Obituaries

Lee Travis Phillips, 91, went home to be with Jesus on Sunday, December 18, 2016. Lee Travis, “Trabo”, was born near Livingston, Texas on Monday, Nov. 2, 1925 to John Wesley and Ardell Murphy Phillips. He grew up in Jasper where he graduated from high school and joined the Navy to do his part in the Pacific in WWII. After the war, he attended the University of North Texas Business School and worked for a short time in Craig, Colorado. He returned to Jasper and met the love of his life, Sarah Mae Bivens. They were married on Oct. 20, 1949. They then moved to Victoria where they raised their four children.     Lee retired after working many years for DuPont. He enjoyed playing “42”, golfing, taking care of his ranch outside of Edna and spending time with his family. He and Sarah are long time members of First Baptist Church of Edna, he was a deacon and also served  as a volunteer chaplin at Citizens Medical Center for many years.

    Elmer Williams, Jr., 72, of Deer Park and Morales, Texas, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 7, 2016, after a six-month battle with cancer.     Mr. Williams was born Sept. 3, 1944, in Okmulgee, Okla., to Elmer Williams, Sr. (d. 2001) and Edna Williams (d. 2013). The family moved to Pasadena, in 1950 and has remained in the area to this day. Mr. Williams is a 1963 graduate of La Porte High School and a retiree from Deer Park's Shell Chemical Company where he worked from 1977 until his retirement in 2005.     Mr. Williams was a devoted husband, loving father, and cherished friend.

    Annie P. Pittaway, age 85, passed away on Dec. 10, 2016. She was born on Jan. 25, 1931 to John and Edith Skoruppa in Edna, Texas. She was raised in Ganado.     She married her husband of 63 years on May 31, 1953. Annie was a loving mother, sister, aunt and great-grandmother. She enjoyed participation in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. She will always be remembered for her service in the church, devotion to family, cooking, arts and crafts.     Annie is preceded in death by parents, John and Edith Skoruppa; brothers, Johnnie, Jimmy, Joseph and Pete Skoruppa.     She is survived by husband, Donald E. Pittaway; daughter, Donna Harris; son, William J. Pittaway; daughter-in-law, Mary A.

    Larry Koop, 60, of Edna was called to his heavenly home and “higher hunting grounds” on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016.  He was born Jan. 14, 1956 in Victoria to Dorothy Jacobs Koop and the late Ewald Koop.       He worked for Jackson Electric Co-op for the last 41 years starting out as a lineman, then foreman and finally line construction superintendent. Larry was known for his love of hunting, playing domino’s, spending time at Brushy Creek (his own little heaven on earth) and overall FUNNY sense of humor – you never knew what might come out of his mouth next! And we all knew, “you ask a stupid question, you get a stupid answer!”     He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Connie Koop; son, Clayton (Monica) Koop; sister, Kathy (Kenneth) Land; brother, Wayne (Linda) Koop; sister-in-law, Pat Teal; brother-in-law, Glenn (Shelley) Miller; nieces, Jamie Kinsfather and Amber Robles; nephews, Mike Smith, Dustin Smith, Stacy Teal and Chad Land and his much beloved granddog, “Barney”.

    On Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, we lost the most generous, hard- working, story-weaving man that we will always remember. After 86 years of accumulative careers as a teacher, a Marine, a Golden Glove Champion, a football player, a coach, an insurance salesman, dance instructor, contractor, and harmonica player, he finally retired with his boots still on.     Darrell graduated from Pharr High School 1948, played football for Southwest Texas State College from 1948-52, served as 1st Lt. in Marines from1952-54, received his Master Degree from SWT in1956, taught and coached at SMHS and Edna High School, built custom homes in San Marcos for 44 years, was inducted into the Bobcat Hall of Honor in 1986 and was employed by Chuck Nash Auto Group as Jack-of-All-Trades-Engineer.     Born in McAllen, Texas he was married to Lola Ann Fischer Keck for 25 years. They have four daughters, Dara (Jerry) Zoboroski, Rhonda (Dr. Dan) Miller, Tange (Jerry) Hamilton and Linda (Walter) Shaffer.

