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Elvira De La Cruz

May 8, 1930 — December 23, 2024

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Elvira De la Cruz, a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, who departed this world peacefully at the age of 94. Born on May 8, 1930, in Lytle, she lived a life characterized by love, compassion, and resilience.
Elvira embraced her role as a homemaker with unwavering dedication. Elvira found joy in the simple pleasures of life, especially in her involvement with the Guadalupanas, where she cultivated a deep sense of community. Above all, she cherished her family, loving every moment spent caring for her grandchildren and providing support to her loved ones.
Elvira leaves behind her cherished Children, Ida Mlcak, Denise Riojas, and Johnny De La Cruz. She is also survived by her sister Maria Guzman. Elvira also leaves behind her grandchildren, Carlos, Amanda, Nicole, Theresa, Sarah, Matthew, as well as 6 Great Grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband Vicente De La Cruz.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Elvira’s life and the love she shared. A family viewing will take place at Primrose Funeral Services in Lytle on January 6, 2025, at 5:00 PM with a rosary reciting at 7 P.M. Visitation will end at 8 P.M. A Mass honoring her life will be held at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Lytle on January 7, 2025, at 10:00 AM, with burial to follow at Lytle Community Cemetery.
In our sorrow, we find solace in the memories of her laughter, the warmth of her embrace, and the lessons she imparted throughout her life. Elvira will forever remain in our hearts, her spirit lighting the way for all who were fortunate to know her.

Armando “Mando” Sanchez

August 10, 1948 – December 22, 2024

Armando “Mando” Sanchez, 76, of Natalia, Texas, passed away on December 22, 2024, after a short illness.
Born on August 10, 1948, in San Antonio, Texas, Mando was the third of five children born to Edward and Daria Sanchez. Growing up, Mando was known for his mischievous spirit, sense of humor, and love of nature. Even as a child, Mando was loving and protective, always looking out for his younger siblings and cousins, creating bonds that lasted a lifetime.
After graduating from high school, Mando joined the United States Navy. He served with honor during the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1968, stationed aboard the USS Hector and USS Mark. He left the Navy in 1971 as a Petty Officer 2nd Class with an honorable discharge, reflecting his commitment and service.
Mando had a passion for reading and storytelling. He found great enjoyment in the works of Larry McMurtry, James Michener, and Cormac McCarthy and still read the newspaper in its entirety every day. He had a lifelong love of fishing, whether casting a line in freshwater lakes or along the saltwater shores he loved so much. His favorite place to be was the beach, especially Charlie’s Pasture in Port Aransas, where he found peace and connection to nature.

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Where in the Biblewill I find…?

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Well looks like another year has come and gone. As we enter into a New Year I’m praying that you start the year off right surrounded by love and family. I also pray for our nation that each individual and family will grow closer to God and search the scriptures daily. I hope you remember to get into your Bible every day for it tells us to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2nd Timothy 2:15).” And “pray without ceasing (1st Thessalonians 5:17).” Our question for the week is; “Where in the Bible will I find sundown at noon and darkness in the clear of day?
There are many things that God did during the Patriarchal times to show His people that he really was God. many attempts have been made over the years to explain these miracles away by exaggeration, or natural phenomenon. The truth is God miraculously did things to convince people! In the passage of question for this article God tells the prophet Amos that He’s going to bring destruction upon his people for their sinful behavior. Amos 8:9 “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:” Think about it! J.W.

The Christmas Truce

 “All through the long night those big guns flashed and growled just like the lightning and thunder when it storms in the mountains at home.  And, oh my, we had to pass the wounded.  And some of them were on stretchers going back to the dressing stations.  And some of them were lying around, moaning and twitching.  And the dead were all along the road.  And it was wet and cold.  And it all made me think of the Bible and the story of the Antichrist and Armageddon.”

