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MARY DENA HARRIS
A Memorial service for Mary Dena Harris, 93, of Palacios, was held April 27, at Trinity Baptist Church. She was born September 20, 1908 in Scurry, Kaufman County, Texas to Joseph Sewell Hughes and Josephine Blanton Hughes. She passed away in Palacios Health Care Center surrounded by family and friends, April 12, 2002 after a brief illness. She was a member of a loving family of five brothers and two sisters all deceased. She and her late husband, V. L. "Speck" Harris, owned and operated a net shop in Freeport for 20 years before moving to Palacios and opening Western Trawl and Supply 23 years ago. She was noted for her beautiful roses and endeared herself to the preachers at Trinity Baptist Church where she was a member by bringing a rose boutonniere from her garden every Sunday morning. She was the unofficial chef for the church, blessing each church affair, special visitors or families in need with her generous, delicious cooking. She is survived by two daughters, Evelyn Nicklo of Houston and Dorothy Hicks of Palm Harbor, Florida; granddaughter Heather Hicks of Austin, Tx.; and 15 nieces and nephews. Donations in memory of Mrs. Harris should be made to the proposed Mary Dena Harris Memorial Rose Garden at Trinity Baptist Church.
GLADYS TAYLOR MURPHY
Funeral services for Gladys Taylor Murphy, 80, of Palacios, were held April 22, 2002 at the First Presbyterian Church of Palacios with the Revs. Andy Blair and Janell Blair officiating. Burial was at Kelly cemetery on FM 521 in Matagorda County. Mrs. Murphy was born Feb. 13, 1922, in Palacios, to the late John Anderson and Ellen Blanche Basque Taylor. She died April 19, 2002. She was a rancher, homemaker and member of the First Presbyterian Church. Gladys was a pillar of the community and was known for her outspoken opinions and her kindness and giving to anyone who was ever in need. She is survived by husband, James "Jim" Orville Murphy; daughters and sons-in-laws, Elizabeth Ann and Allen Fischer of Port Arthur and Blanche Lou and C. Wyane Holder of Freeport; five grandchildren, Kimberly Ann Finn of Winnie, Melanie Harrison of Port Arthur, Galen Byrd, Jr. of Houston, Carmela Gaylene Byrd of Freeport and Melisa Page of El Maton; great-grandchildren Jynifer Barron, Kaleb, Jacob and Kelsey Finn, Alysha Taylor Bryd, Joshua Middleton, Kristina, Jeremy, Jonnathan, Monique and Angelique Byrd, and Steven and Kortni Page; and great-great-grandchildren Kaine, Keigan and Karlee Barron. She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Molly Elizabeth Slaughter and Hazel Taylor. Pallbearers were Albert Page, John Bourrous, Jonnathan Bartholomew, Victor Eggemeyer, Ted Bates, John Sardelich, Mark Proveaux and James Finn. Honorary pallbearers were Leonard Kunefke, Nelo Seaman, Sam Hurta, Cliff Elliot, Tom Uher, Loy Sneary, Billy Hamlin, Irvin Peterson and Elmo Duke. Memorials may be made to the Matagorda County Marine Advisory Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 348, Palacios, Tx. 77465; the Palacios Public Library; or the First Presbyterian Church of Palacios.
DOROTHY MERCK
Funeral services for Dorothy Merck, 94, of Collegeport, were held April 11, 2002 at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home with Revs. Andy and Janell Blair officiating. Interment was at Hawley cemetery near Blessing. Mrs. Merck was born July 25, 1907 in Essex, Iowa to the late Gustav Albert and Ellen Augusta Bladlund Franzen. She died April 8, 2002 at Matagorda House Nursing Home in Bay City. Mrs. Merck was one of the pioneers of Collegeport, moving to the community with her parents On Dec. 24, 1909. The family spent their first night in Hotel Collegeport. She graduated from Rice Institute (University) in 1929 and had been a teacher at Collegeport. She was a member of the Collegeport Presbyterian Church, the Women's Club, Mopac House Foundation, Home Demonstration Council and the American Red Cross. Mrs. Merck had long been the 'unofficial' historian of the Collegeport community and was a charter member of the Matagorda Historical Society and Commission. She is survived by her daughter-in-law Nelda Merck of League City; brothers Alex Franzen of Collegeport and James Franzen and his wife, Ann, of Pearl River, LA.; three grandchildrenÑMark Merck and his wife, Cathy, of Collegeport, Russell Merck and wife, Hayes, of Cromwell, CT, and Galen Merck of League City; two great-grandchildrenÑDanyelle and Matthew Merck of Collegeport. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean E. Merck; a son, Dean F. Merck; sisters Mamie Wells and Emma Bryan; and brothers Clifford, Gustave "Goose", and Arnold Franzen. Pallbearers were Mark, Russell and Galen Merck, G. W., Derril and Wesley Franzen. Honorary pallbearer is Matthew Merck. Memorial may be made to the Collegeport Presbyterian Church.
