Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries
Col. Joseph Matte
San Antonio - Colonel Joseph Zannet Matte, age 83, of San Antonio, passed away on Tuesday, February 10, 2004.
He is survived by his much beloved wife of 59 years, Edith S. Matte; two children, Linda A. Norris and Joseph R. Matte.
Also surviving him are five grandchildren, Kimberely G. Balstad, Sommer R. McDougal, Wendy M. Zeitler, Meghan E. Matte, and Pamela J. Matte and three great-grandchildren; Caleb, Sydney, and Luke Balstad.
He was born on July 23, 1920 in Port Arthur, Texas and graduated from North Texas State University.
He was a pilot and fighter Ace in the European theater during World War II recording seven confirmed kills.
After the war, Col. Matte's early assignments included: Fort Hood, Texas; RAF Brize Norton, England; Ellington Field, Texas; and Naples, Italy.
Col. Matte's subsequent assignments included serving as Chief of Maintenance at Randolph AFB, Texas; Deputy Commander for Maintenance at Laredo AFB, Texas; senior advisor to the Military Assistance and Advisory Group (MAAG) in Taipei, Taiwan.
His final assignment was as Chief of Maintenance, Air Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas where he retired after 31 years of distinguished service to his country.
Colonel Matte's numerous decorations, medals, and citations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross w/OLC, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/18OLC, Air Force Commendation Medal w/OLC, Presidential Unit citaion w/OLC, European Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and a special award of Chinese Pilots Wings presented to him by the Taiwanese Government.
He remained in San Antonio where he engaged in a successful career in oil and gas exploration and residential home construction.
Joe was an active member of the American Fighter Aces Association, the 2362nd Fighter Group Association, the 9th Air Force Association, and the Order of the Daedalions.
The family received friends on Sunday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Porter Loring Mortuary North. Rosary was February 15, 2004 and Mass was Monday February 16, 2004.
Interment with Full Military honors followed in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. The family invites you to leave a message or memory at www.porter-loring.com by selecting Visitaion and Services. Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary-North, 2102 North Loop 1604 East San Antonio, TX 78232
Hazel Webb Heckendorf
Port Arthur - Mrs. Hazel Webb Heckendorf, 95, of Port Arthur died Saturday, February 14, 2004 at her residence in Port Arthur.
A native of El Campo, Texas she has resided in Port Arthur for over 69 years. She was a retired teacher with the Port Arthur ISD and a member of the Presbyterian Church of the Convenant in Port Arthur.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 2:00 PM at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves. Officiating will be Rev. David Green, pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bridge City and Dr. Joseph Cordero, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of the Convenant in Port Arthur. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Port Arthur. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the funeral home.
Mrs. Heckendorf is survived by her daughter and son - in- law: Judy Heckendorf Wood and William P. Musick of St. Louis, Missouri; niece, Jennie Taylor of Lewisville, Texas and a nephew, Roderick Webb of Galveston, Texas.
Memorial Contributions may be made to The American Heart Association or Charity of Choice.
Thelma W. Inman
Bon Wier, Tx. - Thelma W. Inman, age 89 of Bon Wier, Tx. died on Monday, February 16, 2004 at her residence in Bon Wier. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bon Wier Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. with burial to follow at Inman Cemetary in Bon Wier.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home in Newton.
She was a native of Jasper, Tx. and had lived in Bon Wier for 65 years. Survivors include her husband, D.C. Inman of Bon Wier, Tx.
Her sons Kenneth Gilbert of Port Neches, Tx., Curtis Gilbert of Jennings, La., John Gilbert of Zwolle, La., her daughter, Brenda Eastwood of Sulphur, La. and her sister Hazel Patterson of Sun City Center, Fl. She had 17 Grandchildren, 40 Great-Grandchildren and 10 Great-Great-Grandchildren.
Wilder (Ricky) Brown
PORT ARTHUR - Wilder (Ricky) Brown, 52, of Port Arthur passed away Sunday, April 4, 2004 at Park Place Hospital. A native of Beaumont, Texas he was a resident of Port Arthur for 43 years and employed by ISP.
A visitation is scheduled from 9 am until 11 am Saturday at Shilo Baptist Church. Funeral service is scheduled for 11 am Saturday at the church with Rev. Samuel Joseph officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Gabriel Funeral Home.
