Alta Rhines
1924 - 2015
Alta Mae Rhines, 91, of Boerne, was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 10. She was born in Woodward, Texas to James Porter and Ida Ophelia Ferguson on Feb. 23, 1924. She married
Glenn Wilson Rhines on Sept. 7, 1946 in San Antonio.
Alta received her bachelor's degree from Mary Hardin Baylor University in Belton. After graduation, she taught home economics in Rogers, Texas, and taught sewing classes for Singer Company. She taught at West Junior High School while her husband attended Baylor University. While serving as a pastor's wife in Dutch Flat, California, she also worked with her husband, piloting wide-loads across Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Upon moving back to Texas, she taught at Thunderbird Hills Elementary School and served as a librarian at John Glenn Elementary School and Lackland City Elementary School.
Alta also served as a pastor's wife in Tarpley. Throughout her life she taught Sunday School classes, served in the Women's Missionary Union, worked with her husband in Canada through the Mission Service Corps, taught Master Life classes at the Hondo federal prison, and worked at Alto Frio Baptist Encampment.
She was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her two sisters, Lynna Webb and Lois Easley; children, Glenn Rhines and wife, Denece, Cynthia Johnston and husband Reed, Archie Rhines and wife Cora; grandchildren, Todd Rhines and wife Shawna, Jason Rhines and wife Jennifer, Melissa Perlinger and husband Stacy, Nicole Rogers and husband Brian, Laura Hines, Jeff Rhines and wife, April, Sherry Hamons and husband Brian, and Julie Johnston; 16 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral services were held at July 14 at First Baptist Church, Boerne, with Pastor Charles Easley officiating. Burial followed at Waresville cemetery in Utopia.
Pallbearers will be Todd Rhines, Jason Rhines, Austin Rhines, Jeff Rhines, Michael Charske, Brian Rogers, Aaron Burrell and Lincoln Moore.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the missionary organization or church of your choice in her memory.
Denise Whitehead
1961 - 2015
Denise Rena Kveton Whitehead, born on Dec. 14,1961, left us to join her heavenly father on July 8 in Pipe Creek. She leaves her loving husband, James Phillip Whitehead, whom she married
in Rosenberg, Texas, on April 5, 1980, enjoying 35 happy years together.
Denise was born in Sealy, Texas, and went to high school in Rosenberg. She moved to Bandera with her family in 2002 after spending 20 years in the DFW area. She made many dear friends and impacted many lives in each of these places with her gentle, loving spirit.
Denise was a member of First Baptist Church of Bandera. She served, alongside her husband, as a youth director for a number of years at Heritage Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. She had a heart for mentoring and guiding young people. She was a mom to many, walking beside people in times of joy and hardship; the first one to offer a loving smile or a shoulder to cry on. She loved to spend time in the pool and making memories with friends and family.
She is also survived by her daughters, Lisa Marie Hampton and husband, Jeff, of Arlington; April Dawn Newcomb and husband, Tommy, of Fernandina Beach, Florida; Stephanie Nicole Witzkoski and husband, Jason, of Pipe Creek; Bethany Jade Jennings and husband, Jason, of Marble Falls; and her son Phillip Andrew Whitehead and wife, Julia, of Bandera. Denise was a proud "Granna" of 10 grandchildren as well.
Also surviving are her stepmother, Florence Kveton and brothers, Ed Kveton and wife, Judy; Shawn Kveton and wife, Stephanie; John Neves; and Joseph Kveton.
Denise was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Kveton, and her beloved grandmother, Blanche Tyer.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 18, at 1 pm at First Baptist Church of Bandera. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Bandera YoungLife.
Marie Smith Brandt
1923-2015
Marie Smith Brandt, 91, of Kerrville, passed away Thursday, July 16, at her residence. She was born Oct. 29, 1923 in Tuff to Robert Sidney Smith and Elma Sutherland Smith.
Marie was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Her family was her entire life.
Survivors include daughters, Regina Thomas of LaPorte, and Judy Mosty of Kerrville; nine grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Marie was predeceased by her husband, Walter Lee Brandt; daughter Barbara Janet Faircloth; son Robert David Faircloth; and by her 12 siblings.
Graveside services were held Monday, July 20, at Oak Rest cemetery in Medina.
