DAVID ANDREW BROWNE-LYNCH
David Andrew Browne-Lynch, age 2 months, died Thursday, March 4, 2004 at his residence. He was born Dec. 23, 2003 in San Antonio to David Lee Browne, Jr., and Brandy Michelle Lynch.
In addition to his parents, survivors include one sister, Autymn Nicole Browne-Lynch of Lakehills; paternal grandparents, Rowena "P-Nut" Antony and husband, Russell Scott Anthony, Sr., of Lakehills and David Lee Browne, Sr., of Las Vegas, NV; maternal grandmother, JoAnne Lynch of Houston; paternal great grandmother, Maria G. McKinney of San Antonio; paternal great grandparents, Art and Helen Browne of Leon Valley; maternal great grandmother, Minnie Bowen of Burnett; and maternal great grandfather, George Tenny; aunts, Samantha Browne of Lakehills, Jamie Rae Ellingson of Lakehills, and Tracy Lynch of Houston; uncles, Russell S. Anthony, Jr. and Ethan M. Anthony, both of Lakehills; and numerous loving great aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, James Lynch.
Graveside services were March 9 at Ft. Sam Houston National cemetery.
A memorial fund has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank to help with funeral expenses.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera.
ROBERT H. GRATTEAU
Robert H. Gratteau, age 56, passed away in San Antonio on March 11. He was preceded in death by his father Robert H. Gratteau on Jan. 13, 2004.
Survivors include: wife, Linda Gratteau of Bandera; mother, Alice Gratteau of Schertz; sons, Robert Gratteau and wife Jennifer of San Antonio, Jeremy Gratteau and wife Cindy of Schertz, and 1LT Erik Gratteau and wife April stationed in Germany; brother, Clifton Gratteau and wife Denise of Chesapeake, VA; sister, Debra Chandler of Huffman; grandchildren, Macey and Carson Gratteau.
Services were March 16 at the Schertz Funeral Home Chapel with Brother James Ennis officiating. Graveside services and interment followed at Fort Sam Houston National cemetery. In Robert's memory, memorials may be given to the Schertz First Baptist Church or to the charity of one's choice. Arrangements were with Schertz Funeral Home.
Esther Pauline Hildebrand Eliker Henry
Esther Pauline Hildenbrand Eliker Henry went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 23, 2004. She passed quietly in her sleep at the age of 93 in San Antonio. Esther was born in Chapeze, Kentucky on Oct. 26, 1910 of Herman H. Hildenbrand and Dora Gerdes Hildenbrand. Esther graduated from Old Main High School and Draughon's Business College in San Antonio. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Pineville, La. for over 25 years.
A loving mother and grandmother who always had a smile for everyone, she was energetic and very involved with her church, friends and neighbors all of her life. She always held out a helping hand for everyone and supported many charities.
She is proceeded in death by her parents; daughter, Barbara Kathleen Eliker of San Antonio; her husband, Doctor Harvey B. Henry of Pineville, La. and by her brother, Herman H. Hildenbrand, Jr. of San Antonio. She is survived by her son H. Bruce Eliker and his wife, Roma, and granddaughters Cassandra and Kristi of Pipe Creek. Her son Herschel B. Eliker of Houston also survives her. Her stepdaughters Susan Kealhofer and her husband Bobby of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. and Mary Erkle Frangias and her husband Dennis in Rolling Hills Estate, Calif. as well as many step-grandchildren and step-great grand children.
Funeral arrangements were with Mission Park Funeral Chapels South, 1700 SE Military Dr. San Antonio, TX, 78214. Graveside services were March 26 at Mission Burial Park South with Pastor Albert "Skip" Marks officiating. Donations can be made in her memory to her church, First United Methodist Church of Pineville, 2550 Monroe Highway, Pineville, La. 71360.
WILLIAM ERVIN HARDIN
William Ervin Hardin passed away on March 7, 2004, at the Hilltop Village in Kerrville. He was 93 years old. Ervin was a grandson of two Kerr County pioneers: William Abijah Hardin and Judge Thomas Jeffress Wootton. He was born to Amos Beall and Florence Wootton Hardin on October 13, 1910, in Canadian, Hemphill County, Texas. He was reared primarily in the Hunt (formerly "Japonica") community, attending elementary school at Hunt and Tivy High School in Kerrville.
Ervin Hardin was a family man. On Sept. 6, 1931, he was married
to Maurine Marie Hunt in Lovington, New Mexico. They reared three children. Ervin and Maurine celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary shortly before Maurine's death in Kerrville on Sept. 10, 1999.
