Tom Edwards

Thomas Asa Edwards, born October 2, 1932 in Kennett, Missouri to John Millard Edwards and Audra Jones Edwards, passed away October 17, 2010 after a long illness.  On October 14^th, he had held the hand of his loving wife of over 50 years, Margaret Edwards, and shared with her that he would fight no more.

Tommy was retired from a long career in transportation operations management.  As he and Margaret journeyed through life together, they planted deep roots of love and friendship.  They have treasured their four children, eight grand-children, three great grand-children and countless friends and extended family.  “Grandad’s” cherished memory will be honored as traditions established over the years are celebrated in the Edwards home by his beloved family.

In addition to his true love, Margaret, Tommy is survived by sisters Peggy Mitchell of Red Bay, MS, Pat Bowlin of Byhalia, MS, and Yvonne Hall of Las Vegas, NV; sister-in-law Lois Edwards of Palm Desert, CA; children Chaundra Edwards and husband, Joe Morris of Houston, Tom Edwards and wife Cheri of Baton Rouge, LA, Denise Larivee of Austin, and John “Jae” Edwards and wife Alissa, of Denver, CO; grandchildren Joseph Queen, Nicole Queen and husband, Hassan Tahat, Anna Edwards,
Amy Shehadeh and husband Haleem, Kate Morris, Peyton and Archer Edwards; great grandchildren Ethan Queen, John Daniel Edwards and Riliegh Joy Shehadeh of Baton Rouge, LA. He was predeceased by his mother and father, brother Millard Edwards, sister Melba Looney, and grandson Daniel Edwards.

The family wishes to thank the many caregivers, family and friends who have helped care for Tom over the course of his illness.  We are especially grateful to Dr Miguel Franco and his staff and to the staff of The Plaza at the Buckingham for the care and respect with which they treated our loved one.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, October 21^st at First Baptist Church of Katy.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association, The Willed Body Program at UT Health Science Center at Houston, First Baptist Church Missions, or the charity of your choice.

Daniel Dean O’Brien

Daniel Dean O’Brien was born on July 11, 1957, in Farmington, New Mexico, to Walter Harold O’Brien and Ruth Loretta O’Brien.  On August 22, 1987, he married Judith Warner in Cypress, Texas.  Daniel was a very strong Christian.  He was a loving and wonderful husband and father.  Daniel was very active in his children’s activities, including the Katy High School Aqua Tigers and the Tiger Swim Club.  He has lived in Katy for 16 years, where he attended First Baptist Church.

Daniel went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, October 3, 2010, at the age of 53 years.

He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Judith O’Brien; daughters, Katie O’Brien and Victoria O’Brien; sister, Sharon O’Brien Smith; as well as numerous other loving family members and friends.

Pallbearers are Mike Riley, Paul Ortego, Larry Gore, Mark Rowe, Ralph Oliver, Gary Dean, Jeff Gilliland, and Ryan Radenz.  Honorary pallbearers are Kevin Gilliland, Ashton Bishop, Corey May, Jason Oliver, Logan Dean, Matthew Mallazo, and Sidney Devillier.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 6, 2010, at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel, in Katy.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 8, 2010, at the First Baptist Church, in Katy, with Dr. Randy White and Rev. Bronson Stewart officiating.  A private, family graveside service will be held following services.

Funeral services held under the direction of

Schmidt Funeral Home

1508 East Avenue  ~  Katy, Texas  77493  ~  (281) 391-2424

Rev. Andrew Jackson Pate

RICHMOND — A memorial service for the Rev. Andrew Jackson Pate, 91, of Richmond, will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, at First Baptist Church, 502 South Fifth St., Richmond, with Dr. John Lockhart officiating. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at Lakeside Cemetery, Eagle Lake, Texas.

Andrew Jackson Pate was born May 9, 1919, in Montgomery County, Texas, to Grover Jackson Pate and Nora Ivey Pate.

