Obituaries

    Rebecca Taylor, 73, went to be with the Lord on Jan. 11, 2015. She was born Sept. 20, 1941 in Borger to her parents Daniel Ashley and Doris Kathleen Barnard.
    She was preceded in death by parents, husband Dayton Taylor, sister Nancy, brothers Bud, John, and Buck.
    She is survived by daughter Nancy Pittman (Rick), Dee Taylor (Tanya), Dwayne Taylor (Wanda), sister Grace White (Charlie), brother Don Barnard (Roxanne), 11 grandchildren, Natalie Pittman, Faith Tyner (Matthew), Colin Pittman (Kristie), Jessica Pittman, Blake Schlueter (Lorianne), Stuart Taylor (Christie), Ryan Taylor (Chelsea), Ashley Taylor, Megan Taylor, Matt Taylor, and Craig Taylor, with numerous nieces and nephews.
    She was a teacher and a bus driver at Ganado ISD for over 30 years. Her radiant personality and sweet smile will always be remembered and loved by all. Becky was one who loved life and her family. She laughed easily and often. She will be truly missed by all.

    Pauline Polasek Gabrysch Kubecka, 88, passed away on Thursday morning, Jan. 1, 2015. She was born on Feb. 3, 1926 in Ganado to the late John and Emilie Elias Sulak. 
    Pauline was retired from the Ganado Medical Clinic where she worked for over 50 years as a nurse. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters and the Assumption Altar Society.
    She is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Milton Polasek; her second husband, Adolph Gabrysch; and her third husband, Gus Kubecka; and by her brothers Henry Sulak, Sr., Johnny Sulak and Leo Sulak; sisters, Emily Sulak, Josephine Sulak and Lillian Sulak Labay.
    Pauline is survived by her children, David (Judy) Polasek, Christine (Walter) Afflerbach, Leslie (Kathy) Gabrysch, Steven Gabrysch and Eileen (Vance) Mitchell, along with 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Minnie Young Thedford, age 78, passed away on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014 in Baton Rouge, La. She was a native of Edna and lived most of her life in Lolita.  She was born on Jan. 8, 1937 to Ted and Nora Young of Edna. She married Darrell Bryant Thedford in March of 1962. She was a graduate of Edna High School and The Victoria College. She spent many years working in the oil and gas industry and volunteering at her church. She was a very devoted wife and loving mother and grandmother. She dearly loved all of her former co- workers, friends, church members, and her monthly bridge club ladies. As of late, she loved all of her caregivers and enjoyed dearly the brightness they brought into her life each day.
    She is survived by her son, Bryant Thedford  and wife Deanna of Seabrook; daughter, Rhonda Thedford Soileau and husband Carl of Baton Rouge, La.; grandchildren, Charles Bryant Soileau and Claire Susanne Soileau.

    Bobby Jack Sowders, of Edna, passed away Monday, Dec. 29, 2014 at the age of 85. He was born in Goose Creek, Texas, on April 11, 1929, to the late Andrew Jackson and Olivia Scott Sowders.
    He was a loving father, grandfather, brother and friend who will be missed dearly. Bobby was a foreman at Alcoa for 32 years.
    Bobby is survived by his daughters, Joyce Rene Huvar and husband Marty of Brenham, and Toni Farmer and husband Brian of Victoria; grandchildren, Eric Huvar and wife Sarah, Hunter Carlisle, Kyle Huvar, and Megan Callahan and husband Mike; great-granddaughter; Lily Huvar.
    Bobby is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Evelyn Marie Sowders; sons, Weldon Wayde Sowders and Charles Nail; grandson, Christopher Shawn Huvar; and brother, Tommy Lee Sowders.

    Lewis Warren Baker, of Vanderbilt, passed away Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014 at the age of 93. He was born in Missouri, on July 18, 1921, to the late James A. Baker and Mary E. Baker.
    He worked hard as a lifelong master plumber to provide for his family. Lewis loved taking care of his growing family, he was a loving father, grandfather, brother and friend who will be truly missed.
    Lewis is survived by his daughters, Sharon Warner and husband Steve, Sandra Loy Macha and husband Robert, Laura LeAnn Swift and Connie Robinson and husband Garland; sons, Lonnie Ray Baker and wife Tina; brother, Don Baker and wife Norma; 13 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
    He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jessie Ellen Baker; son, Lewis Roy Baker; sisters, Dorothy, Helen, Ila and Ivylee; brothers, Ed, Bob and Avery, Jr.