Ervin was a businessman. For practically all of his long life, Ervin was an industrious worker. He had a tremendous work ethic and was scrupulously honest in all of his dealings. When he was 18, he drove a Model "T" gravel truck during the construction of the "South Fork Road" from Hunt to Station C.
As a young married
man of 21 years, he and his wife, Maurine, managed the old "Hope Ranch" on the North Fork of the Guadalupe. At age 23, he borrowed $150 from the First State Bank of Kerrville and established a grocery business at Hunt. In 1938, he opened a grocery store in Ingram; in 1943, he moved to Kerrville and opened grocery store (right across from the old Post Office on Earl Garrett Street). During the World War II, Ervin established a Wholesale Grocery enterprise in Kerrville. Right after the War, he founded a chain of "Your Way Food Stores" in Kerrville, Hunt and New Braunfels.
In the 1950's, Ervin quit the grocery business and established a dairy business on the family farm between Kerrville and Bandera. He sold milk to the Peterson Creamery in Kerrville for several years and later sold his milk to the Borden Company in San Antonio. He operated the dairy for approximately 20 years, winning a "Dairyman of the Year" award in the South Texas Producers Association. Semi-retired, Ervin worked for many years, keeping books for various businesses in and around Kerrville and assisting people with their tax returns.
Ervin Hardin was a sportsman. From his youth he enjoyed deer hunting. He was an accomplished marksman with a rifle. He loved to fish, especially for bass in the Guadalupe River.
He was an expert domino player. Past 90 years of age in 2001 and in 2002 he received gold medals in the Kerrville Seniors Games, playing the game of '42.
Ervin Hardin was a Christian and a churchman. He was converted to Christ when he was 17, being baptized in the Guadalupe River by the Hunt Baptist Church.
In 1943, Ervin was ordained a Deacon by the First Baptist Church of Ingram. He served as an active deacon in First Baptist Churches of Ingram, Kerrville, Bandera and Center Point. He served as Chairman of the Building Committee for Kerrville First Baptist Church when the Worship building was erected in 1951. He and his wife, Maurine, were active choir members of the various churches to which they belonged.
For the past year, Ervin has been a member of the Kerrville Sunrise Baptist Church, where his son, Melburn, serves as pastor.
He is survived by one sister, Velta Hardin Hunt, of Kerrville; two sons: Dale E. Hardin, Sr., (and wife, Pam) of Hunt; Dr. Melburn H. "Mel" Hardin (and wife, Carol) of Kerrville; a daughter, Carole Marie Richardson (and husband, Richard J.) of New Braunfels, 10 grandchildren, 19 great- grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends who mourn his passing.
Funeral services were at Western Hills Baptist Church in Kerrville on March 11with the Rev. Dr. Melburn Hardin and the Rev. William Moseley officiating. Special music was provided by combined choirs of Sunrise Baptist Church and Western Hills Baptist Church, (under the direction of Mr. Dale Hardin), Mr. Dale Durham and Mrs. Melanye Hallett.
Pallbearers were grandsons, Mr. Dale E. Hardin, Jr., the Rev. Dr. Bryan Richardson, Mr. Bruce Hardin, Mr. Matthew Hardin, Texas Ranger Captain Clete Buckaloo, Mr. Robbie Thrower and Mr. Ted Hallett.
Honorary pallbearers included the Deacons of Sunrise Baptist Church, Mr. Floyd Carriker, Mr. Larry McDonald, and Mr. Billie Adams.
Ervin was buried beside his wife, Maurine, at the Garden of Memories in Kerrville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sunrise Baptist Church, 1200 Broadway, Kerrville, TX 78028.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.
James "Jimmy Dee" De Lesdernier
Mr. James "Jimmy Dee" De Lesdernier, age 72 of Harper, passed away Monday, March 15, 2004 at a Kerrville nursing home. He was a resident of Harper for three years and a prior resident of Kerrville and Bexar County.
Jimmy Dee was born Oct. 17, 1931 in San Antonio to William Francis De Lesdernier and Alice Flouney (Arnold) De Lesdernier. On June 29, 1989, he married
Retta Burnett in Boerne.
He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. For 33 years, he was in law enforcement as a Special Texas Ranger and was Chief Deputy for the Bexar County Sheriff's Department for six years.
Jimmy Dee was a member of Lonnie Irvin Masonic Lodge #1308 A.F. & A.M. in San Antonio and the Ex-Police Officers Association in Kerrville.
