Obituaries

Verna B. Fuller Price, age 90, made a grand entrance into Heaven on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2016, into the arms of her Lord and Savior, and her waiting husband, Wright. 

She was born to Sim Fuller and Dora B (Frazier) Fuller on Jan. 30, 1926, in Cameron, Texas.  She grew up in North Elm, attending school there through 8^th grade, then graduating from Yoe High in Cameron. 

Verna married the love of her life, Wright Mose Price, Jr., on March 28, 1945.  They were married 67 years, until his death in 2013.  Verna was first and foremost a devout Christian, and showed the love and compassion of God to everyone she met. She instilled that love into her five children, eight grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. Her husband, Wright, was a Baptist minister, and Verna supported that ministry as a quiet helpmate.  Together, they touched so many lives, and the legacy lives on.

Joseph Daniel Kostroun "J.D.", 82, of Milam County, Texas, succumbed to cancer on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, at his home in Lincoln, Texas.

Burial will be in the Old Marak Cemetery in Marak, Texas, at a later date.

J.D. was born in Cameron, Texas, on Feb. 26, 1934, to Joe Anton and Lillian Marie "Matl" Kostroun. J.D. lived most of his life on the family farm in Marak, Texas, doing what he loved most - farming/ranching. He worked at Alcoa in the pot room. His entire life, until the day he died, he was active on the farm and taking care of his cows. He served his country in the Army National Guard from 1952-1961.

J.D. is preceded in death by his father in 2007; mother in 1978, and one brother, Lawrence Kostroun in 2009.

Mary Ann Lara, 59, of Cameron died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, in a Temple hospital. 

Funeral services were held Sunday, Dec. 11, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron. Burial was in the Hernandez Cemetery. A wake service was held Dec. 10 at the funeral home.

Mary Ann, a classroom paraprofessional for Cameron ISD, was born May 18, 1957, in Cameron to Ramon and Lupe (Balboa) Jaramillo. She married Paul Lara and he preceded her in death in 1998. 

She is survived by: her daughters, Mary Rivera of Cameron and Princilla Lara of Cameron; sons, Paul Lara of Temple and Raymond Lara of Cameron; her mother, Lupe Jaramillo of Cameron; brothers, Raymond Jaramillo III of Cameron and Ray Jaramillo of Cameron; sister          , Hope Ramirez of Cameron; and six grandchildren.

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

Shirley Ann Shafer, 70, of Cameron died Saturday, Dec. 17, at a Cameron hospital.

The funeral service will be Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 10 a.m. at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home. Rev. Roger DeLong will be officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. in the chapel.

A homemaker, Shirley was born September 25, 1945, in Angleton, Texas.

She married Wesley Shafer and was preceded in death by daughter, Joyce Marie Shafer.

She is survived by: her husband, Wesley Shafer of Cameron; sons, Wesley W. Shafer of Yoakum and Harvey Eugene Shafer of Cameron; daughter, Shirley Jean Collins of Gause; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

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

Margaret Caroline Zotz, 69, of Cameron, died Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, in a Temple hospital. 

Funeral services were held on Saturday, Dec. 17, at St. Monica’s Catholic Church with Rev. Dimitrij Colankin officiating. Burial followed in the St. Monica’s Cemetery. Visitation was held Friday with a rosary.

Miss Zotz was born Aug. 20, 1947, in Cameron to Lawrence Patrick and Margaret Caroline (Evans) Zotz. She received her Associates Degree from Temple College.  She retired from Alcoa after 38 years of service as a Safety Professional. She was a member of St. Monica’s Catholic Church. 

Kathleen N. Conley, 70, of Cameron, died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, in a Cameron nursing center. 

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home with Deacon Earl Colley officiating.

Miss Conley, a retired registered nurse, was born June 4, 1946, in Sherrill, N.Y., to Pierce M. and Della Marie Conley. She graduated from VVS High School in Verona, N.Y., and attended Hudson Valley Community College.  She began her nursing career at St. Lukes Memorial Hospital in New York, had also worked at Medical City Dallas, in Dallas, for VistaCare Hospice in Temple and for Scott & White in Employee Health. Kathy loved nursing and people. She was always joking and laughing with stories.  She made all her patients feel at ease. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Theresa M. Perkins; and by an infant sister. 

Bruce Edward Fuller, 68, of Calvert, passed away Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at home from a long illness of brain cancer. He was born in Palestine on Nov. 19, 1948, to parents James and Faye Fuller, now deceased.

Bruce was a 1971 graduate from University of Texas. He worked over 30 years in the private sector. In 2004, he moved to Calvert and began a career as Business Manager for the Bremond ISD. In 2007, he accepted the Business Manager position for Cameron ISD, where he retired February 2016.

He had a great love for his animals, dogs, horses, cattle, pigs, and chickens. When on vacation, he loved to fish. He loved his family so very much.

He leaves behind his wife of 48 years, Marie Fuller of Calvert; his son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Terri Fuller of Portland, Ore.; his daughter, Amy Fuller and boyfriend Andy Hathorn of Austin; and his daughter and son-in-law, Christina and Matt Brown of Round Rock.

Viola Adeline Niemtschk, 90, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016.

Viola was born on Dec. 12, 1925, in Kerrville to Henry and Annie (Von Gonten) Abel. She was very much a people person and never met a stranger. She prided herself in her appearance by always dressing nicely and had her hair done every Friday.

Frances Helen Newman Hilton ("Pus," "Grandma") received her angel wings on Dec. 2, 2016, at the age of 101.

She was born on Aug. 28, 1915, in Williamson County to Frank and Lena Newman. She had four sisters Nora, Nannie, Edna and Margie and one brother Frank Jr. She was married to Shelby Bratton Hilton Kanak and they were blessed with two daughters, Helen Janell Hilton Felton and Rena Mae Hilton Moerbe. She has six grandchildren: Billie Imbert, Barton Felton, Debbie Stojanik, Donna Kerlin, Gary Moerbe and Leslie Moerbe. She was also blessed with 11 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren and one on the way; two step-great-grandchildren; and four step-great-great-grandchildren. The kids were her pride and joy throughout her life.

Joe Vansa, 95, of Marak, died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, at his home. 

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, at Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Marak with Fr. George Thirumangalam officiating. Burial will follow in the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Cemetery. Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Friday at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron.

Mr. Vansa, a retired farmer, was born May 20, 1921, in Marak to John and Annie (Kalina) Vansa. He married Stefina Humplik on Nov. 4, 1939, and she preceded him in death on July 1, 1993. Mr. Vansa had also worked for Wall Lake Door, ASCS office and TP&L. He was a member of Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church and K.J.T. 

He was also preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.