Robert Edwin Kingsley

Robert Edwin Kingsley was born on November 26, 1924 in South Lyon, Michigan to Victor Edwin Kingsley and Laura Smith Kingsley.  On July 6, 1946, he married Evelyn Joy Wiseman in San Antonio, Texas.  Robert served his country as a pilot in the Army Air Corps.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Katy and was also a member of the Masons and Shriners. 

Robert Edwin Kingsley passed away on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, in Katy, at the age of 86 years.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joy Kingsley; children, Charles Kingsley and his wife Twyla of Katy, and Gregory Kingsley and his wife Kay of Katy; grandchildren, Lauren, Jennifer, Melissa, and Allison; and great grandchildren, Savannah and Garrett.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 14, 2011 at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel, in Katy.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2011, at the First Baptist Church, in Katy, with Dr. Randy White officiating.  A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the Restever Memorial Park, in Bryan, with Dr. Randy White officiating. 

Those wishing to make memorial gifts may do so to the Alzheimer’s Association, Southeast Texas Chapter, 2242 W. Holcombe Blvd.,Houston, TX 77030.

Funeral services held under the direction of

Schmidt Funeral Home

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

Alma Mathis

Alma Irene Mathis was born on October 27, 1921, in Waller, Texas, to James and Edith Schmidt.  She married Elvy Judge Mathis on April 25, 1941, in Katy.  Alma has resided in Katy since 1941, where she was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Alma passed away in Katy on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, at the age of 89 years.

She is survived by her children, Sherry Elaine Spencer and her husband Ross; and James R. Mathis and his wife Mary; daughter-in-law, Pat Mathis; grandchildren, Michael Mathis, Michelle Hudson and husband Mark, Marc Mathis and wife April, Steven Spencer and wife Xochitl Perales, Timothy Spencer and wife Michelle, Lauren Ditchman, and Jonathan Ditchman; great grandchildren, Kelly Hudson, Michael James Hudson, Britany Spencer, Benjamin Spencer, Nicolas Sheppard, Evan Spencer, Maddison Mathis, Michaela Mathis, and Brennen Mathis; great-great grandchildren, Jason Mathis, Joshua Mathis, Landon Mathis, and Logan Mathis; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Elvy Judge Mathis; and sons, Gary Lynn Mathis and Frank Joseph Ditchman.

Family will receive guests from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 12, 2011, at the Bolin Chapel at First Baptist Church, in Katy, where funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. with Dr. Randy White and Rev. Tom Bolin officiating.  Interment in Memorial OaksCemetery.

Those wishing to make memorial gifts may do so to the Pastoral Care Ministry at First Baptist Church of Katy, 600 Pin Oak Road,Katy, TX 77494 or to Life Solutions Hospice, 20923 Kingsland Blvd., Katy, TX 77450.

Funeral services held under the direction of

Schmidt Funeral Home

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

Garber Leroy Short

Garber Leroy Short passed away on September 6, 2011, at the age of 96 years, 7 months, and 7 days.  Garber was born on January 31, 1915 to Viola Grier Short and Arthur Leroy Short on the family farm between Katy and Brookshire.  Garber attended Katy school and graduated in 1933.

After high school graduation, he was employed by several of the rice farms in the area.  Some of his duties included performing levee surveying, plowing, planting, and harvesting tasks.  Soon he was able to find employment with the Avera Feed Store in Katy.

In 1940 he entered the Army for the then required one year tour of duty.  This tour was extended after the Pearl Harbor attack and Garber was attached to the Texas 36^th Division.  His tour took him through north Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and ultimately Germany.  He was discharged as Tech Sgt. in 1945.  He returned to Katy and in March of 1946, he married Avadele Peck.  They bought a home in Katy and remained married and active there for some 66 years.  Garber began working for the American Rice Growers Co-op Association, and retired after 40 years in 1980; 27 years were spent as General Manager.

