Obituaries

James Earl Edwards, 75, of Dayton and formerly of Cameron died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, in a Waco hospice center. 

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at Oak Hill Cemetery with Rev. Geoff Lightsey officiating. Visitation will be from noon until service time at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron.

Mr. Edwards, a retired auditor, was born Nov. 1, 1943, in Palestine, to James Edgar and Edna Earle (Wimberly) Edwards. He graduated from C.H. Yoe High in 1962 and received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Texas A&M in 1966. He married Jelly Bello and was a member of the Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Jay Edgar Edwards.  

He is survived by: his wife, Jelly Edwards of Dayton; son, James “Eugene” Edwards of Cedar Park; daughter, Jelly Pearl of Austin; brothers, John David Edwards of Irving, and Joey Edwards of Waco; sister, Darla Williams of Irving; and two grandchildren.

Pearlene Rose Robinson, 91, of Houston and formerly of Cameron died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at her home. 

Funeral services will be at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron with Rev. Gary Maroney officiating. Burial will be in the Little River Cemetery near Jones Prairie at a later time.

Mrs. Robinson was born to Arthur Alvin and Sudie (Hodges) Rose on Oct. 28, 1927, in Thaliana, Okla. She married Royce Gene Robinson on April 8, 1948, and he preceded her in death. Mrs. Robinson retired from Gray Tool Co. 

She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Nancy Gene Robinson; brother, Albert Rose; and a sister, Sybil Ellis. 

She is survived by: daughter, Robin Vann and husband Ralph; brother, Alvin Rose; three sisters, Bernice Phipps, Alyne Lamb and Gladys Wortham; two grandsons, Billy Vann, and Brett Vann and wife Tarah; and five great-grandchildren, Madison, David, Presley, Hudson, and Bishop.

Edna Crane, 77, of Waco, died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in a Cameron nursing facility. 

Funeral services will be at a later date.

Mrs. Crane, a retired housekeeper, was born April 30, 1941, in Des Arc, Ark., to Lathy A. and Flossie Mae (Coffman) Smith.

She was preceded in death by a grandchild and by two brothers. 

She is survived by: son, Ralph Crane of Carlisle, Ark.; daughters, Beverly Crane of Rockdale and Angela Witte of La Grange; brother, Lloyd Smith of Conway, Ark.; sisters, Mary King of Carlisle, Ark., Helen Smith of Benton, Ark., Gladys Foster of Beebe, Ark., Rosie Thurmond of Forest City, Ark., and Judy Woody of Butlerville, Ark.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home of Cameron is in charge of arrangements.

Marilyn M. Eckhardt, 72, of Cameron died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, in a Temple hospital. Services will be at a later date.

Mrs. Eckhardt was born July 8, 1946, in Nebraska to Richard and Marie (Murphy) Leise. She married Daniel Edward Eckhardt and he preceded her in death in 2008.  She had worked as a clerk and wrapper for Brookshire Brothers.

She also preceded in death by a brother and three sisters. 

She is survived by: sons, Dale Eckhardt of Houston and Kyle Eckhardt of Oregon; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home of Cameron is in charge of arrangements.

Martha Leola Harlow Bryant passed away with her family at her side on Jan. 15, 2019, in Ogden, Utah.  She was born June 18, 1929, in Shreveport, La., to Randall Hough Harlow and Betty Lambert Harlow.  She grew up in Hankamer. 

Services for Martha H. Bryant will be at the Kathryn W. Green Chapel of Green-Patterson Funeral Home in Cameron, on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 1 p.m., with Rev. Don Fulton officiating. Burial will follow at the Rogers Cemetery, Bell County. 

Martha married Raymond Gilbert Bryant Jr. on June 6, 1952, at Freeport.  After living in New Orleans, La., for 37 years, they moved to Lubbock in 1994 and Ogden, Utah, in 2010.

Funeral services for Eleanor Luckey, age 91, of Sharp, were held Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with Rev. John Seaton of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Rockdale officiating. Cremation followed. Visitation was held before the services at the funeral home.

Eleanor Luckey was born Oct. 13, 1927, in Cameron, to Lee Roy and Ellen Jane (Hobbs) Clore. She was a graduate of Yoe High School in Cameron. On Aug. 7, 1946, she and James E. Luckey were married in Temple.

Florence Oliver, 91, of Carrollton, entered into eternal rest on Jan. 13, 2019. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated noon on Thursday, Jan. 17, at St. Louis Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at OakCrest Funeral Home, followed by the Rosary at 7 p.m.

Florence was born Oct. 9, 1927, in Cameron. She graduated from C.H. Yoe High School in Cameron and then attended business school. Florence later moved to Waco where she met the love of her life, Sam Oliver. They were married on July 15, 1952, in Cameron. Florence and Sam were very active in the community and church. They loved hosting parties, dancing and participating in civic organizations. A few years later they adopted their two daughters, Mary Louise in 1959 and Jo Ann in 1964.

Tammy Streicher Wheeler, 59, of Cameron died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, at her home. 

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron.

Ms. Wheeler was born Sept. 7, 1959, in Cameron to Billy and Elfriede (Ohlig) Streicher.  She graduated from C.H. Yoe High School. She was employed by Brookshire Brothers in Cameron. 

She was preceded in death by her son, Weldon Dwayne Moore. 

She is survived by: parents, Billy and Elfriede Streicher of Cameron; brothers, Billy Streicher Jr. of Cameron and Richard Streicher of Cameron.

Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home of Cameron is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Maganlal B. Bhakta, 89, of Cameron, passed away Jan. 7, 2019, at his residence.

Services for Mr. Bhakta will be held Thursday, Jan. 10, at 10 a.m., at the Kathryn W. Green Chapel of Green-Patterson Funeral Home. Prayers will be recited Wednesday, Jan. 9, from 6-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Bhakta was born Aug. 7, 1929, in India, to Bhikhabhai and Jamaben Bhakta. In his early years he farmed in India. He later came to the United States and became a U.S. Citizen.

Survivors include: wife: Bhikhiben Patel of Cameron; sons, Indravadan Bhakta of Hayward, Calif., Mukund Bhakta of Childress, and Nilesh “Neal” Bhakta of Cameron; and sister, Madhuban Patel of Dallas. Also surviving are six grandchildren.

Arrangements are under the direction of Green-Patterson Funeral Home, Cameron, Texas. Condolences for the family may be left at www.green-pattersonfuneralhome.com.

Howard Louis Biar, age 78, passed away at his home in Pflugerville on Dec. 31, 2018, with his wife by his side. 

He was born on April 22, 1940 in Austin to Henry O. and Hannah Biar, baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thorndale and attended school in Thorndale. He served two years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He is survived by his wife, Sammie; son, Lin Biar and wife Stacie; daughter, Debbie Fischer and husband Scott; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Rev. Dr. Henry H. Biar and Olin Biar; and his son, Louis Shannon Biar.

Funeral services were held Jan. 4, 2019, at Beck Funeral Home in Pflugerville with Pastor Tom Kesserling officiating. Burial was in the Taylor City Cemetery.