    Michael Hunt Milby, Jr. 92, passed away peacefully on Dec. 26, 2014 in Edna. He was born on Sept. 19, 1922 on Blackjack Street in Edna, to Michael Hunt Milby, Sr. and Sophia Rebecca Wilkerson Milby. He was born to a pioneer Jackson County Family, and was an American in every sense of the word.  He was a 1940 graduate of Edna High School, class president and voted most outstanding boy.

    Ines Figueroa Benavides, 89, passed away Thursday Dec. 25, 2014. She was born in Edna on Nov. 1, 1925, to the late Refugio and Tomasita Figueroa.
    Ines is survived by her daughters, Inez (Larry) Kasper, Mary (Henry) Diaz, Balbina "Pickle" (Joe) Cash, Lupe (Cirilo) Santellana; and her sons, Alfred (Michele) Benavides, Eusebio (Marvella) Benavides, Bill ( Lynn) Benavides; two sisters, Mary Mata and Margie Garcia; and 20 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
    Preceded in death are her parents, spouse, Alfredo, Sr., sister, Louise Sanchez, brothers; Pete, Eusebio, Manuel, Andres, Enriquez and Tanis Figueroa and great-grandson, Brandon Cash.

    Henry Harold Kazmir, Jr., of Edna, passed away Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014 at the age of 63. He was born in Ganado on July 26, 1951, to JoAnn Sorrels Kazmir and the late Henry Kazmir, Sr.
He worked hard as a heavy equipment operator to provide for his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother, and will be truly missed.
    Henry is survived by his loving devoted wife, Roxane Rose Kazmir; daughters, Wendy Miller and husband Shawn, Angela Fodge and husband Lloyd, Tammy Williams and husband Jason and Adona Michalec and husband Mike; stepchildren, James Ricks, Jr. and wife Tammy, Joshua Ricks, Rebecca Hill and Crystal Ricks; sisters, Sheila Haymon and Linda Pomeroy; brother, Clyde Kazmir and wife Linda; 10 grandchildren, six step-grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
    He is preceded in death by his father.

    Harroll Wallis “Cotton” Salge, 83, of Lockhart, passed away Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014. Cotton was born in Karnes Count,y the son of Robert W. “Bob” and Effie Roberts Salge. He grew up in the country near Karnes City helping on the family farm. He graduated from Karnes City High School in 1950, where he lettered in football and track. In 1950 he began his long career in the oil business, starting as a roughneck which took him to the oilfield in Freer, Texas. It was there he met his future wife Charlene Harris and they were married on Oct. 17, 1953. Cotton’s career spanned 50 years and he worked in Texas, Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico and worldwide including the Red Sea and Egypt. He drilled the first Chalk well in Gonzales County and was noted for 2 “Record” wells in Runge. He retired in 2000 as an Oil Field Consultant. While still in the oil business he started a cattle business with his son. He loved raising cattle and attending cattle auctions.

    Nira LaNell Kuchler, of Inez, passed away Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014 at the age of 80. She was born in Bastrop on March 4, 1934, to the late Earl Hoskins and Vera Littlefield Richards.
    She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be truly missed.
    Nira is survived by her daughter, Pamala Rab (Stephen) of Edna; sons, Michael Kuchler (Kathy) of Inez, Danny Kuchler (Sandy) of Boerne, Jody Kuchler of Leakey; 14 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, one expected great-grandchild and two step-grandchildren.
    She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 57 years Paul Willie Kuchler Jr. and great-grandson Weston James Kuchler.
    Visitation will be on Thursday, Dec. 18 from 12-2 p.m. in the Oaklawn Funeral Home Chapel with funeral services following at 2 p.m. with Rev. Jack Hudson officiating. Burial will follow at Red Bluff Cemetery in Lolita.