In addition to his career, he was active in community development of Katy.  Among his many activities included Charter Member of the Katy Volunteer Fire Department, past President of the Katy Rotary, honorary member of the Katy FFA, as well as a Katy ISD Board Member.  He was an ordained Deacon of First Baptist Church on September 17, 1939, and served for 50 years.

Garber always enjoyed people and conversation.  Among some of his other personal time activities he enjoyed gardening, woodworking, tinkering with old motors and working in his shop.

He is survived by his wife, Avadele; son, Stanley and wife Roberta; daughter, Elsie and husband Chip; four grandchildren, Andy, Brian, Kate, and Daniel; a number of nieces and nephews; and a host of friends and neighbors whose company he always enjoyed.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2011, at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel, in Katy.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 9, 2011, at the First Baptist Church, in Katy, with Rev. Tom Bolin officiating.  Interment in Katy Magnolia Cemetery.

Funeral services held under the direction of

Schmidt Funeral Home

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

Tommy Nichols

Thomas Lerie Nichols, 81, went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 13, 2011. Born in Trout, La., Tommy spent his last years on earth in Houston, Texas.

Tommy's first chapter in his professional life was in Oilfield Services at McEvoy. His second chapter was as a manufacturer's representative for R.H. Peterson.

Working till the day he died, he was a big man in all ways. A strong, committed Christian, he strived to live his faith in all aspects of his life. In living his beliefs, he impressed the importance of Christian committedness and honesty on his family, wanting the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to own Christ as their personal Savior. Those who spent any time around him also know of his enjoyment of life and his sense of humor. Many of us learned some of our best behaviors from him and want to honor that today and every day hereafter.

Tommy was preceded in death by his sister, Regenia Nichols Cunningham; his nephew, Clifton Nichols; and his granddaughter, Angie Ann Duhon.

Tommy is survived and sorely missed by his brother, James Nichols; his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Nanette Browning Nichols; and his three children and their spouses, Susan and Montie Grimes, Sheryl and Eric Duhon and Lloyd and Tresa Huff Nichols. His legacy includes seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

On Saturday, April 16, 2011, a service of celebration will be at First Baptist Church of Katy, 600 Pin Oak Road, Katy, Texas 77494 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Randy White and Pastor Jeff Rees co-officiating. Following the services, Tommy will be laid to rest at Rosewood Cemetery in Humble, Texas.

In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to the Mission Program of First Baptist Church of Katy, 600 Pine Oak Road, Katy, Texas 77494, 281-391-1100.

John Clifton

Mr. John Franklin Clifton passed away on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at his home in Katy, Texas.  

Mr. Clifton was born March 19, 1921 in Dickson, TN.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis Clifton; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Albert Clifton of Shaw, MS; and one brother, Homer Dalton Clifton of Shaw, MS.

He is survived by two sons, John Franklin Clifton, Jr. and wife Cindy of Katy, Texas, and Joe Bruce Clifton and wife Jenny of Larchmont, New York; two grandchildren, Michael and Emily Clifton of Larchmont, NY; one brother, James Robert Clifton and wife Claudia of Benoit, MS, one sister Mrs. Barbara Jean Whittington and husband Dick of Bartlett, TN, and one sister-in-law, Mrs. Ann Clifton of Shaw, MS; three nephews, James Whittington, Jay Clifton, Bobby Clifton; one niece, Sherry Swales, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Clifton graduated from Benoit High School in 1941.   He earned a B. A. Degree from Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS in 1948. He served overseas in the US Army from 1942 – 1946 during WWII as part of the 533^rd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment.   He worked more than 40 years in the Mississippi Delta engaged in various agricultural/horticultural enterprises, specifically, Delta Brokerage and Pearson’s Nursery in Indianola, MS and Delta State University in Cleveland, MS where he retired from the Campus Beautification Department.  Mr. Clifton has been an ordained Baptist Deacon since 1956.

A memorial service will be held at the Bolin Chapel of First Baptist Church in Katy, Texas on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 10 AM.    A visitation will be held at the Madisonville Funeral Home, located at 1511 E. Main (Hwy 21), Madisonville, TX on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 2:30 PM with graveside services to follow at 3:30 PM in the Madisonville City Cemetery.    In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Katy First Baptist Church, 600 Pin Oak Road, Katy, TX 77494.

