Leonard Early
1953- 2015
US Army Ret. SSG. Leonard Ray Early was born June 9, 1953 and, with his family by his side, passed away on June 20, 2015.
He is survived by his wife Lori Early, son Jae Early, daughter Staci Bynum, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Len loved serving his country and enlisted into the Marine Corps at the age of 17, serving three years. After leaving the Marines, Len enlisted in the US Army and served over 20 years as an MP and tanker. He served his country for over 28 years.
He was also a member of the National Guard, working the riots in LA in the 80s; a member of the Kingsville County Sheriff Mounted Patrol, a volunteer firefighter in his home town, served as a police officer for the Department of Defense and coached for his children and grandchildren in many sporting activities.
He loved his music and making people laugh. He wrote, taught and played music most of his life. He also enjoyed acting and performing and was very proud of the shows he put on throughout Texas with his buffalos (bison) Lakoda and Little Bill. Len was born to be an entertainer and brought joy and laughter to so many people through his music and silly antics.
He loved and trusted the Lord and was a man of great integrity. He will be missed by all that knew him and will be forever in our hearts.
Visitation was held Monday, June 29, at Grimes Funeral Chapel in Bandera. Services were Tuesday, June 30, at Grimes, followed by a graveside service at Ft. Sam Houston National cemetery with full military honors.
A potluck will follow at the Lightning Ranch at 818 FM 1283, in Pipe Creek.
In lieu of flowers the family invites you to make donations to www.gofundme.com.
Jeanine Hicks
2015
Jeanine Hicks, 71, peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior Thursday, May 21, at her home in Kingsland. She was the oldest of four children of Carmen and DW "Speedy" Hicks of Bandera.
Jeanine graduated from Bandera High School in 1965 and, over the years, enjoyed the reunions with her classmates. While in high school, she served as pianist for the First Baptist Church of Bandera and enjoyed playing Christmas carols at family gatherings.
Jeanine graduated from Baylor University and always had a "wandering" spirit. She first worked in Washington, DC, and later moved to Los Angeles where she worked for Universal Studios. After returning home to Texas, Jeanine became a sales representative for clothing and accessories lines and later a vendor at the Dallas Apparel Mart.
In 1986, she served as regional director for the Texas Sesquicentennial Commission, traveling to large and small towns all over South Texas. In 1997, Jeanine opened her store, HIX Bandera, where she had fun selling western wear and Texas gifts to people from all over the world.
Always known for having a big heart, Jeanine lived her life helping those in need - whether people or animals. She ministered to those who "are the least of these" in God's kingdom. Jeanine had a special love for dogs and cats and, over her lifetime, rescued hundreds of them. She served on the board of directors of the Living Love Animal Rescue in Marble Falls, a no-kill shelter.
Her nieces loved their "Aunt Nean" - and she was always overly generous to them. Jeanine loved her church and her many friends there who were such a support to her. Jeanine also enjoyed "lunching" with her friends in the Marble Falls area, who provided her with love and happiness.
She is survived by her sister, Charmen Hicks Catlin and her husband, Larry, of Bryan; brothers, Dick W. Hicks Jr. of Bandera, and David C. Hicks and his wife, Robin, of College Station; nieces, Amanda Catlin of Dallas; Laurel Catlin Blue and her husband, Jason, of Austin; Cathleen Catlin Clough and her husband, Jon, of Norman, Oklahoma; and Macy Hicks and Carly Hicks, both of College Station; and by three great-nephews and one great-niece.
Jeanine is also survived by her longtime friend and caregiver, James Hicks, who lovingly cared for her during the last years of her life.
She was predeceased by her parents.
A memorial service is planned for 11 am, Thursday, June 18, at the Waldrope-Hatfield Funeral home in Kingsland. The Reverend Julian Potts of Holy Communion Church will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Living Love Animal Rescue, PO Box 1266, Marble Falls 78654.
Eloise Stowe
1922 - 2015
Eloise Stowe of Lakehills passed away on June 6, 2015 after a brief illness.
She was born in Zavala, Texas, on August 26, 1922, to Robert Locke and Lilly Barge Locke.
After graduating from high school, she briefly worked in San Antonio as a telephone operator where she met her husband and the love of her life, the late Major Norman L. "Butch" Stowe, United States Army. It took only eight dates for them to know they were a perfect match and married
.
They spent the next 21 years traveling all over the world with the US Army, to Japan, Germany, Korea and multiple places in the United States until their retirement in 1963.
Once retired, they returned home to San Antonio where they lived until they moved to Corpus Christi where Butch worked for ARADMAC as a test pilot for the Army's helicopter overhaul facility at CCAD/NAS Corpus Christi.
After Butch retired from CCAD, they built a home on Medina Lake, Lakehills, where they remained.