    Johnny Venglar was 61 when he went to his heavenly home on Dec. 4, 2016. He was born Nov. 30, 1955.     He was a man of many talents. He had a passion for playing the guitar and loved to sing. He was our “Johnny Cash!” He loved to play cards, dominoes, and was an awesome pool player and could bowl a darn good game. He loved to fish and was a great dancer. He loved to Waltz and the Two Step.     Johnny was a sports fanatic, but most of all he loved his Dallas Cowboys. Farming was his life and he loved every minute of it. He could be found mowing every week, whether it needed it or not.     Johnny is survived by his daughter Jackie Kitchens; son, Jonathan and wife Sharon; sisters, Vicky Thompson and husband Brice, Sandy Knapp and husband Alan, Mary Yarborough and husband Andy; brothers, Andy Venglar and Leonard Venglar and Fred Lilley; and many nieces and nephews.

    Jane Fiew New, 81 of Edna passed away on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 at 10:25 p.m.  Jane was born on Sunday, Aug. 11, 1935 in Mission, Texas to Bemmie Lee Fiew, Sr. and Opal Lavonna Price Fiew. She married her soul mate, Oscar Louis New, on July 6, 1958, and they were best friends for 43 years. This loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend entered her Eternal Home in Heaven after battling cancer and other medical conditions.    Jane is survived by her three sons, Brent Wayne New and his wife Tana Lynn of Edna, James Louis "Bud" New of Edna, and Clarence Ray "Toot" New of Hallettsville; daughter Rebecca Lynne New Utesey and her husband Carlton Van Utesey of Edna; her nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, Brent Wayne New, Jr.

Marjorie Kelton, 89, formerly of Edna, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016.  She was born on Saturday, Sept. 10, 1927 in Hallettsville, to Victor and Freida Klitsch Marek. Marjorie was one of six children.     Marjorie married Grady F. Kelton and together they raised their four children. Marjorie was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she will be missed by all who knew her and loved her.     She is survived by her daughters Margaret Soucy, and Betty (Bill) Wood; sons Robert (Kelley) Johnson, and Grady (Debby) Kelton, Jr.; her seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and her sister Rose Marie Shelton.     She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her three sisters, and one brother.     Visitation will be Sunday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Slavik ~ Edna Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral service will be Monday, Dec. 5, at 10 a.m. at Slavik ~ Edna Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Andrew Schroer officiating.

    Sharron Ann Clark Kucera, 71, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016 in Victoria.  She was born on Sunday, Jan. 28, 1945 in Victoria to Albert and Lydia Cervenka Clark.     On June 20, 1964, Sharron married the love of her life, Emil Kucera. They were married for 52 years this past June, and they were residents of Edna most of those years. Emil had been her best friend for the rest of her life.     Sharron was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, otherwise known as "Granny".  She loved her family and her favorite thing to do was to cook for them. You never left her home hungry and always had food for days. She was truly one of a kind, tough as nails on the outside, but so loving, caring, helpful and generous to all. Just know she is in paradise, and happy as she can be.     Sharron is survived by her husband, Emil; sons, Scotty Kucera (Shera) and David Kucera (Valeria); sister, Norma Wright;  brother William Clark.

    Clara Lee Powers Beem went to be with the Lord on Nov. 10, 2016 surrounded by her family. She was born Sept. 27, 1944 in Refugio to the late Noah Lee and Lena Page Powers.       In her early years the family travelled extensively living in California, Colorado, and Texas. She loved and raised various animals, hunted and fished, and remained an avid fan of ‘true’ country music and classic westerns. Clara Lee enjoyed cooking and baking, and being creative occupied her time drawing, painting, sewing, and soap-making.         Clara Lee and Richard L. Beem married April 26, 1999. Together they worked as house-parents for abused and neglected children at Bluebonnet Youth Ranch for 17 years. In more recent years, she managed Bluebonnet Treasurers for the Ranch, a position she took great pride in and was active with the week prior to her passing. Clara Lee had a strong work ethic and gave freely of her time and talents to make the world a better place.