Cedarvale Cemetery Markers
Photos courtesy of Faye Cunningham
 

Harvey H. Foster

Harvey H. Foster

Mr. Harvey Foster, age 72 years, died at his home in Bay City Saturday morning following an illness of some duration. He had been a resident of Matagorda County for many years and was engaged in farming until he retired a few years ago.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Addie Foster, one daughter, Mary Ella Douglas, of Rosharon, three sisters and three brothers.

Funeral Services were held from the Taylor Brothers Funeral Home Sunday afternoon at 5 o’clock with interment in the Cedarvale Cemetery, Rev. E. B. Holloway, pastor of the Rosharon Baptist Church officiating.

Palacios Beacon, August 19, 1948
 

Manford Foster

Manford Foster – Former Rice Farmer of This County Killed When Car Crashes Rear of Wagon

Manford Foster, about 33, rice farmer in Rosharon, was killed shortly after midnight near Sandy Point, when the car which he was driving crashed into the rear of a wagon.

Mr. Foster, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Foster of Ashby, was rice farming at Rosharon but he lived at Houston. He is survived by his wife and a small child, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Foster.

Manford, a citizen of this county for many years, and a rice farmer in this county for several years, had a host of friends in the rice farming business and was generally liked by all who knew him. Always genial, good natured, and of a disposition that easily made for him many friends, his tragic death sounds a note of sadness throughout this county and this section. The Tribune joins his many friends and the friends of the family in expressing keen sympathy in their bereavement.

The funeral services, under the direction of Taylor Bros., will be held Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock from the First Baptist Church. Reverend Odis Rainer will officiate. Interment will be in Cedarvale Cemetery.

Daily Tribune, April 10, 1939

Attend Funeral Of Mr. Manford Foster

Among those attending the funeral yesterday afternoon of Mr. Manford Foster, here were: Mr. and Mrs. Gust Franzen, Mrs. Hugo Kundinger, Mrs. Vera Batchelor of Collegeport. Messrs. Rex Bailey, Porter Bailey of Rosharon, Mr. E. W. Bailey Jr., of Danbury, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Duffy of Beeville, Mr. Verner Bowers of Collegeport, Mr. and Mrs. Spence Clements of Houston, Mrs. T. Jones, Mrs. A. G. Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Cristensen, Mr. Leo Miller of Rosharon, Mr. R. Q. Pegram and Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Woods of Houston, Mr. Frances Savage, Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Williams of Danbury. Messrs. Fred Fields and Lawrence Boyd of Rosharon, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Fulcher of Collegeport, Mrs. Liggett and Mrs. H. A. Clapp of Collegeport, and Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Foster.

The above were a few of the many who came to Bay City yesterday to share with the family the great sorrow brought to them by the untimely death of this splendid young man.

Serving as pall bearers yesterday were: Messrs. J. C. Lewis, Verner Bowers of Collegeport, Spence Clements and R. Q. Pegram of Houston, M. O. Savage and W. E. Davant.

Daily Tribune, April 12, 1939

Final Rites Are Held For M. T. Foster

The First Baptist Church of Bay City was filled to overflowing capacity Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock when Rev. Odis Rainer of Houston conducted services for Manford T. Foster, prominent rice farmer, who was killed instantly in an automobile accident near Sandy Point early Sunday morning. Interment was at Cedar Vale cemetery under the direction of Taylor Bros.

Pall bearers were: P. Q. Pegram and Spence Clements of Houston; M. O. Savage, W. E. Davant, and Jim C. Lewis of Bay City; Melvin Spoor of Rosharon; Joe Foster of Arkansas and Verner Bowers of Collegeport.

Manford Foster, age 29 years, 9 months and 16 days, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Foster of Ashby, was born and reared in Matagorda County. Four years ago he moved from Bay City to Rosharon where he was considered one of the most successful rice farmers in the vicinity.

Maintaining a home in Houston where Mrs. Foster and their three year old son resided, Mr. Foster divided his time between Rosharon and Houston. It is understood, he was enroute to Houston when the accident occurred, running into a car owned by a Negro which was parked on the highway near Sandy Point. The car had run out of gasoline and the occupants had gone for gas.

During this short lifetime, Mr. Foster made a host of sincere friends. A pleasant personality and a lovable disposition won the hearts of those closely associated with him.

It is with sincerity The Herald joins a large circle of friends in extending sympathy to the following survivors: his wife and son, Mr. Mary Sliva Foster and Manford Harvey; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Foster of Ashby; one sister, Mrs. Jerry Douglas of Rosharon.

An exceptionally large number of friends from out of town attended the funeral. Among those here were E. E. Wood, Phil Davant, A. A. Marquer, Mr. and Mrs. Spence Clements, R. Q. Pegram, Johnny Maher, and Walter Gosling all of Houston; Jack Wood of Danbury; Dave Evans of Angleton; Fred Fields, Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Williams, Mr. and Mrs. C. A Williams, Aubrey Williams, Adrain Ruth, Joe Dennis, Charlie Steves, David Spoor, Joe Brigham and Rex Bailey of Rosharon; Dick Clements and Mr. Snider of Wharton.—The Herald.

Palacios Beacon, April 13, 1939
 

George W. Frazier          Mary A. Frazier

Mr. G. W. Frazier

Mr. G. W. Frazier, 58 years, 5 days, died at the family residence in Sweeny, Texas, February 7^th, at 10 a. m., after an illness of short duration.

