Kenneth L. Kerley           Ora Mae Kerley

Kenneth L. Kerley

Funeral services for Kenneth L. Kerley, 83, of Bay City will be held at 11am Friday at First United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park, Van Vleck.

Mr. Kerley was born Nov. 26, 1903, in Texas to John and Maggie McDaniels Kerley and died Jan. 28, 1987, at Matagorda General Hospital.

He was a principal at Bay City Junior High School for 20 years and past lieutenant governor of Kiwanis.  He was a lay leader and Sunday School teacher for Wesley Class at First United Methodist Church. 

Survivors include a daughter, Wannie Humphries of Bay City; four grandchildren, Judy Rowland, Sheri Cook, Lesa Tidwell and Jim Humphries; and eight great-grandchildren.  Will Cook, Jessica Cook, Chad Tidwell, Ty Tidwell, Kyle Tidwell, Amy Rowland, Karie Rowland and Ginny Rowland. 

Pallbearers include Gordon Cook, David Tidwell, Tommy Rowland, Jim Humphries, Jerry Burnaman and Adrian Newsom.

Members of the Wesley Class will serve as honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church.  Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

Daily Tribune, January 1987        Obituary courtesy of Faye Cunningham

Ora Mae Kerley

Funeral services for Mrs. Ora Mae Kerley, 76, of Bay City will be held 11 am Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. LeRoy Stanton officiating.  Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park, Van Vleck.

Mrs. Kerley was born Dec. 29, 1907 in Texas and died May 15, 1984 at Matagorda General Hospital.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include: husband, Kenneth Kerley of Bay City; daughter and son-in-law, Wannie and James Humphries of Bay City; sister, Mrs. Carrie Hendrix of Parsons, Kan.; grandchildren, Judy Rowland, Sheri Cook, Lesa Tidwell and Jim Humphries; and great-grandchildren, Will Cook and Jessica Cook, Chad, Ty and Kyle Tidwell, and Amy, Karie and Ginny Rowland.

Pallbearers will be Gordon Cook, Tommy Rowland, David Tidwell, Wayne Head, Barry Neuman and Craig Cunningham.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Wesley Class of the First United Methodist Church.  Arrangements were made with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home.

Daily Tribune May 1984          Obituary courtesy of Faye Cunningham
 

George Kretzschmar

George Kretzschmar, 90, of Columbus, and former resident of Bay City, Texas passed away 11:50 p.m., Tuesday, April 9, 2002 at the Colorado-Fayette Medical Center Hospital in Weimar, Texas.

Native of Colorado County, Texas born in Ramsey on February 21, 1912 to Arnold and Annie Hollien Kretzschmar. Served with the US Army in Germany during WWII. He was employed by Central Power and Light Co. in Eagle Lake for many years before moving to Matagorda County and retiring in 1978 at their warehouse in Bay City.

Preceded in death by his parents; wife, Betty Fern Taylor Kretzschmar; sister, Gussie Harborth; survivors include sons, Charles Kretzschmar and wife, Linda, New Caney, Texas and Tom Moore and wife, Cherie, Columbus, Texas; brother, Henry L. Kretzschmar, Sr. and wife, Lucille, Eagle Lake; grandchildren, Charlie Kretzschmar, Andrew Kretzschmar; Deborah Moore, David Moore, John Moore and Bill Moore; 11 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and loved ones.

Funeral service was held 10 a.m., Thursday, April 11, 2002, from the Chapel of Dulany Funeral Home, Eagle Lake, with the Rev. Clements Richards, Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church of Eagle Lake officiating. Graveside services and interment followed at 1 p.m. Thursday, from Roselawn Memorial Park, Van Vleck, Texas.

Pallbearers were David Moore, John Moore, John Moore, Edward Harborth, Henry Lloyd Kretzschmar, Jr., Andrew Kretzschmar. Alternate pallbearer was Elton Vernador. A00014B2002AR14

THE BAY CITY TRIBUNE, Sunday, April 14, 2002


 

Ernest Eli Laswell          Elsie Lee Laswell

Elsie Laswell

Elsie Laswell, 88, of Bay City died at her residence April 29, 2000. She was born Feb. 9, 1912 in Fort Worth, Texas to the late Calvin L. and Lillie Agnes Johnson Roden.

Mrs. Laswell was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and a resident of Bay City since 1950.

Survivors include: two sons and daughters-in-law, Bob and Martha Laswell of Houston and Jack and Alice Laswell of Fort Worth, Texas; seven great grandchildren; and seven grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest E. Laswell.

Graveside funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday May 2, 2000 at Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery with her grandson, the Rev. Bill Laswell officiating. Memorials can be made to the Hospice Support, Inc., 1102 N. Mechanic, El Campo, Texas 77437.

Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home.

THE DAILY TRIBUNE, Tuesday, May 2, 2000
 

Nola Stroud McKelvy

Nola Stroud McKelvy, 94, of Sweeny died June 24, 2001 at Sweeny House in Sweeny, TX. She was born December 1, 1906 in Ballinger, TX to the late Charles Frank Bird Stroud and Ora Bella Warren. Mrs. McKelvy was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bay City, a resident of Sweeny the past 7 years and a former longtime resident of Bay City.

Survivors include: son and daughter-in-law, C. V. and Mary McKelvy of Bay City; 7 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mart Vernon McKelvy; son, George Robert McKelvy; sisters, Norene Smith and Alma Alexander; and by brothers, Clifton and Robert Stroud.