DARRELL DUANE TEDDER
Funeral services for Darrell Duane Tedder, 43, of Palacios were held April 10, 2002 at Palacios Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Bush officiating. Interment was at Lakeside cemetery in Eagle Lake. Tx. Mr. Tedder was born Feb. 27, 1959 in Eagle Lake, Tx. to the late Thomas J. and Mary Irene Graves Tedder. He died April 5, 2002 at Matagorda General Hospital in Bay City. A resident of Palacios for the past 42 years, he was an operator for Celanese Chemical Plant and a member of the Bay Cel Club. He is survived by his wife, Janet Kay Schneider Tedder of Palacios; daughter Brook Nicole Tedder of Palacios; son Dustin Thomas Tedder of Palacios; and a brother, Thomas R. Tedder of Santa Fe, Tx. Memorials may be made to Tedder Children Fund, c/o Prosperity Bank, 600 Henderson, Palacios, Tx. 77465. Palacios Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
STATON E. HUNTER
Funeral services for Staton E. Hunter, 73, of Palacios will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 9, 2002 at the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Hollas Hoffman officiating Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at High Valley cemetery in Bend, Tex. Mr. Hunter was born May 22, 1928 in San Saba, Tex., to the late Thomas L. and Sarah Moore Hunter. He died Sunday, April 7, 2002. He was the founder of Hunter Welding, Inc., a member of the First Baptist Church and the National Rifle Association. He is survived by his wife, Sophia Lemons Hunter of Palacios; a son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Mary Hunter of Palacios; two granddaughers, Sandra H. and her husband Jack Lesley, Jr. of Houston, and Garrie Jean Hunter of San Antonio; and one great-grandson, Brint Lesley of Houston. Pallbearers included Bud Morris, Butch Bevers, Gene Brister, Carroll Ramsey, James Murry, Forrest Hawkins, Herschel Harvey and Leo Orsak. Palacios Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.WA, and Nancy Ruth and Lee Richey of Victoria, Tx.; son and daughter-in-law Urban Stanley and Marolyn McMillan, Jr. of Markham; sisters Ella Koons of Wichita, KS, and Ruth Giese of Schulenberg, Tx.; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Jolce Elizabeth Baca. Pallbearers were Russell Corporon, Jesse Ellis, Thomas Holsworth, Maxon Holsworth, Jerry Moates and G. W. Franzen. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.
FLORA McMILLAN
Funeral services for Flora McMillan, 78, of Palacios (Tin Top Community) will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday April 6, 2002 at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home with Revs. Andy and Janell Blair officiating. Interment will be at Hawley cemetery near Blessing. Mrs. McMillan was born April 18, 1923 in Durango, Col. to the late Elmer Theodore and Jenny Nordin Isaacson. She died April 3, 2002 at St. Luke's Hospital in Houston. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Collegeport and a resident of the Tin Top Community since 1950. She was a former resident of El Campo. She was co-owner and office manager of the former cotton gin in Tip Top and Modern Crop Chemicals Fertilizer Supply in El Maton. She is survived by her husband, U. S. McMillan of Tip Top; daughters and sons-in-law Virginia Dell and Ben Staney of Vancouver, WA, and Nancy Ruth and Lee Richey of Victoria, Tx.; son and daughter-in-law Urban Stanley and Marolyn McMillan, Jr. of Markham; sisters Ella Koons of Wichita, KS, and Ruth Giese of Schulenberg, Tx.; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Jolce Elizabeth Baca. Pallbearers are Russell Corporon, Jesse Ellis, Thomas Holsworth, Maxon Holsworth, Jerry Motes and G. W. Franzen. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund. Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Bay City, (979) 245-4613.
JAMES DINSMORE SARTWELLE
Celebration of Life services for James Dinsmore Sartwelle, 80, of Sealy were held 3 p.m., Sunday, March 17, 2002 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Sealy, followed by internment in Sealy cemetery. He died Friday, March 15, 2002. J. D., as he was known to most, was born in Palacios on March 16, 1921, the eldest of seven children born to the late James Williams and Lura Charlotte Arnold Sartwelle. He moved with his family to Houston 1926, where he attended public schools and the Massey Business College before beginning work in family businesses. A lifelong Episcopalian, as his grandfather, W. L. Sartwelle, was one of the first Episcopal clergy in Texas, he was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Sealy. J. D. grew up in the family tradition of livestock production and marketing as he devoted his life to workings of the Port City Packing Co., the Port City Stockyards Co., and the Sartwelle Brothers Ranch. Following his discharge from U.S. Army service in 1945, he actively managed the Stockyards Co. to the point that it became the fourth largest calf market in the United States. In his early days, he was named the Houston Jaycees' Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1956. He was one of the organizers and early day president of the Houston Farm and Ranch Club. On a statewide basis, he was one of the organizers and vice president of the original Texas Beef Council. He followed the footprints of his father and involved himself in the affairs of American Brahman Breeders Association, serving as a vice president on the board of directors for many years and at his death was a Director Emeritus. He was an organizer and president of the Texas Brahman Association