Brother Pate (Andy) went home to be with the Lord and his beloved wife of 70 years, Cyrene, on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

He graduated from high school in Dickinson, Texas. He attended Howard Payne in Brownwood, Texas, Chaplains School in Massachusetts (WWZ) and Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. A chaplain in World War II, he lived his entire adult life on a mission field to make the world a better place by helping people seek and find the Lord Jesus Christ. He served as a Baptist minister in many churches, including Belle Plain Baptist Church in Brownwood, Spring Baptist Church in Spring, Texas, Jones Creek Baptist Church in Freeport, Texas, First Baptist Church in Eagle Lake, First Baptist Church in Sweeny, Texas, First Baptist Church in Columbus, Texas, Tri-City Southern Baptist Church in La Puente, Calif., College Park Baptist Church in Houston, Texas (Houston Baptist University) and First Baptist Church of Katy, Texas. He also served as director of Texas Baptist Encampment in Palacios, Texas, for a three-year term.

In his “retirement” years, he continued to look for ways to help people find Jesus in various ministries in the Texas Hill Country such as the V.A. Hospital in Kerrville and the First Baptist Church of Harper, Texas. Andy was active in numerous civic and church-related organizations throughout his lifetime. He was especially active in Rotary Club in all the cities where he lived and served as pastor.

Survivors include three children, Glenda Holcomb and husband, Richard, Ron Pate and wife, Shirley, and Don Pate and wife, Linda; seven grandchildren, Shawn Pate, Heather Rutt and husband, Chris, LaJuana Post and husband, Gregg, Richard T. Holcomb and wife, Cristina, Michael Holcomb and wife, Janett, Kristen Fraley and husband, Steve, and Drew Pate; six great-grandchildren, Jacob Rutt, Allie Rutt, Richard Holcomb II, Hannah Holcomb, Declan Fraley and Michael Glen Holcomb Jr.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Cyrene Follett Pate.

His three children, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren will continue to carry with them forever the wisdom of his words, the inspiration of his faith and the example of his unconditional love.

Memorials may be given in his memory to First Baptist Church of Richmond/General Fund, 502 South 5th St., Richmond, TX 77469.

Condolence messages may be written for the Pate family at www.garmanycarden.com.

Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471; 281-342-4671.

Vic Nelson

Vic Nelson was born on December 20, 1951, in Houston, Texas, to George V. Nelson and Betty Jo Tucker Nelson.  On April 23, 1994, he married Cheryl Russ in Katy.  He was a member of the American Kennel Club as well as the American Rice Growers Association.  He was a loving husband, father, brother, and friend who will be greatly missed.  Vic was an avid outdoorsman whose passions included hunting, dog training, and golfing.  He has lived in Katy all of his life, where he was a member of the First Baptist Church, Katy. 

Vic passed away at his home in Katy on Sunday, May 16, 2010, at the age of 58 surrounded by his family and friends. 

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Nelson; son, Brandon Nelson and wife Paige and daughter Brooklyn; daughter, Shanna Wright and husband Kelly; son, Taylor Nelson and daughter Kennedy Nelson; stepchildren, Zach Walla, Travis Walla and wife Julie and daughter Braelyn, and Staff Sgt. Everett Walla serving in Afghanistan.  He is also survived by his sisters, Vicki Livingston and husband Terry, Lisa Dulaney and husband Ronald, and Rhonda Bailey and husband Richard; and a number of other extended family members.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel, in Katy.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the First Baptist Church, in Katy, with Dr. Randy White and Rev. Ronnie Webb officiating.  Interment in Katy Magnolia Cemetery.

Those wishing to make memorial gifts may do so to Life Gift, 2510 Westridge St., Houston, TX 77054.