Gladys Arnold

Gladys Arnold was born May 25, 1921 in Bellville, Texas to Henry and Hulda Waak.  On July 3, 1942 Gladys married James Arnold in Houston, Texas.  James passed away in 1976, and four years later she married his first cousin Jeffie Arnold on March 1, 1980.  She moved to Katy and loved Katy and all her friends.

Gladys passed away in Katy on Friday, April 1, 2011, at the age of 89 years.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Norman & Wanda Bond of Houston; son and daughter-in-law, Ken & Cathy Arnold of Burleson, Texas; two step sons and their spouses, Larry & Carolyn Arnold of Katy, and Leonard & Brenda Arnold of Conroe; 11 grandchildren and their spouses; 18 great grandchildren; as well as many other loving family members and friends.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2011, at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel, in Katy.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 4, 2011, at the First Baptist Church of Katy, with Dr. Randy White and Rev. Tom Bolin officiating.  A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday at the Oak Knoll Cemetery in Bellville, Texas.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Elvina Thompson

Elvina Caroline Thompson born October 7, 1917, passed away March 18, 2011. Her husband Daniel Glenn Thompson Sr., her son Daniel Glenn Thompson Jr. and her granddaughter Sherri Lynn Thompson preceded her in death. 
She is survived by her children Carolyn Boyce and husband Byron, Stanley Thompson and wife Davalyn and Beth Thompson, wife of the late Daniel Glenn Thompson, Jr. Her grandchildren include Leighnea Phillips and husband Ron, Michelle Talley and Gerry, Stephanie Tibbetts and Todd, Marybeth Meeks and Mark, Patrick Boyce and Tiffany, Rodney Thompson and Christy, Scott Thompson and Nancy and Mark Nelson and Melonie. Her great grandchildren include Sherry and Stacy Phillips, Brittany and Beau Talley, Autumn, Hunter, Barrett and Sloane Meeks, Ashley and Brooklyn Boyce, Brendan, Austin and Caroline Tibbetts, Kendall and Mallory Thompson, Ella Thompson and Cole, Elise and Landry Nelson. 


Mrs. Thompson is a graduate of Alief High School where she was the Valedictorian. She diligently worked with her husband founding and managing the family's wholesale and retail gasoline business. First Baptist Church of Katy awarded her its Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her serving faithfully for over 40 years. She and her husband Glenn assisted a local Southern Baptist missionary in starting the First Baptist Church of Alief. 


In addition to her selfless devotion to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she enjoyed creating mementos such as Christmas ornaments and designing dresses for our family. She was a charter member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter ("OES") No. 1121, a fifty-year member of the OES and she received the Community Builder Award from the Katy Mason Lodge #1439. 


The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, March 20, 2011 at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel, in Katy. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 21, 2011 at the First Baptist Church of Katy, 600 Pin Oak Rd., in Katy. Interment in Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.

Ted Friedman

Ted Friedman passed away at Katy Memorial Hospital on Thursday, January 6, 2011.


A memorial service for Ted Friedman will be held Friday, January 14, at 2:00 PM in the Bolin Chapel of First Baptist Church of Katy.


A note from Gerri--


Thank you and the class for your many prayers for Ted's recovery.  It appeared the Lord was finished with him here on earth and took him home.  He is now rejoicing with all the Saints in glory.

Ted II and I are left with a void in our hearts, but we know the Lord will guide us through the upcoming days.  He was a wonderful husband and father and I am so glad that the Lord gave him to me for 48 years.  Most of all he loved the Lord and witnessed up to the day he died.  His hope was to fully recover and be able to tell you all personally what you meant to him and thank you

for your many prayers, but I will take the liberty of doing that since he was called home in a hurry. He loved you all and is waiting at the door to welcome us all home.  Thank you so much.

Love in Him.
Gerri Friedman