Mr. Frazier has been in the mercantile business for the past nine years in Sweeny. Funeral services will be held Sunday at the Baptist Church in Sweeny at two p. m. Burial will be in Cedar Vale Cemetery here following services under the direction of Taylor Bros.

Daily Tribune, February 13, 1936
 

Elmer E. Fry           Minnie C. Fry

Elmer E. Fry

Death, Thursday, removed from the citizenry of Bay City one of our oldest and most highly respected inhabitants, a man highly esteemed because of his rugged honestly and revered because of his earnest simplicity and cheerful disposition.

E. E. Fry departed this life at Rosenberg after an illness of two weeks, caused by a ruptured appendix. The funeral will be held from the Walker-Matchett funeral home this afternoon at 5 o’clock, immediately after the services which will be held there.

Elmer E. Fry was born and reared in Westover, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1862, of sturdy pioneer American parentage. He moved to Bay City in 1900 and has resided here continuously. By dint of ceaseless toil, and strict honesty in all of his dealings he made a success of raising his family and getting together quite a competence in the way of property. He moved quietly, even though energetically, about his daily tasks and, seemingly never had a moment to spare. His friends are legion, and his happy, earnest companionship will be missed.

Mr. Fry is survived by his wife, one son, John C. Fry of San Benito, and two daughters, Mrs. B. H. Helmecke, of this city, and Mrs. George Haines, of Gulf. Two granddaughters also survive. They are Dorothy Fry, of San Benito, and Bernatte Haines, of Gulf.

The pallbearers are Bob Tilman, Jim Sisk, Jack Spurgeon, A. A. George Helmecke, John Blum and Oscar Ziegenhals.

The Tribune joins the hosts of friends of the family in the most sincere expression of sympathy.

Matagorda County Tribune, August 13, 1936
 

William H. "Bill" Helmecke


Gladys Fry Helmecke

Gladys Fry Helmecke

Services will be held for Gladys Fry Helmecke, 89, of Bay City, 2 p. m. Saturday at Bay City Funeral Home.

Officiating at the services will be the Reverends Chester Sassman and Frank Seaman.

Helmecke died October 21, 1982 at Caldwell Hospital in Caldwell.

Survivors include sister Shirley Haines of Bay City; sister-in-law Mable Crockett Fry of San Benito; nieces, Dorothy Fry Hance of San Benito, Bernadette Speckman of Chriesman; great-nephew, Luke Speckman of New Braunfels; great-niece, Caressa Inman of Chriesman; great-great-nieces Caressa Fry Inman, Jessica Cade Inman of Chriesman.

A Bay City resident since the fall of 1900, she attended the Baptist Church, public schools and the Bay City Business College. She was active in the Home Demonstration Club and a past matron of Bay City Chapter 380, OES.

Burial will follow services at Cedarvale Cemetery.

Pallbearers include Charles Ziegenhals, Clifford Lee, Paul Hatchett, A. R. Robertson, James Gibson, Tom Frank Lowe, Vernon Ryman and Joyce Speckman.

Honorary pallbearers include John S. Neary, Frank Craft, Jim Craft, Bob Craft, William Blackman, B. F. Schulz, Melvin Blum, Bill Taylor, Joe Rowland and Antonio Solis.

Services under the direction of Dick R. Elkins, Bay City Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune, October, 1982
 

John Curtis Horne
 

Mary Janet Johns          Fred T Johns          Bonnie M. Johns

Death Claims Jeanette Johns – Mary Janet Johns

As the night was ebbing away, Wednesday, April 23, the little life of Jeanette Johns was answering the call of God to enter the city “not made with hands whose builder and maker is God,” and as the new day dawned Thursday, Jeanette had entered this new life and was resting safe in the arms of Jesus.

Jeanette was born August 27, 1925 in Fort Worth, Texas, and the four years of her life was a life of joy to her parents. She passed away April 23, 1930 in Bay City at the Dr. Loos Sanitarium. Jeanette was a faithful member of the Baptist Sunday school in Newgulf, Texas, the present home of her parents. She was a favorite playmate with the children of her neighborhood and was a joy to all who knew her.

“God gave this little girl to the parents love and care and bade them tenderly lead her with the utmost care.”

The parents of Jeanette were faithful to the task God gave them and always ministered to her needs and when she was stricken with the fatal illness all medical attention was given to prolong the little life.

“Then one day God wanted a rosebud to bloom in His garden fair. So, He called Jeanette and she so willingly said, I’ll come there.”

The funeral services were held in the First Baptist Church, Bay City, Rev. J. A. Derrick, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Newgulf, saying the last words of comfort to the family. Rev. J. L. Eddings, Gulf; Rev. Odis Rainer, Bay City; Rev. Roy Lewis, Methodist pastor, Newgulf, assisted in the funeral.

Mrs. F. M. Thomas, Newgulf sang “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.” The choir members of Bay City assisted by special friends from Newgulf, sang words of comfort.

Pallbearers were J. B. Eastman, Gulf; J. W. Morrell, Gulf; H. Eckenberry, Gulf and George Cole, Newgulf.

Jeanette leaves her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Freddie Johns, sisters, Billy and Ellen of Newgulf. Grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Miller of Luling, Uncle and Aunt Mr. and Mrs. Roy Miller, Luling; Mr. and Mrs. Preston Miller, Rio Frio; who saw her laid to rest in the Bay City cemetery. The other grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Johns of Des Moines, Iowa, could not be present. Jeanette was tenderly laid to rest among a bank of flowers and each flower spoke its message of love for Jeanette and words of comfort for the families.

Daily Tribune, Friday, May 2, 1930
 

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