Survivors include: His wife, Barbara Malone Brown; mother, Bessie Mae Brown; one daughter, Adona LaShawn Richard (Melchizedek); one son, Fabian LeKeith Brown (Dewanda); three grandchildren, Dia'Shneke Lavely, Shaidi Richard, and Fay'Auna Brown; five brothers, five sisters, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Alfred Joseph Romero
BAYTOWN - Alfred Joseph Romero, 90, of Baytown passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2004 in Houston, Texas.
Services will be conducted at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, April 10, 2004 at Grammier - Oberle Funeral Home in Port Arthur with Rev. Kevin Badeaux officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves. A gathering of friends will take place from 5 to 9:00 P.M. Friday with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.
Born on August 20, 1913 in New Iberia, Louisiana Mr. Romero had lived in Port Arthur for forty-seven years and in Baytown for the past thirty-five years. He was a retired construction worker with Brown and Root and was a World War II Army Veteran. He was also a member of the V.F.W. in Baytown.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Frances Romero of Baytown; sons, Creig Romero of Houston and Greig Romero of Carthage, Texas ; daughter, Carolyn Killingsworth of Baytown; sisters, Zella Raby of Port Arthur and Angela Lafrennie of Groves; six grandchildren, Lori Meyers and husband Dennis, J.W. Romero and wife Susannah, Jana Coats and husband Mark, Joshua Romero, Jeremy Romero and Hunter Killingsworth; two great- grandchildren, J.T. Romero and Madison Romero; a niece, Cindy Borel and family of Coppell, Texas.
In lieu of flowers"Memorial Contributions" can be made to the V.F.W. in Baytown.
4841 39th Street
Port Arthur, TX 77642
Zerbon "Sam" Boudreaux
LUMBERTON - Zerbon "Sam" Boudreaux, 74, of Lumberton, Texas died Wednesday, April 7, 2004 at his residence.
Sam was born on August 21, 1929 in St. Martinsville, Louisiana and spent many years in Port Arthur and Baton Rouge before moving to Lumberton. He was a Detail Pharmaceutical rep and a Sales rep for A.D.T. He also attended Lamar and served in the U.S. Army, graduating to Green Beret in 1951.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alex and Hilda Boudreaux of Nederland and his sister and niece Barbara and Suzanne McWhorter of Houston.
His survivors include one son, Mark Boudreaux of Galveston; one daughter, Stephanie Dixon of New Mexico; one brother, Dennis Boudreaux of Groves; three sisters, Hazel Coburn Tucker of Groves, Mary McMahon of Arlington and Gayle Toups of Bridge City.
As were his wishes there will be no services and his body was donated to science.
Emma Dell Howard Snell
PORT ARTHUR - Emma Dell Howard Snell, 77, of Port Arthur, Texas departed this life for her heavenly home to be with her Lord and Savior, April 5, 2004.
Born in Lafayette, LA. April 15, 1926 to the late Victor Howard and Rosa Clara Babino.
Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Paradise Missionary Baptist Church, Saturday, April 10, 2004 with the services following. Officiating the service Rev. Louis Babino.
She was preceded in death by her parents Rosa Babino and Victor Howard, her husband Newman Snell Sr., brother Leroy Howard Sr., sisters Mary Decuir and Deloris Onley.
Emma leaves to cherish her memories; son Michael Jacquet of Port Arthur, Newman Snell of Baton Rouge, La. Seven daughters; Major Davis and Vetta Snell of Port Arthur, Texas, Mary Snell of Grote Tete, La, Debra Snell and Edith Dorsey of Port Arthur, La., Pam Lencerot of GA., Cynthia Carter of Baton Rouge, LA. 28 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren. one sister Shirley Spencer (Ralph), one brother Louis Babino (Bobbie). Mother-in-law Ann Lee Snell of Grote Tete, La. Four brothers-in-law Joseph Snell Jr. of Fairfield, Ca., Darrell Snell of Maringroun, La., Lansing Snell of Grote Tete, La. and Gerald Snell of Florida. A host of nieces, nephews, relatives. Special cousin Gert Orville, special friends, Annie Lockwood, Leola Motley, and Jennie Basmore.
Before her lengthy illness she done heavenly work for the Lord. Proud members; City Wide Ushers, President of Senior Usher Board, Founder of the Widow of Paradise, Founder of the Willing workers, members of the bereavement prayer Band, and former member of Eastern Star.