Funeral services held under the direction of

Schmidt Funeral Home

1508 East Avenue  ~  Katy, Texas  77493  ~  (281) 391-2424

Karen Salesman Rapp: 1952 – 2010

Karen Salesman Rapp, 57, a native of Churubusco and wife of Daryl B. Rapp, passed away at 6:50 p. m. on Friday, April 16, 2010, at the family residence in Smith Township following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Rapp was born in Wolf Lake on November 28, 1952, a daughter of Richard L. “Dick” and Dorothy (Hyndman) Salesman, and spent her formative years there.  She graduated from Churubusco High School in 1971, and graduated from the Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in 1974.

On August 9, 1974 she was married in Allen County to Daryl B. Rapp of Churubusco, and moved with her husband to Texas in 1975.  She had lived in Katy, Texas before returning to her home of Churubusco recently.

She had worked as a registered nurse, but found her calling as a homemaker and a devoted mother who home schooled her daughter.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Katy and its Covenant Sunday School Class.  In her leisure time she enjoyed travel, family activities, and caring for horses and other animals.

The surviving relatives include her husband of over 35 years Daryl; her daughter Sarah Rapp of Houston, Texas; her mother Dorothy Salesman of Churubusco; two sisters Diane (Randy) Zolman and Kathi  Engle, both of Churubusco; a brother Greg (Teresa) Salesman of Churubusco;  two uncles Don Hyndman and Dale (Joan) Hyndman, both of Churubusco; an aunt Barbara Hyndman of Churubusco; and several cousins.  Her extended family was a vital part of her life.

She was preceded in death by her father Richard “Dick” Salesman on March 5, 2002.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Friday, April 23, 2010, at the Good News Baptist Church in Churubusco with Pastor Edward A. Thompson, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusc on Thursday from 2 to 8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be in the family plot at Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, 1315 Directors Row, #200, Fort Wayne, IN  46808.

Lois Kunkle

Lois Kunkle was born on February 3, 1914, in Morgan, Texas, to Jerry B. Pinson and Lillie Ann Cooper Pinson.  On March 11, 1934, she married N. M. (Barney) Kunkle in Fort Worth, Texas.  She has lived in Katy from 1943 to 1956, and again since November of 1975.  Lois has been a long time, and active member of the First Baptist Church of Katy.

Lois passed away in on Saturday, April 10, 2010, at the age of 96 years.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Nancy Kunkle of Katy; grandchildren, Annette Moore, Anell Dunn, Leann Keister, David Kunkle, John Kunkle, and Julie Maine; 8 great grandchildren; 6 great, great grandchildren; as well as other loving family members and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband, N. M. (Barney) Kunkle on November 9, 2003; and by a daughter, Shirley Ann Kunkle Lindsey on July 16, 2006.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at the Bolin Chapel at First Baptist Church of Katy, where funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Bruce Ammons officiating.  Interment in Memorial Oaks Cemetery.

Funeral services held under the direction of

Schmidt Funeral Home

1508 East Avenue  ~  Katy, Texas  77493  ~  (281) 391-2424

Avis Griffin

Hassie Avis Griffin was born on June 10, 1919 in Alto, Texas and died on March 4, 2010 at the age of 90. Mrs. Griffin was a resident of Katy for 59 years. She was a 1942 graduate of the Lillie Jolly School of Nursing at Methodist Hospital in Houston. She was an active volunteer in the Houston Chapter of Project Linus for 14 years and she also raised Monarch butterflies at her home. In 2009, Avis was recognized in the City of Katy as Senior Citizen of the Year.

Mrs. Griffin is survived by daughter Sally Burns and husband Gene; sons Jim Griffin and wife Charleen, Mike Griffin and wife Ada, and Al Griffin and wife Kathy; 11 grandchildren, and 25 great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at Katy First Baptist Church. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 8, 2010, at the Katy First Baptist Church, with Dr. Randy White and Rev. Tom Bolin officiating. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Houston Chapter of Project Linus, c/o Schmidt Funeral Home, 1415 East Avenue, Suite B, Katy, Texas  77493.

Funeral services held under the direction of

Schmidt Funeral Home

1508 East Avenue  ~  Katy, Texas  77493  ~  (281) 391-2424