Obituaries

Ruby Alice Achtruth, 97, was called to be with her Heavenly Father on Monday, Oct. 16, 2017. 

Ruby was born to Paul and Esther Kiesling on Dec. 23, 1919, at their home in Thorndale. She was baptized on Feb. 1, 1920, and confirmed on March 25, 1934, by Rev. F.H. Stelzer of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thorndale. She graduated from St. Paul Lutheran School on June 14, 1934. Pastor Leo Simon married Ruby and William (Bill) Achtruth on March 4, 1950, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Detmold where they became lifelong members. They made their home in Thorndale where they together operated a meat processing and Bar-B-Que business for 30 years.

Ruby was a gifted seamstress, which enabled her to showcase her talent by making baby garments, school clothes, evening gowns and more for her family.  In addition, she enjoyed embroidery, crocheting and quilt making. As each child and grandchild married she presented them with a quilt made especially for them. 

Tommie Lee Brooks Jr., 67, of Cameron died Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in a Temple hospital. 

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, at True Love Baptist Church with Rev. M. T. Bennett officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home.

Mr. Brooks was born Nov. 2, 1949, in Milam County to Murrel (Daniels) Brooks and Tommie Lee Brooks Sr. He graduated from Rockdale High School and then worked for Royal Seating in Cameron for over 21 years.

He was preceded in death by his sister Lillian Brooks. 

Billy Ross Thompson, 81, of Cameron, died Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, at his home.  Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron with Rev. Jim Troxel officiating.  Burial will follow in the Marlow Cemetery. Visitation will be at 2 p.m. until service time on Tuesday.

Mr. Thompson was born Oct. 4, 1936, in Cameron to Joseph and Cordelia (Andrews) Thompson.  He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of the Korean conflict and the Vietnam War.  He retired from Alcoa. Mr. Thompson and his wife Josephine were married on July 25, 1983.  He was a member of the Battetown Baptist Church in Cameron.

Steven Lara, 70, of Cameron, died Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017, in a Temple hospital.  Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Hernandez Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Lara, a retired truck driver, was born June 21, 1947, in Roswell, N.M., to John and Ruth (Urquidis) Lara. A son Robert, preceded him in death. 

He is survived by: his wife, Selza Lara of Cameron; sons, Roy Lara of Cameron, Ray Lara of Temple, and Christopher Crum of Cameron; daughters, Irene Lara of Temple; brothers, Gilbert Lara of Temple, Faustin Lara of Temple, Lasaro Lara of Houston, and Albert Lara of Cameron; 11 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.

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

Lawrence H. "Jack" Obermiller passed away at his home in Pleasanton on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the age of 83. 

Jack was born Aug. 2, 1934, in Buckholts, to Lawrence H. Obermiller Sr. and Annie Lou McAnaulty Obermiller.  He was raised on the family farm where he picked cotton alongside his parents and younger brother.  Jack lost his father at a young age, and after he graduated, he went to work on a road construction crew to help support his mother and brother.  He later helped in building the Alcoa plant in Rockdale. 

Johnny Ray Hoff, 58, of Temple, died Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, at his home.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in Salem Lutheran Church near Rosebud. Rev. Terry Atkins officiating. Burial will follow in Salem Lutheran Cemetery.

Johnny was born Nov. 25, 1958, in Rosebud to Willie Ray and Joyce Glaser Hoff. He graduated from the Texas School for the Blind. He lived most of his life in Austin and worked for the Travis Association for the Blind for 29 years. After his retirement, he moved to Temple. He loved listening to and singing Czech music. He loved people.  He was a lifelong member of Salem Lutheran Church.

He was preceded in death by his father and nephew, Brian Reinders.

He is survived by his mother, Joyce Hoff of Burlington; his brother, Ricky Hoff of Rosebud; his sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Donnie Reinders  of Ben Arnold; one niece, Savannah Hoff; and three nephews, Randy Reinders, Rhett Hoff, and Jacob Hoff.

Eldon “Shorty” Niemtschk, 82, formerly of Taylor, passed away on Sept. 25, 2017, in Chandler, Ariz.

Shorty was born in Thorndale to Meta and Otto Niemtschk on March 27, 1935. He grew up in Thorndale. Shorty married Julia Marie Schoenrock on Jan. 26, 1958.

He grew up on the family farm, played football for Thorndale High School, and after the serving as a member of the United States Army, in Korea from 1955-1957, he became a Teamster driving for 40 years in Texas, New Mexico, and Michigan.

Shorty is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Betty Lehmann; and brothers, Justin Niemtschk and Erwin Niemtschk.

Royce Dean Hirt, 80, of Rockdale, passed away Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, in Bryan. 

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Rockdale with Chaplain Gary Roe officiating. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct.5, 2017, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home.

Royce was born May 21, 1937, in the Gay Hill Community to Emil Ernest and Elsie (Hazel) Hirt.  He married Artie Ashley on Feb. 7, 1997, in Rockdale. Royce worked at Rodenbeck Auto Supply in Thorndale for 25 years and for Commercial Contractors at Alcoa for over 17 years. He enjoyed roping, watching his great granddaughter rodeo, but most of all, he loved his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Emil Ernest and Elsie Hirt; and sisters, Helen Griffith, Nova Lee Betchan and Lavon Ewing.

Dorothy May Wallace, 84, of Georgetown, fell asleep in death in her home on Sept. 29, 2017.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in the Chapel of Ramsey Funeral Home, 5600 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78633.

Dorothy was born to parents Robert E. and Ethel Martha Daniell on the spring day of Sunday, April 9, 1933, in Florence. She married Walter Wallace, and shared many wonderful years together until his passing on Oct. 25, 1986.

Dorothy was a known homemaker, and was a devout Jehovah’s Witness.

Dorothy is survived by her son, Larry Nunn of Georgetown; daughter, Linda Reichert of Salado; son, Roger Nunn of Belton; daughter, Sandy Terry of Cameron; as well as 12 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her son, Brian Mitchel Nunn.



Courtney LaTrell Williams, 32, of Cameron died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Cameron. 

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at First Baptist Church in Cameron with Rev. Leslie Dunn officiating.  Burial will follow in the Cameron Rest Cemetery. 

Courtney LaTrell Williams was born in Temple, on April 16, 1985, to Onie Williams and Ernest Kemp. He joined the Body of Christ at an early age and was a member of True Love Baptist Church where he was baptized by Rev. Samuel L. Buhl. At a later date he joined Cameron Grove Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Earnest Taylor. He attended C. H. Yoe High School in Cameron and and graduated in 2003. After graduation, he worked for Durcon in Taylor.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Val and Pie Williams; a niece and a nephew.