Obituaries

Ora Lee Hardwick, 83, of Cameron died Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, at her home.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron with Rev. Wayne Vincent officiating. Burial will follow in Marlow Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the funeral home.

Mrs. Hardwick, homemaker, was born Oct. 1, 1934, in the South Elm Community of Milam County to Jim and Frances (Chevalier) Matthews.  She married Terry Hardwick on May 13, 1951.  She was a member of the First Assembly of God Church. 

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Manuel Matthews and Aud Matthews and by two sisters, Imogene Matthews and Ora Bell Prater. 

Elizabeth Rene Griffet, 50, of Temple, passed away Sept. 22, 2017, in Temple. 

She was born on June 29, 1967, in Waco.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, from 6-8 p.m. with Rosary at 7 p.m. at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, Temple.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at St. Monica Catholic Church, Cameron. Burial will follow at St. Monica Catholic Cemetery.

Melvena Garrett, 80, of Cameron died Saturday, Sept. 23, at her home. 

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron with Rev. Carl Hudson officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Cameron. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Garrett, a homemaker, was born on Jan. 11, 1937, in Cameron. She married Reginald Garrett on June 1, 1956, and he preceded her in death on April 1, 2016.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Cameron. 

She was also preceded in death by her parents, Grady and Thelma Grace (McFarland) Goodwin. 

She is survived by: son, Reginald Garrett Jr. of Hewitt; daughter, Lauren Harrison of Amarillo; brother, Grady Leroy Goodwin of Houston; seven grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren.
Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home of Cameron is in charge of arrangements.

Emma Nell Koenig, 76, of Cameron died Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, at her home.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Sept. 17, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron with Chaplain Terry Kennedy officiating.  Burial followed in the Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation was held Saturday at the funeral home.

Ms. Koenig, a homemaker, was born March 1, 1941, in Cameron to Willie Joseph and Mary Frances (Eichinger) Koenig. 

She is survived by: sons, Tommy Lynn Walshak of Kauai, Hawaii, Daryl McWorter of Dayton, Keith Jess Lanning of Livingston, Joseph Forrest Lanning of Magnolia, Keaton Nathan Lanning of Minerva, and Larry Wayne Tolbert of Alexandria, La.; daughter, Cindy Ann Woodburn of Somerville; 13 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

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

Thomas Jose Cruz, 29, of Buckholts, passed away Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, at his residence. A memorial for Mr. Cruz will be announced at a later date.

Mr. Cruz was born Sept. 19, 1987, to Robert Cruz and Roxane Lankford in Houston. He worked as a mechanic in the automotive industry. He was a Methodist.

Survivors include: his parents, Robert Cruz of Dallas and Roxane Cantrell of Buckholts; sons, Noah Cruz, Devin Walker, Julian Cruz, Jaydin Cruz and Dakota Cruz, all of Buckholts; daughters, Leahna Cruz and Selena Cruz, both of Buckholts; sisters, Carmela Cruz of College Station and Christina Summers of San Antonio.

Arrangements are under the direction of Green-Patterson Funeral Home in Cameron.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.green-pattersonfuneralhome.com. 

Gary Wayne Leatherwood, 66, of Cameron died Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in a Temple hospital. 

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron with Bill Harris officiating. Burial will follow in the Milano City Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8 pm Tuesday at the funeral home.

Gary was born Feb. 27, 1951, in Texas City to Dawson Franklin and Beatrice Bernice (Sims) Leatherwood. He had worked as manager for the O’Reilly Auto Parts for many years.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Carol Ann Hair and Linda Sue Chumchai.

He is survived by: sister, Sharon Rubac of Cameron; five nieces and nephews; and five great-nieces and great-nephews.

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

Johnnie Klecka, 77, of Buckholts, died Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017, in a Temple hospital. 

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cyclone with Fr. George Thirumangalam officiating.  Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron with a Rosary being recited at 6 pm.

Mr. Klecka, owner and operator of Rogers Texaco and Used Cars, was born Dec. 2, 1939, in Cameron to Anton J. and Annie Francis (Mikeska) Klecka. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He married Theresa Wise on Feb. 3, 1973, and was a 4^th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. 

He is survived by: his wife, Theresa Klecka of Buckholts; son, Johnnie Alvin (Jay) Beathard and wife Danice of Milano; daughter, Kristin Nash and husband Jason of Academy; brother, Anton (Tony) Klecka and wife Carolyn of Cameron; and six grandchildren.

Bonnie Gay Cobb, 86, of Bryan, and formerly of Cameron passed away Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, at a Bryan hospice facility. 

Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 7, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron between 6-8 p.m.  Graveside services will be at a later time.

Mr. Othie C. Seaton Jr., 79, of Wilburton, Okla., formerly of Cameron, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, at a Wilburton nursing facility.

Services for Mr. Seaton will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, at the Kathryn W. Green Chapel of Green-Patterson Funeral Home in Cameron with Rev. Kirby Foster officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Seaton was born March 24, 1938, in Red Rock, to Othie Sr. and Daisy (Gibson) Seaton. He was a retired farmer, living the majority of his life in Milam County. He especially enjoyed raising chickens and tending to his garden.  He married Martha Jene Young in Cameron on Dec. 24, 1955. After his retirement, he moved to Latimer County, Okla., to be close his children. He loved his family and was known for making friends wherever he went. His family remembers him as a good Christian man with strong religious beliefs.  

Jean Anita Spytma, 67, of Cameron died Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, at her home. Private services will be held at a later date.

Mrs. Spytma, a retired administrative assistant, was born Dec. 14, 1949, in Grand Rapids, Mich., to Gayle and Dorothy (Willis) Kelley.  She married William Spytma on Feb. 5, 2000. 

She is survived by: her husband, William Spytma of Cameron; children, Angela Rowan of Michigan, Ronda Thompson of Washington, William Spytma of Michigan, Andy Meinders of Michigan, and Adam Spytma of Oregon; sister, Jane Neff of Michigan; and four grandchildren.

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