Obituaries

J. L. Hill, 81, of Temple and formerly of Ben Arnold, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 at his home.
Graveside funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the Bryan City Cemetery in Bryan.
Family visitation will be Monday, Jan. 11, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron.
Mr. Hill was born Aug. 16, 1934 in Whitesboro, Texas to Elton Lester and Lucile (Parker) Hill.
He was a graduate of Texas A & M University Class of 1957. He worked as a dairy manager for many years and then later in life he worked for and retired from Milam County Precinct 2.
He married Janice Meads in August of 1957 and he served in the U. S. Army reserves.
He was preceded in death by a son, Douglas Brian Hill and a brother Jerry Neal Hill.

Betty Powell Laird, 91, went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Jan. 8, 2016.
Known as “Nana” to her five grandchildren and her 11 adorable great grandchildren, Betty was born on Jan. 22, 1924 in the Ad Hall community near Cameron. She was a 1941 graduate of Yoe High School.
She was married for 61 years to Neely R. Laird, who preceded her in death in 2003.
Betty was a loving mother and homemaker as well as a faithful member of the North Harris County Church of Christ. Her kind and gentle spirit will certainly be missed by family, friends and neighbors.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, marc N. laird and Ann Bates Laird of Houston; her son-in-law Oliver Lee Roberts of Conroe; and one brother, Bobby Hugh Powell of Buckholts.

Esther Holland Kueker, 75, of Buckholts died Tuesday, Jan. 5, at her home.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Hope Lutheran Church in Buckholts with Rev. Gary Kleypas officiating. Burial will follow in the Hope Lutheran Memorial Park. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 until 7 p.m. at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home.
Esther was born Aug. 7, 1940 in Houston to Jack and Maggie (Sims) Holland. She was baptized early in life and confirmed in the Lutheran Church of which she was a lifetime member. She was an associate member of the Buckholts Brethren Church since 1999.
Esther was a faithful and devoted member of the church and served it in many ways as a teacher, and held a number of offices. She was a member of the Lions Club and served numerous times as president and secretary. She was a member of the V.F.W. and was involved with Wounded Warriors.

Joyce Lynette Jochec, 60 of Marak, died Friday, January 1, 2016 in Bryan, surrounded by family. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, at SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Marak with Fr. Dimitrij Colankin officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Lynette was born in Rockdale to Richard Keith and Evelyn Joyce (Schirpik) Botts, and moved to Cameron in 1968.
With a long and dedicated career in law enforcement, she was well respected. Starting as a dispatcher with the Cameron Police Department, later “Nettie” was a Sergeant at the Milam County Sheriff’s Office. The last few years, “Mrs. Jo” was with the Brazos County Sheriff’s Department.
She married Frankie Joe Jochec in 1985 and was a member of SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church and the KJZT. She had a great love and loyalty for her family, close friends and animals, going out of her way to help.

Johnny Douglas Morgan, 84, of Cameron died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015 in a Cameron nursing facility.
Services were Thursday, Dec. 24, at Oak Hill Pavilion with Rev. Bob Glenn officiating.
Mr. Morgan, a retired truck driver, was born Oct. 16, 1931 in Cameron to Wilbert Lee and Ora Lee (Blake) Morgan.
He was a U. S. Army veteran. Mr. Morgan worked for 15 years for the city of Cameron and then for Milam County in Buckholts.
He is survived by his son  Johnny Morgan and wife Irene of Schwertner; daughters Sherry Lynn Scott of Waco, Jo Ann Purshe of Belton and Debbie Williams of Temple; sisters Shirley Crow of Cameron and Patsy Newsome of Witchita Falls; 13 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home of Cameron is in charge of arrangements.

Debbie Morales passed away Jan. 3 at Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, at Mescalero Baptist Church. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, .
Debbie was born Jan. 28, 1952 in Rockdale to Clarence and Mary Pontruff. She married Richard Lee Morales Sr. October 2, 1971.
She had a varied career in medical billing and childcare, even starting a couple of successful businesses.
She was a very loving and religious woman, a doting mother and grandmother and a best friend to anyone in need.
Debbie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard Morales; her parents, Clarence Pontruff and Mary Cryer Pontruff; and her brother, George Pontruff.

Lena Mae Blake, 86, of Cameron died Tuesday, Dec. 29, in a Cameron nursing center.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, at the Oak Hill Cemetery Pavilion with Rev. Tim Cheatham officiating.
Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 1, from 5 until 7 p.m. at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home.
Mrs. Blake was born May 3, 1929 in Rogers to Dick and Myrtle Lee (Hill) Riddle.
She married Charlie Blake and he preceded her in death in 1997. She was also preceded in death by a brother and two sisters.
She had worked at Culpepper Furniture Store for many years and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Cameron. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home of Cameron is in charge of arrangements.

Kathryn Ruth Fulmer, age 94, of Casnovia, Michigan died Sunday, Dec. 27, at Crockery Creek Elder Care in Ravenna, Mich.
Kathryn was born on June 21, 1921 in Milam County, Texas to the late Samuel D. and Kate (Harwood) Rudder.
She married Dr. A. Darryl Fulmer in January 1946. He preceded her in death on Nov. 14, 2007.
Kathryn is survived by her daughter Darlyne (John) Sluka of Casnovia, Mich., three grandchildren: Anna Kathryn (James) Metiva of Muskegon, Sara Jane Sluka of Grand Rapids and Darryl (Kayla) Sluka of Spring Lake, Mich.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and two brothers: Samuel Jr and Grady Rudder.
Cremation has taken place with a graveside service at a later date.
Memorials may be directed to: Heartland Hospice or Crockery Creek Elder Care.
Go to: www.throopfhravenna.com or Facebook @ Throop Funeral Home of Ravenna to sign the online guestbook.

Funeral service for Bernice Folz, 92, of Temple will be 1 p.m,. Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple with burial in Oakhill Cemetery in Cameron.
Bernice Folz passed away Saturday, December 26th in a retirement center.
Bernice was born July 18, 1923 in Jones Prairie, to Otto A. and Winnie Becker Folschinsky.
At the age of 18 she built fuses for bombs used in WW II. Bernice had a commercial chicken farm and sold the eggs. She retired from the VA Home Health Care after 28 years of employment.
Bernice was a resident of the Ridge Crest Retirement Center who never lost her love of caring as she would visit the residents on a daily basis.
She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Temple.
Bernice is preceded in death by her twin daughters, Caroline and Maryln; her parents; and sister, Betty Sue Parker.

Leila Caywood, 80, of Cameron, died Monday, Dec. 21, in a College Station hospital.
Graveside funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at the Oak Hill Pavilion. Viewing and visitation will be Thursday from noon until service time.
Mrs. Caywood, a homemaker, was born June 17, 1935 in Beulah, North Dakota. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe Caywood.
She is survived by sons Bruce Buchanan of Wisconsin, Robert Buchanan of Mississippi, Herbert Buchanan of Wisconsin and Donnie Buchanan of Cameron; daughters Brenda Harvey of Hempstead, Cynthia Howard of College Station, Stella Bryan of Florida, Betty Holmes of Cameron and Marie Buegler of Rockdale; brothers Dennis Bauer of North Dakota and Clyde Bauer of Montana; sister Linda MacDonald of California; 19 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home of Cameron is in charge of arrangements.