Texas Office, PO Box 1194, Boerne 78006; or to a charity of choice.
Vonia Lylee Dyer
1934-2014
Vonia Lylee Dyer of Bandera passed away Sunday, April 20, in Plano at the age of 79 years, 5 months and 9 days. She was born Sunday, Nov. 11, 1934 in Pulaski County, Missouri to Raymond Edward and Henrietta Thurly Porter Singleton.
Mrs. Dyer was very family oriented and cared deeply about her family. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends from the Riverside RV Park, which she managed for several years. Her grandchildren and granddogs gave her much joy!
A die-hard San Antonio Spurs fan, Mrs. Dyer also supported the Dallas Cowboys.
She was involved in her community. While serving on the City of Bandera Economic Development Corporation for over 10 years, Mrs. Dyer was instrumental in helping establish the use of the traditional Christmas decorations and other improvement projects for the city.
The simple things in life meant so much to her, such as gardening, reading, working jigsaw puzzles, watching classic television and trips to a casino. For herself, she was very frugal, but so giving to others.
She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth Ann Lawlis and her husband, Randy, of Bandera, and Rita Jean Riley and her husband, Kevin, of Coppell; grandchildren, Eric Lawlis and his wife, Nicole, and LaRae Bailey and her husband, Shannon, all of Bandera; great-grandchildren, Kinlee Lawlis, Waylon Bailey, Addysen Bailey and Kolbie Lawlis of Bandera; sisters, Vera Hock of Crocker, Missouri and Zetta Myers of Richland, Missouri; and granddogs, Molly and Leo Riley of Coppell.
Mrs. Dyer was predeceased by her parents, stepfather AF Stoumbaugh and brother Clyde Raymond Singleton.
Cards and wishes of sympathy may be mailed to the family at PO Box 665, Bandera 78003. A memorial service will be held in this fall in Bandera.
Family requests that memorial contributions in memory of Vonia Dyer be made to the Bandera County Boys and Girls Club to benefit the San Antonio Spurs Youth Basketball League, PO Box 3155, Bandera 78003. Telephone is 830-796-8109. Contributions may also be made online at www.bgcbanderacounty.org.