and was named TBA's Beef Booster of the Year in 1985. His father is generally credited as the founding father of the then Houston Fat Stock Show and J. D. involved himself with the Show for many year, serving as a vice president and secretary. He was also the principal organizer and chairman of the International Committee, the Junior Commercial Steer Feeding Contest, and the All Breeds Livestock Sales Committee. In addition, J. D. was a long-time chairman of the Marketing Committee of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, served on its executive committee and was an honorary vice president. He served on several state boards, including the State Board of Public Welfare, the Texas Water Development Board and, most recently, as a 12-year member of the Texas Animal Health Commission. He served on many agriculture study committees for the State and Texas A&M; agriculture programs, was chairman and co-chairman of the two beef referendum campaigns for Texas and served on the board of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. He recently completed his term of the board of the George Foundation in Fort Bend County and at his death was an active board member of the Citizens State Bank of Sealy. Among many awards, he was named Texas Agriculture Man of the Year in 1972 by the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association; received in Texas Agricultural Extension Service prestigious Knapp-Porter Award in 1978; was named Man of the Year in Service to Agriculture by Progressive Farmer magazine in 1981; was inducted into the International Stockman's Hall of Fame in 1995; recipient of the Texas A&M; Agriculture Program's Distinguished Texan in Agriculture Award in 1998; and in 2000, was awarded the Lifetime Ranching Heritage Award of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Museum. Survivors include his wife, Cynthia Darnell Wotkyns Sartwelle; sons J. D. Sartwelle, Jr. and wife, Lavinia (Sugie) of Sealy, William C. Sartwelle and wife, Mary Jane, of Houston, Thomas P. Sartwelle and wife, Priscilla, of Houston; daughter, Susan Elizabeth and husband, Leroy, of Sealy; stepson Garrett Wotkyns of Washington, D.C.; brother Robert Sartwelle and wife, Wanda, of Gillham, Ark.; sisters, Helen Buckley and husband, Jack, of Houston, Mary Jane Willis and husband, Robert, of Sugar Land, Kay Buffaloe of Palacios, and Margaret DeBardeleben and husband, Frank Nelson of Birmingham, Ala.; 15 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his daughter-like secretary of 40 years, Anita Little and her husband, Glenn; and a very special friend, Gloria Walker of Sealy. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Parker Belk, the mother of his children; a brother, Henry; brother-in-law, Hugh Buffaloe; and his eldest child and daughter, Mary Judith (Sophie) Kracke. Pallbearers were longtime Port City employees/associates G.D. Scott III, William Hartlage, Glenn Little, and nephews Steve Buckley, Jim Buckley, Bill Buckley, Henry Buffaloe, Tommy Buffaloe, Glen Sartwelle and Bobby Willis. Honorary pallbearers were Roland Adamson, Rocky Parr, John Gayle, Rayford Smith, Coleman Locke, Hilmar Moore, Milton Robinowitz, Bob Inglish and all members of Port City's board of directors and all employees of Port City Stockyards. Remembrances may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, Sealy, or to the charity of choice.
JOHN P. ROACH
Funeral services were for John P. Roach, 95, of Palacios, were held March 7, 2002 at the Palacios Funeral Home Chapel. Mr. Roach was born April 13, 1906 in Palacios to the late John and Josephine Prado Roach. He died at his daughter's residence in Houston on March 1, 2002. Mr. Roach was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church and a life-long resident of Palacios. He is survived by his wife, Helen Smith of Palacios; daughter Mary Jean Jones of Houston; son and daughter-in-law Tom and Jacquie Roach of Houston; a sister, Josephine R. Gonzales of Lake Jackson; 16 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sisters Louise Frazier, Margaret Balderes, and Dorothy Ottino; and by brothers Ben, Walter and Ralph Roach.
VICTORIA "VICKY" PALOMA ALVARADO
Funeral services for Victoria "Vicky" Alvarado of Brownsville were held March 4, 2002 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Brownsville. Interment was at Buena Vista Burial Park. Mrs. Alvarado died March 2, 2002 at Brownsville Medical Center. She was a retired paraprofessional for Brownsville ISD for 25 years. She was active at Christ the King Catholic Church, Eucharistic Minister, Lector, CCE Aide, Stewardship Committee, Adult Confirmation, Baptism Team Member, Sponsor for Engaged Couples, Alternate for Synod Diocese, and Valley Interfaith Leader. She is survived by her husband, Gilbert Alvarado of Brownsville; daughters and sons-in-law Alicia A. and Santos Perez of Palacios, Veronica and Manuel Montiel of Rowlett, Tx., and Teresa and Jose Antonio Banuelos, of California; son and daughter-in-law Mario A. and Martha Alvarado of Brownsville; sisters Maggie Alvarado, Hortencia Sauceda, Mary Munivez, Connie Lee, Carmen Ramirez and Irene Solis, all of Brownsville; brothers Galdino Galvan of Brownsville and Cruz Galvan of San Antonio; mother, Bruna P. Galvan of Brownsville; and 10 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Alejandro Galvan Sr., and a brother, Alejandro Galvan Jr. Pallbearers were Santos A. Perez III, Esteban Montiel, Marcos A. Alvarado, Jose Antonio Banuelos Jr., Galdino Galvan, Joe Cantu, Mario Alvarado and Tomas Montiel.
