Obituaries

    Royce Allen Young, 61 of Ganado, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at home surrounded by his loving family.
    Royce was born in Ganado to Raymond and Jean Boepple Young on Dec. 8, 1953.  He graduated from Ganado High School in 1972. He married Diane Bures on July 2, 1983. Royce devoted his life to caring for his family, and was actively involved as president of the family business, Ganado Telephone Company & YK Communications.  He was involved in the Jackson County Go Texan Committee and Ganado Jaycees, was a board member of the Young Family Foundation, and was a retired member of the Ganado Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a lifelong supporter of community events.
    Royce is preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Jean Young; sister, Carol Parks; and niece Kaylee Kacer.
    Royce is survived by wife Diane Bures Young, son Roy Young, sisters Camille Rakowitz and Paula (Gary) Kacer, and several nieces and nephews.

    Forrest Wylie Ricks Jr., of Edna, passed away Saturday, March 21, 2015 at the age of 65. He was born July 27, 1949 in Corpus Christi, to the late Forrest Wylie Ricks, Sr. and Emma Fern Laughman Ricks. 
    Forrest worked in maintenance for years. He touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend who will be truly missed.
    He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years Rose Marie Weinmann Ricks; daughter, Mary Ricks Gaubatz and husband Jeremy of Francitas; sisters, Natha Fern Ricks and Kay Coleman both of Ganado; grandchildren, Savannah, Shawn, Sarah and numerous nieces and nephews.
    He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, James Micheal Ricks; sister, Edna Maxine Bivens.
    A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 25 in the Oaklawn Funeral Home Chapel at 10 a.m. with Rev. Andy Schroer officiating.

    Bennie L. Dunbar, 83, passed away Friday March 20, 2015. He was born March 12, 1931 in Rollin Park, MS. to the late Charles Edward and Catherine Estell  Fospoll Dunbar. 
    Bennie served his country in the U.S. Army and fought in Seoul, Korea. During his lifetime Bennie worked for the railroad, owned several shrimp boats, was a bulldozer operator, auctioneer and an antique dealer.

    Joseph Marvin (JoeBoy) Sablatura, 73 passed away on Monday, March 16, 2015. He was born Jan. 5, 1942 to the late Steve and Olga Psencik Sablatura. He served in the U..S Air Force and was a member of the American Legion.
    He is survived by his wife Jean Prove Sablatura of Ganado, daughter Gina Miller (Jason), and three sons, Joey Sablatura of Ganado, Michael Sablatura of Yoakum, and John Sablatura of El Campo, also nine grandchildren and two sisters.
    Joseph  is preceded in death by his parents, and his infant brother, Steven.
    Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday March 18 at Ganado Funeral Home.
    A Rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 19 followed by funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at Assumption Catholic Church in Ganado with Rev. Michael Lyons officiating. Interment will follow at Assumption Catholic Cemetery.
    Services are entrusted to Ganado Funeral Home, 800 S. Third St., Ganado, TX  77962  361-771-2120.

Carlton Ray Dorsey, of Edna, went to be with the Lord on Friday, March 13, 2015 at the age of 76. He was born in Bay City on Oct. 14, 1938, to the late Oliver Ray Dorsey and Lois Euneva Dorsey.
    Carlton was a Deacon at the First Baptist Church in Edna. He also spent many years farming rice. He enjoyed fishing, radio controlled airplanes, and being with his family.
    Carlton is survived by his wife, Carol Hicks Dorsey of Edna; sons, Russell Ray Dorsey of Phoenix, Ariz. and Robert Ty Dorsey and wife Kimberly of Paradise; sister, Joy Wehmeyer and husband Tony of Port Lavaca; brother-in-law, Jerral Hicks and wife Sandra of Las Cruces, N.M.; grandchildren, Brittany Dorsey McFadden and husband Cree, Courtney Dorsey Janecek, and Ashley Ann Dorsey; great-grandchildren, Kenzie, Cohen and Raelynn.
    He is preceded in death by his parents.