Eloise was a person who was always happy and found good in everything. She could always be counted on to help out whenever she saw the need. She was Army all the way, as well as a devoted Cowboys and Spurs fan, and could always be counted on to lead the charge at any Super Bowl game.
Eloise was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years in 2011. Survivors include her son Steven Lee, and wife Patricia; grandson Steven and wife Rachel, great-grandson Steven Ray; niece Tracy Cusack and husband, Chuck, and children; niece Stacy Vaughn, husband, Bill, and children; nephew Michael Locke and wife, Betty; dear friends Mark and Cathy Stevens of Kennebunk, Maine, David and Sandy Mauer of Lakehills, Lee and Lenna Newnam of Bandera, and many other life-long friends.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 16, at Del Angel, Roy Akers Funeral Home, 515 North Main Avenue, in San Antonio, at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in the name of Eloise Stowe to the American Legion Post 410, PR 37, Lakehills, Texas 78063.
Dannis Robinson
1943 - 2015
Dannis Lynn Robinson, 71, born in China, on Sept. 9, 1943, and a resident of the Beaumont area for 65 years, died on Sunday, May 31, 2015, at his home outside Bandera, Texas.
He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Kathy Johnson Robinson; son, Jeremy and his wife, Kara, of Silsbee; daughters, Jennifer Robinson of San Antonio; Julianne Robinson Garza and her husband, Ben, of San Antonio; and Feather Robinson Moon of Denver, Colorado; sisters, Joan Dudley and her husband, Marvin, of Taylor's Bayou and Jackie Horton of Groves; brothers, John Robinson and his wife, Elaine, of Beaumont; Martin Robinson of Seattle, Washington; Barry Robinson and his wife, Rosalinda, of Seguin; Garry Robinson of Beaumont; and Bennie Robinson and his wife, Janelle, of Woodville.
He was a proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren, Brayden, Isabella, Jeremiah, Zechariah, Adrianna, Milai, Zander, Avlynne, Evie, and Dani; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie Lea and Lloyd Robinson.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday, June 5, at Infant Jesus Catholic Church, 243 South LHS Drive, Lumberton, with interment following at China cemetery, China.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Knights of Columbus Council #7058, 9505 Colle, Lumberton, Texas 77657. Complete and updated information may be found at: broussards1889.com.
Tom Neeley
1935 - 2015
Tom Nelson Neeley of Bandera, 80, left to be with his Lord on June 30 after a long battle with cancer. Tom, or Nelson as a lot of his family called him, was born on Feb. 15, 1935, in Huntsville, Alabama.
He served in the US Army during the Korean War but right before he was to head to Korea he was sent to a ski school in Austria. He hated cold weather the rest of his life after being stationed in the Alps where snow came down on them all year. Anything below 80 degrees was too cold.
During his service Tom was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Army OCC Medal. After his service, he worked for IBM, Chrysler and Thiokol in the early days of the space program as a NASA contractor. He also spent time as a police officer in the state of Alabama for the city of Huntsville and as a Madison County Deputy. He was a member of the SWAT team. He also ran the family dairy farm for several years.
Tom retired from NASA where he was a contracting officer for 30 years, receiving many honors, including NASA Contract Manager of the Year and Space Flight Awareness Launch Honoree. He and Carol worked at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. He worked mainly in areas supporting the Space Shuttle Main Engine, the External Tank, and the International Space Station.
Tom and Carol were married
August 4, 1984, and spent 30 wonderful years together. His love of the Old West led them to retire in Bandera where he and Carol have spent many years performing with the Bandera Cattle Company Gunfighters. He was a member of the Western Heritage Cowboy Church.
Tom loved his family more than life itself.
Tom is survived by his wife, Carol Smith Neeley; his siblings: Jeanette Tate of Huntsville, AL and John Neely of Grant, AL; his children: Thomas (Tommy) Neeley, Jr. of Bandera, Gary Neeley of Kerrville, Mary Kathryn Bywaters of Bandera, Belinda Reis and Donald Reis II (son-in-law), Angela Wright of Atlanta, GA, Jessi Marie Elbel, and Donald Elbel II (son-in-law) of Boerne; his grandchildren: Carissa Neeley, Fawn Neeley, Brad Neeley, Eric Bywaters, Isaac Neeley, Sydney Haynie, Matthew Bywaters, Jack Long, Sarah-Elizabeth Bywaters, Trey Elbel, and Lana Elbel; and his great-grandchild: Jacqueline Haynie.
He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Annie Neeley, and his great-grandchild, Andrew Haynie.
A Celebration of his Life was held July 3. He was buried with military honors at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio on Tuesday, July 7.
Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society.
The family thanks to Dr. Ben Stahl and Mike Eaton of Boerne Family Medicine and Dr. Marisa Sandera of the Start Center.