Memorial donations in Marie's name may be made to a Humane Society of choice.
Mary Elizabeth Hyde
1934-2015
Mary Elizabeth Hyde, 81, of Bandera, passed away Saturday, Dec. 12, in San Antonio.
She was born San Antonio on Nov. 3, 1934 to Ruby Williams and Birdwell "Burt" Ferguson. The family moved to Utopia where Mary attended school.
She worked at the cafe and telephone company where she met John Wesley Schaefer. The couple married
in 1951 and had two children, Shirlene and John. Mary and John were together four years before he was killed in an auto accident.
Two years later Mary married
Sherrill Schaefer of Bandera. They had two children, Sherwin and Lana, and were together nine years. Later, Mary married
Warren Hyde of Bandera, who had a daughter, Doris Nell, by a previous marriage.
Mary is survived by her children, Shirlene and her husband, Mike Appelt; Lana and her husband, Nick Zuehl; and Doris Wilson; grandchildren, Jake; Kayla and her husband, Ricky Sparks; Nikki Gillespie; Cody Schaefer; Justin and his wife, Amber Schaefer; Howard Wilson; Sandi Wilson; and Jennifer Bunch; great-grandchildren, Kinsley Appelt, Joshua Gillespie and Jackie Gillespie, Bethany Schaefer, Carly Schaefer, Jessica Schaefer, Cabela Schaefer, Gabriela Wilson, Genevive Wilson, Mason Bunch and Levi Bunch; and great-great-grandchild, Aztrid Schaefer.
Mary was predeceased by Warren, Sherwin, John, Kathy and Jennifer.
Funeral services will be held at 11 am, Thursday, Dec. 17, at Grimes Chapel of Bandera with Mr. Martin Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Bandera cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Mike Appelt, Jake Appelt and Ricky Sparks.
Derly M. Gutierrez
2015
Derly M. Gutierrez, 83, passed away Monday, Dec. 14, in River View, New Hampshire.
Mr. Gutierrez was retired from the United States Navy as a CW0-4/W4. While serving his country, he received several combat medals from Korea and Vietnam.
As electronics engineer, Mr. Gutierrez worked for Civil Service in Corpus Christi at the Naval Air Station. He was also a member of St. Victors Catholic Chapel in Lakehills.
Mr. Gutierrez is survived by his wife Joyce Mae Gutierrez, and sons, Erly Gutierrez and his wife, Lucy; David Gutierrez; and Daniel Gutierrez, as well as by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Gutierrez was predeceased by the mother of his children, Beatrice Gutierrez, and daughter Cynthia Gutierrez.
A funeral service was held on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 from Hillside Funeral Home to San Martin De Porres Catholic Church. Interment followed at the family plot of the City of Laredo cemetery.
Lois Marie Sehon D'Spain
1925-2015
Surrounded by her children, Lois Marie Sehon D'Spain went to be with her Lord and Savior Saturday, July 18. She was born Dec. 20, 1925 in Beaumont.
Ms. Lois - or Granny, as she was affectionately known by many - married
the love of her life, Wiley D'Spain, on May 11, 1950 in San Antonio.
Lois grew up in Beaumont and, after graduating from high school, vacationed in the beautiful Hill Country surrounding Bandera. Once in Bandera, she met Wiley and never returned to Beaumont except for visits. Bandera had become her home.
Lois loved spending time with her family, as well as traveling, shopping and playing bridge. She was an active member of the Bandera United Methodist Church until moving to Morningside Ministries in Boerne three years ago.
She is survived by her son, Ray D'Spain and his wife, Susan; daughters, Kathryn Waclawczyk and her husband, Ray; and Dianne Grelle and her husband, Kenneth; nine grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law Bonnie D'Spain Skinner, as well as by numerous nieces and nephews.
Lois was predeceased by her husband, Wiley Ray D'Spain; parents, Ada and Clifton Sehon; and sister Natalie Davenport Brock.
A celebration of Lois' life will take place at 10:30 am, Friday, July 24, at Bandera United Methodist Church with Pastor Dennis Thompson officiating. Lois and Wiley will then be reunited and buried in the Bandera cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alamo Hospice in Boerne or to the Bandera United Methodist Church.