William “Billy” Edward Porche, Jr., of Edna, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at the age of 82. He was born in Edna, on Jan. 30, 1933, to the late William Edward Porche, Sr. and the late Velmer Powell Putnam.
    He owned several businesses in Edna, too many to list but a few are B&W Drive In, B&W Sand & Gravel, B&W Ultralights. Billy loved to buy, sell, and trade any and everything for years. Billy provided for his family and cherished the time that was shared with everyone. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, ranching.  He looked for any reason to be outdoors. Billy was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend who will be dearly missed.

    Virginia Romo, (Momo Tina) 91 of Vanderbilt was born in Edna on Nov. 5, 1923 to Blas Lopez and Teresa Figirova Lopez.  She was called safely home on March 15, 2015.
    Virginia had an unwavering faith in God, she was a member of St John Bosco Catholic Church.
    Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Juan M. Romo, Sr.;  her sons Raymond Longoria and Juan Romo, Jr.; her brothers, Lupe, Jilian, Blastio, Daniel, and Eusebio Lopez; also her sisters, Porfiria Solis and Dora Barrios.
    Virginia is survived by her three daughters, Linda Navarro, Elida Nevarez, and Esmeralda Muniz, also five grandchildren, Deboraha Muniz, Sylvester Ramos, Ricardo Muniz, Monica Navarro and Sonya Morales; brother Lalo Lopez; and sister Eugenia Ruiz.

    Lewis Neal Stephenson, 80, passed away Friday March 13, 2015, at his home in Ganado. He was born Nov. 18, 1933 in Iowa, La. to the late Elmore and Emmie Flynt Stephenson. 
    Lewis graduated from Ganado High School and served in the United States Marines during the Korean War on the 38th parallel.  He is a graduate from the University of Houston with a mechanical engineering degree and retired from Superior Cooper Bessmer in 1995.
    He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ruth Galow Stephenson; sons; Mark (Angela), Scott (Denise), Matthew (Donna); grandchildren, Neal (Jenny), Nathan (Laura), Stephanie, Stacey (Dustin), Chad, Kelsey and Eric Patterson; and great-grandchildren, Emma, Ellie, Tess, and Declan.  Lewis is also survived by his brother, Stewart Dudley Stephenson; and his sisters, Virginia Mosley and Delilah Petersen.

Dora (Lopez) Barrios, 87, of Vanderbilt passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2015.  She was born in Edna on Oct. 25, 1927 to the late Blas Lopez and Teresa Figirova Lopez. Dora was a loving wife, mother and friend to many. She retired after serving 25 years with Industrial School District.
    Dora is survived by her family, two daughters, Rosita B. Lopez, Berda B. Mata; one son, Antonio Robert Barrios; also her sisters, Virginia Romo and Eugenia Ruiz; and brother Eulalio Lopez. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
    Dora is preceded in death by her parents and her husband Antonio Barrios.
    Visitation will be Friday, March 13 at Slavik Funeral Home Chapel from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with Rosary being recited at 7 p.m. Funeral service will be Saturday, March 14 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church in LaSalle with Rev. Johnson officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Edna Latin American Cemetery in Edna.

    Velma ( Spillars) Jaap, 81, passed away Monday, March 9, 2015. She was born in Madisonville on Aug. 5, 1933 to the late Johnny Dewitt and Sudie (Stewart) Jaap. Velma was a loving wife, mother and friend to many. She enjoyed gardening, painting, fishing, sewing and helping others.
    She is survived by her sons, Terry Jaap, Danny Jaap and wife Cathy, and Paul Jaap and wife Becky; sisters, Era Berrier, Vera Standley and Betty Gilbert, and brother, Melvin (Mutt) Spillar; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
    Velma is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill Jaap, her sister Coral (Sis) Hand, and her brothers J.D. Spillars, Jr. and Norman (Sonny) Spillars.
    Funeral services will be Friday, March 13, at 1:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Ganado, with Rev. Candy Obenhaus and Carolyn Stapleton officiating. Visitation will start at 12:30 p.m.  Interment will immediately follow at the Ganado City Cemetery.