Obituaries

Sally Joyce Stuart, age 75, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, at Scott & White in Temple. 

She was born June 14, 1943 in El Monte, Callif., to Barbara Rosetta and William Franklin Simmons. 

She is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, David William Stuart; her parents; brothers, Donnie Simmons and Bobby Jay Simmons; and sister, Barbara Bostick.  She is survived by her daughter, Pamela Harmon of Port O’Connor; her only grandson, Stuart Harmon; sister-in-law, Rose Marie Simmons; nieces, Sondra Hutchinson and Karen Bostick; nephews, Randall Simmons and Johnny Bostick; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, at Providence Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thorndale.  Interment will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Janice Douglas, 58,of Rockdale, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018.  

Her services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Her visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and her Homegoing Celebration will begin immediately after. Both services will be held at New Hope Baptist Church, 327 E. 3rd St, Rockdale TX, 76567.

Melissa Renee (Ward) Garza, 37, of Lubbock, passed away on Nov. 4, 2018, after a three-year battle with cervical cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 10 at First Baptist Church in Cameron. Michael Dennis of North Village Church will officiate. Burial will follow the funeral at Oak Hill Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home.

Melissa was born in Temple on Jan. 6, 1981. She graduated from C.H. Yoe High School and continued on to receive a Cosmetology License from the Paul Mitchell School.

Melissa was married to Nicolas Edward Garza on April 16, 2011. They were married seven years.

Agnes Estelle Holland, 91, of Cameron died Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, in a Cameron nursing and rehab center. 

Funeral services were held on Sunday, Nov. 4, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron with Bro. Wayne Kirk officiating. Burial followed in the Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation was held before the services at the funeral home.

Mrs. Holland, a homemaker, was born June 26, 1927, in Cameron to Marshall and Estelle (Fikes) Weems.  She was a member Marlow Baptist Church. 

She was preceded in death by two husbands, Mr. Leo Plachy in 1978 and Mr. Charlie Ernest Holland in 1990 and by three brothers and three sisters. 

She is survived by her son, Carroll “C. E.” Plachy of Mesquite; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

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

James Michael Mortimer, age 63, of Bruceville, Texas, passed away on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, in a Waco Nursing Home. A private graveside service will be held at a later date in the Rice Cemetery in Cameron, Texas, under the direction of Foss Funeral Home and Cremation Center.

James was born July 1, 1955, at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, to James Albert and Lora Anna (Peed) Mortimer. James was as 1974 graduate of C.H. Yoe High School and formerly worked as a Medical Laboratory Technician.

He was preceded in death by his parents James and Lora Mortimer.

Survivors include: sisters, Bridgit Moore and Pamela Canter; brothers, Jeffrey Mortimer, and Steven and wife Rebecca; nephews, Patrick Moore and wife Jennifer, Zachary and Jeremy Mortimer; and grand-nieces, Paige and Katie Moore.

Please join us in remembering James by signing our guest book at www.fossfuneralhome.com

Bennie Joseph Vybiral, 92, of Cameron, died Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, in a Cameron nursing facility. 

Graveside services will be held 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Oak Hill Pavilion in Cameron. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home.

Mr. Vybiral, a retired paint contractor and farmer, was born April 25, 1926, in Buckholts to Ben and Minnie (Tomasek) Vybiral. He was a U. S. Navy veteran, a member of the American Legion and a 75-year member of S.P.J.S.T. 

Nancy Mae Martin Smith, 84, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the home of her son Bobby Nabours and his wife Leslie of Washington.

Services dedicated to and honoring her life were held on Monday, Oct. 29, at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple with burial in Bellwood Memorial Park.

Nancy, or "Nanny" as she was called by the great loves of her life which were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was a native Texan, born March 15, 1934, in Temple, to A.C. Martin and Johnny Mae Shipp Martin. 

Destry Reine Young, the man, the told, the legend. He was loved by many and adored be many more. Destry, loving son, brother, husband, father and friend passed away at age 54 on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, at his home.

Destry was born on Aug. 20, 1964, in Hamlin. He attended school in Thorndale and worked as a large equipment operator and for Milam County.

Destry doesn’t want us to remember him as someone who fought a long battle with cancer. He wanted to be known as a man that passed away as a result of being stubborn, not always following doctor’s orders and raising hell for almost five decades. He enjoyed drinking, guns, four-wheeling, and hard work. Being around family and friends was always important to him. He was a kind, good hearted man, always willing to give a helping hand. He was a true hero to many and greatly loved by everyone around the community. He will forever remain in the hearts of so many people.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents.

Mrs. Virginia Lou Keele, 83, of Holland, passed away Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, in a Temple hospital. 

Graveside services for Mrs. Keele was held Monday, Oct. 29, at 10 a.m. at the Friendship Cemetery near Cameron, with Pastor Gene VanNoord officiating.  Visitation was held the hour before the service at the cemetery.

Mrs. Keele was born Aug. 28, 1935, in Davilla, to Jerry and Ruth (Lyles) Cryer. She met her husband of 62 years, Eddie Keele, in church in 1951 when they shared a hymnal. Mrs. Keele attended school in San Angelo and she and Eddie made their home there. She retired from Ethicon Pharmaceuticals after thirty plus years. After retirement she and Eddie moved from San Angelo to Holland. She was able to fulfill her lifelong dream of quilting and crocheting after her retirement.  She was a very devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Mrs. Keele was a member of the Church of Christ.

Mrs. Mildred L. Riddle, 91, of Hamilton, passed away Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Services were held on Monday, Oct. 22, at Riley Funeral Home in Hamilton with Reverend Chuck Claburn officiating. Visitation was held on Sunday, Oct. 21, at the funeral home.

Mildred was born March 23, 1927, to Bill and Mary (Wigginton) Pate in Rosebud, Texas.  She was a longtime resident of Hamilton.  Mildred was a member of First Baptist Church. She married the love of her life, Robert Riddle, on March 5, 1947. They celebrated 54 wonderful years of marriage together.  Mildred was a homemaker. She enjoyed gardening, sewing and spending time with grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert Riddle; one brother; and three sisters.