Funeral services will be 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, 2001, at the First United Methodist Church in Bay City with Rev. Pauline Harvey officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Van Vleck. Pallbearers will be Cliff McKelvy, Jr., Jay McKelvy, George McKelvy, Jr., Mark Adkins, John Estlinbaum and Clifton Stroud. Arrangments are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. A00011A2001JN26

THE DAILY TRIBUNE, Tuesday, June 26, 2001                                    Mart V. McKelvy


 

Elmer Lawrence Rogers

Daily Tribune, April 1990            Courtesy of Faye Cunningham
 

Mildred Walker Sandusky

Mildred Walker Sandusky, 82, of Houston passed away December 30, 2003 at her residence. She was born July 21, 1921 in Gilliette, Arkansas to A. E. and Margaret McPeak Walker.

She was previously a resident of El Paso and had lived in Houston for the past 10 years. She was a resident of Bay City from 1948 to 1968 where she and her husband owned and operated Sandy’s Grocery.

She is survived by: her husband, A. N. “Sandy” Sandusky of Houston; three daughters and spouses, Margaret and Charles Fox of Pearland , Kathryn and Del Shaffer of Houston, and Pat Esslinger and Warren Campbell of Houston;one son and spouse, Dr. George and Mary Ann Sandusky of Duncanville; nine grandchildren Cindy Sikes, Steve Sandusky, Tracy Fox, Kathi Rogers, Wayne “Skip” Barnett, Matthew Barnett, Mike Sandusky, Kelly Esslinger, and Teresa Barnett; and by 11 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held 2 pm Friday, January 2, 2004 at Taylor Bros. Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Sam Steele officiating.

Interment followed at Roselawn Memorial Park in Van Vleck.

Pallbearers were Steve Sandusky, Wayne “Skip” Barnett, Mike Sandusky, Jeff Rogers, Warren Campbell, Charles Fox, Fred Law, and Sam Hagaman.

Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home.

The Bay City Tribune, January 4, 2004             Alonzo N. Sandusky   

Van J. Simmons          Ila Mae Simmons

Ila Mae Simmons

Funeral services for Ila Mae Simmons, 80, of Bay City will be held 2 pm Tuesday at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Chester Sassman officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park in Van Vleck.

Mrs. Simmons was born Aug. 11, 1908, in Timpson, Texas, to H. B. and Rose Nelson Clay and died 11:50 am Jan. 15, 1989, at Matagorda General Hospital, Bay City.

She was a driver for the Red Cross Gray Ladies during WWII. She was a former member of the Order of Eastern Star and was a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Mrs. John H. Lee of Bay City and Janice and Carl W. Critendon of Port Lavaca; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers include Carl Critendon, Jr. Johnny Van Lee, Wayne Brooks, Van Simmons Critendon, James Stevens and Morris Critendon.

Honorary Pallbearers include James Rice, W. L. Blanchard, Dr. B. E. Simons, Dr. Andrew Sher, Dr. Tillman Daniel, Jimmy Simmons, Walter Blanchard, Harold Clay, and Travis Clay, Jr

She was preceded in death by her husband, Van J. Simmons on June 23, 1988, after 61 years of marriage. .

Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

Daily Tribune, January 1989             Obituary courtesy of Faye Cunningham
 

Charles Rickey "Rick" Sullivan

Charles Rickey "Rick" Sullivan of Houston, Texas, was born on September 9, 1947, and died on February 9, 2005.

His family has been devastated by the loss of this remarkable man, who was loved and respected by those fortunate enough to have known him.

Mr. Sullivan graduated from Bay City High School in 1966 where he was active in sports and was voted Mr. Bay City High School.

He attended Sam Houston State University and graduated with a bachelor of science degree.

After graduation, Rick pursued his career in the oil field and environmental industry in Houston and the surrounding areas.

Rick was a past president of The Galleria Area Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a past member of Society of Petroleum Engineers.

He also was a member of and served as a deacon of the Bethany Christian Church in Houston, Texas.

He will be remembered as a man that could light up any room, and tell a good joke.

He was a giving and fun-loving person who always had a story to tell. His most enduring hobbies were duck hunting and fishing in the Matagorda area.

He is survived by: his loving mother, Viola "Vi"� Sullivan of Bay City; daughters, Lee Ashley Dittlinger and husband Patrick of Angleton, and Brittany Sullivan of Houston; son, Clay Sullivan of Tenn.; brother, Randy Sullivan and wife Debbie of Humble; sister, Susan Warren and husband James (Tut) of Ocean Spring, Miss.; grandson, Bryce Dittlinger of Angleton; nephew, Trey Sullivan; and nieces, Elise Warren and Chele Robinette and husband Vince; and his special friends, Terry Sullivan, Margaret Sullivan, Kay and Gerry Milsap, Mary Rose Soria and many others that touched his life.

The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday , February 12, 2005 at the First Christian Church of Bay City, with the Rev. Brad Staggs of Bethany Christian Church officiating.

Eulogist will be Warren Halliday. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Van Vleck.

Pallbearers will be David Lewis, Jim Foss, Raleigh Williamson, Steve Hicks, Vince Robinette and Bud Childers.

Donations may be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund or to a charity of choice.

Arrangements with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, Bay City, Texas (979) 245-4613.

The Bay City Tribune, February 13, 2005