Survivors include his wife, Retta De Lesdernier of Harper; daughter, Debra Richenbach of San Antonio; two step-daughters, Susan Drymala of Comfort and Dené Huffaker of Mt. Home; two sons, Jim "J.D." De Lesdernier of Mt. Home and Bryan Zeno of Pipe Creek; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Services were March 20 at Grimes Funeral Chapels, under the Auspices of Kerrville Masonic Lodge, #697 A.F. & A.M.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Fuenral Chapels of Kerrville.
MYRA MAE FINNEY RUDASILL
Myra Mae Finney Rudasill died at home in Rocksprings on March 23 at the age of 80 years.
She was born Aug. 29, 1923 in Medina, the only child of Thomas Keese and Mary Alice Miller Finney. She attended school in Medina and Rocksprings, graduating in 1941.
Myra Mae and James were married
on Oct. 15, 1941 at the Methodist parsonage in Rocksprings. They had two children: Jimmy and Susie, who both graduated from Rocksprings
High School.
Myra Mae and James lived at the Dragoo Ranch, then the Kickapoo Ranch, where many fond memories were made. In 1968, they moved to the "home place". She was active in the day-to-day ranching activities in whatever capacity she was needed; round-up, working in the pens, "pickin' bitterweed", or just riding the 4-wheeler to make inspections. She enjoyed a houseful of company. Guests invited and those just stopping-in always found a warm welcome and a delicious meal. She enjoyed playing bridge, traveling, and in her later years, golfing with her friends at which she claimed she went to have fun, she could only putt! She loved to dance and took every opportunity to dance or rock little ones to "Rye Whiskey". It seemed to have the perfect beat to soothe or lull them to sleep. Myra Mae attended the First United Methodist Church in Rocksprings. In 1994, at the annual Fourth of July celebration, she was selected Edwards County Old Settlers Queen.
Myra Mae was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, James Rudasill, who died in 1992. She is survived by her son, Jimmy and wife, Dawn of Rocksprings and daughter, Susie and husband, Noah of Sonora; two granddaughters, Callie Allison Moore of Austin and Rayna Shea Rudasill of Rocksprings; a very special sister-in-law and traveling partner, Sibyl Epperson of Rocksprings; two nephews and their families, Epp Epperson of Rocksprings and Wiley Payne Rudasill of Georgetown.
Services were Thursday, March 25, 4 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Rocksprings with Pastor Nancy A. Littlefield officiating and burial at the Rocksprings cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Eddie Rudasill, Don Rudasill, Sam Shanklin, Teddy McKnight, Eddie Sweeten, Fidel Moreno, Jerry Haeber and Butch Wardlaw.
Honorary pallbearers will be Harold D. Rudasill, Allan Dunbar, Tooter Shanklin, L.D. Moore, Bill Moore and Billy Ralph Robertson.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.
ISAAC MASON "IKE" CLARK
Isaac Mason "Ike" Clark, age 92 of Bandera, died Tuesday, Feb. 17 at the Kerrville VA Hospital. Born June 2, 1911 in Tarpley to Amasa and Jennie Hudspeth Clark. He is the great- grandson of Amasa Gleason Clark, who was the first permanent settler in Bandera County. Ike joined the Army at age 18, then the Army Air Corps and retired from the Air Force in 1965. He was a member of the Bandera American Legion Post #157, and the United Fiddlers Association.
Ike was a great fan of the "OST" Restaurant on Main Street and was often seen resting on the bench in front of Harvey's Restaurant.
Ike married
Vera Francis Markgraf in 1930. Two of four children survive, Mason Johnny Clark of Bandera and Shirley Ann McGee of Austin.
He later married
Vera Mae Hicks and six of their seven children survive, Mary Elizabeth Bartts of Oklahoma; Paul David, Mark Allen, Michael Anthony, Jennie Mae Simon, all of Arizona; Delmar Bryan of Oregon and one stepson, Ronald Eugene Clark Youngquest of Arizona; one sister, Ida Mae McCracken of Comfort also survives Ike. Surviving half brothers and sisters are Bill T. Clark of Louisiana, Charles Clark of Castroville, Steve E. Clark and Marvin R. Clark both of Rockport, Vera Carrell of San Antonio, Dorothy A. Wagster of Cibolo, Ara Maud Ward of McQueeney and beloved stepmother, Maudie O. Clark. Ike had many grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Amasa and Jennie Hudspeth Clark and siblings, Amasa Lee, Ima Belle Mitchell and Geneva Postert.
Graveside services were Feb. 20 at the Clark Family cemetery with Rev. Thomas Ward officiating.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera.
