Obituaries

Curtis Roy Unnasch, 76, of Thorndale, died Sunday, June 12, 2016.

Visitation will be 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, June 16, at Providence Funeral Home in Taylor. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 17, at St. John Lutheran Church in Thorndale. Burial will follow at Detmold Cemetery. Pastor Mel Sowyer will officiate.

Mr. Unnasch was born at home in Detmold, Texas on Sept. 13, 1939 to Leroy and Ella Unnasch. Mr. Unnasch went to school at San Gabriel Elementary and graduated from Thorndale High School. Mr. Unnasch graduated from Arlington State College. 

On April 1, 1961, he married Betty Bachmeyer. Curtis and Betty Unnasch celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this year.

He enjoyed his cattle and feeding his catfish. He never missed a sporting event and was a loyal Thorndale Bulldog fan.

Mr. Unnasch was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Ella Unnasch. 

Mary Ann Pilling McGuire of Temple, entered into eternal rest on June 6, 2016.

Funeral services were held June 10, at Ocker Brethren Church with Rev. Ron Winsman and Bruce Mercer officiating. Burial followed at Ocker Brethren Church Cemetery. 

Mary Ann was born on Nov. 22, 1936, and after growing up on a farm in rural Milam County, she attended Yoe High School where she graduated in 1955. 

She went on to attend nursing school where she was honored as the 1000th graduate of the Scott and White School of Nursing. She began her 39-year career at Scott and White where she eventually became the Supervisor of the Dialysis Unit, and she retired on Dec. 31, 1997. 

During nursing school, she met the love of her life, Billy Wayne McGuire, and the two were married at Hope Lutheran Church on March 5, 1960. 

Mary Ann and Bill had two daughters, Sheryl Ann and Terri Dawn. 

Richard E. Cummings, 62, of Cameron died Monday, June 13, at his home. 

Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at North Elm Cemetery Pavilion in Yarrelton. Burial will follow in the North Elm Cemetery. 

Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 until 8 p.m. at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home.

Mr. Cummings was born Sept. 10, 1953 in Cameron to Clarence and Anna (Arisman) Cummings. He married Judy Hollas on May 20, 1978. 

He worked for Milam Music for many years as a route manager. 

He was preceded in death by his sister, Rebecca Moody. 

He is survived by his wife Judy Cummings of Cameron; on Scott Cummings and wife Amy of College Station; daughter Teri Vaculin and husband Brad of Cameron; brother David Cummings and wife Cari of Cameron; sisters Billie Kudlacek and husband Larry of Cedar Park and Virginia “Ginger” Beathard and husband Earl of Milano; and five grandchildren: Tessa, Jett and Callen Vaculin and T.K. and Ellie Cummings

Shirley Jo Brooks Dodd, 80, of Cameron, died Thursday, May 26, in Temple nursing facility. Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Friday, June 17, at the North Elm Cemetery Pavilion near Cameron.

Ms. Dodd was born Oct. 21, 1935 in Yarrelton to Flake and Annie “Barrett” Brooks. She graduated from Brazosport High School in Freeport and worked for several auto dealerships before moving to the Ben Arnold Community. She worked for the Milam County Tax Office for 18 years. She was a Baptist. 

Her brother, John Brooks and nephew John Brooks, Jr. preceded her in death. She is survived by sister Joyce Ann Rhodes; stepsons    Lee Dodd, Ted Dodd and Dow Dodd; nieces Sue Rose, Joanna, Flake and Lynn; nephew Roy D. Rhodes; and her home care giver, Donna McGower.

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

Jeanette Charanza, 69, of Cameron died Thursday, June 9, in a Temple hospital.

Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Grace Church in Cameron.

Mrs. Charanza was born March 13, 1947 in Milam County to James and Florence (Shafer) Williams. She married Bobby Lee Charanza and he preceded her in death in 2014. 

She had worked as a convenience store manager for many years. 

She is also preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters. 

She is survived by sons Bobby Charanza, Jr. of Rockdale and Joseph David Charanza of Salado; daughter Nanette Lorton of Cameron, brother Melvin Williams of Nevada, Texas; eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren

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

Elizabeth Belle Cantwell Ireland passed away on the evening of June 12, 2016 at her family home in Thorndale. She had been battling cancer for many years.

“Liz” was born in Austin on March 28, 1966 to Myrtle and Bill Cantwell.

She is survived by her husband Wayne L. Ireland Sr., a daughter Tiersa Heine, a son, Wayne, Jr., son-in-law Gregory Heine, five sisters, two brothers, nine grandchildren, many cousins, nieces and nephews and her mother Myrtle Cantwell.

She is preceded in death by her daughter Ash’leah Ireland and her father Bill Cantwell.

She loved her grandchildren and family.

She was a loving and caring CNA and had worked at most all of the nursing homes in the area. Liz was also an avid bingo player. Later in life she had been baptized and loved the Lord.

The Ireland and Cantwell families would like to thank the community for all their help and support throughout Liz’s illness.

Jan. 7, 1959 – June 11, 2016

Ricky Blanchard, age 57, of Cameron passed away Saturday, June 11, 2016. 

Funeral services will be noon, Wednesday, June 15, at Scott’s Funeral Home Chapel in Gatesville. Burial will follow at Greenbriar Cemetery. 

Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral service.

Ricky was born on Jan. 7, 1959 in Gatesville, Texas to Bobby and Peggy Burt Blanchard. He retired from Coca Cola after working for 16 years. He loved all Texas sports teams, his cats, and his dog, Chila.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bobby Blanchard.

Kathy Lynn Cunningham Tepe, 61, of Rosebud, died Wednesday June 8, 2016 at her home. 

Funeral services were Saturday at the First Baptist Church in Rosebud. Burial followed in the Woodland Cemetery in Rosebud. 

Mrs. Tepe was born June 24, 1954 in Rosebud to Marvin Elton and Vera (Long) Cunningham. She married Robert Tepe on April 15, 1994. She had worked as the business administrator for the Heritage House Nursing Home in Rosebud for many years. Mrs. Tepe was a member of the First Baptist Church in Rosebud. 

Clarence Charles “Chuck” Schwartz, 90, passed away Monday, June 6, 2016. He was born north of Thorndale, TX on August 8, 1925 to Carl Christian Schwarz and Blanche Mathilda (Kattner) Schwarz. He married Vera Mae Byrd.

Chuck served as a pilot in the United States Air Force and retired as a Major. He also worked as an engineer with Dow Chemical and taught at Taylor I.S.D. He was a member of the Air Force Association, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Dow Chemical Retirement and First United Methodist Church. Chuck was a Registered Professional Engineer in the states of Texas, New Jersey, Illinois and Louisiana.

Chuck is preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Edna Marie Anna Lannen and Delphine Paine, and son, Vernon Charles Schwartz.

He is survived by his wife, Vera Mae (Byrd) Schwartz, daughter, Sarah Faye Schwartz, son, Steven Dykes Schwartz, and grandchildren, Cody Greer, Vance Greer, Shannon Greer and Stephanie Schwartz.

Claude L. Gann, age 90 of Austin, was surrounded by his family as he went home to the Lord on June 5, 2016 after a brief illness. 

He was born on Sept. 16, 1925 to David Charles Gann and Lela Viola Cosby Gann. He grew up and attended school in Buckholts. He served in the Army during the Korean War and shortly after his return he married the love of his life, Joyce Louise Riola on June 13, 1953. 

He was a career meat-cutter and worked at several grocery stores in the Central Texas area. After retiring he spent his time at his farm raising cattle and gardening.