Sergeant Alvin C. York –
Company G, 328th Infantry, 82nd Division, U.S. Army, on fighting in the Argonne Forest, France, in WW I.
War is hell. Ask anyone who has survived it. They will tell you this, if they can speak about it at all. The Great War, now we call it World War I, was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. Between July of 1914 and November of 1918 more than 16 million lives were lost.
This was our first “modern” war, where we used machine guns, mechanized tanks, improved artillery, even airplanes and poison gas. Much of the fighting involved trench warfare, with troops dug in and living in muddy, disease-ridden ditches carved from the ground. Between opposing trenches was a ”No Man’s Land” – littered with barbed wire, dead soldiers, and the refuse of war. In the midst of this hell on Earth, one cold December night, something astonishing happened. This is the stuff of legend.
On Christmas Eve, 1914, in the area of Flanders, Belgium, along the Western Front, an unlikely miracle took place. Hunkered down in their trenches, British and French troops faced German soldiers on the other side. All was quiet, until one soldier started to sing.

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Merry Christmas!

Good morning! Merry Christmas, I just looked at a calendar and realized that this will be my last column for the year 2024. The year has gone by so quickly and so many things have happened, good as well as bad. We’ve lost friends and family, and added to our families as well. By the time many of you get this edition of the paper, almost everything except the memories will be over for most families.
The week before Christmas was chaotic to say the least, however, I got almost everything done that I hoped to. My daughter and her husband came here and picket me up and we headed out to Devine. I was looking forward to having a fun time with family, extended family and friends, and I hope every one of my readers had a wonderful Christmas.
Recently when I attended a Market Days show in a nearby town, one of the vendors was selling hand-made glass spider Christmas ornaments, and a book that I had seen and read quite some time ago. The spiders were made of glass beads, and if you bought the book, you got a spider free. They were truly beautiful. The book is called “The Legend of the Christmas Spider, and it is a Eastern European folk story. One of the versions that is available on Amazon says that it is the story of the origin of the tinsel that we now sometimes use on our trees today. When my daughter came in before Thanksgiving, she put my tree up for me. We used mostly antique ornaments, and for the first time in many, years my tree has the old-timey tinsel icicles as well as four antique (very early 1900s) candle holders with candles!

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John Edward Naegelin Jr

John Edward Naegelin Jr., passed away peacefully on December 17, 2024, at the age of 71. He was a hardworking man, a beloved husband, a loving father, and a faithful servant of God. His life was full of love, faith, and dedication to his family, friends, and the land he cared for.
Born on October 30, 1953, in San Antonio, Texas, John grew up on his family farm in Lytle. He developed a deep love and respect for the land and worked it with pride throughout his life.
On June 7, 1975, John married Doris Matula. Together, they raised seven children and built a home on their family ranch. John taught his kids the value of hard work, integrity, and enjoying the simple things in life.
He is survived by his children: John E. Naegelin III, Susan E. Pick (Josh), Dennis E. Naegelin (Justa), Judy E. Ortiz (Sid), Annette E. Devaney (Kevin), Marvin E. Naegelin (RoseAnn), and Kevin E. Naegelin (Briana).
His greatest joy was being “PawPaw” to his grandchildren: Taylor Adams, Khloe Naegelin, Tori Adams, Ace Naegelin, Christian Ortiz, Jaxon Adams, Sidney Ortiz, Connor Devaney, Sonny Ortiz, Brooke Devaney, Paisley Naegelin, MacLaine Naegelin, Collyns Pick, Montana Naegelin, Bradley Naegelin, LouAnna Naegelin, Noa Naegelin, and Jax Naegelin.
He is also survived by his wife, Doris, his brothers Gerald, Peter, and David Naegelin, his sister Lynda Jacob, and many friends who were touched by his kindness and wisdom.
John is preceded in death by his parents, John Edward Naegelin Sr. and Catherine Naegelin, his sister Tonia Johnson, and his brother Mark Naegelin.
John enjoyed fishing and hunting trips with his brothers, sons, and friends. Known for his generosity and steady nature, John was a well-respected figure in the Lytle community. Though his boots have rested, his spirit will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all those he helped.
Visitation will be held at Prime Rose Funeral Services in Lytle, Texas, on December 22, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by the Rosary.
Funeral services will take place at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Lytle on December 23, 2024, at 10 a.m., with burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Devine, Texas. A reception will be held afterward at The Lazy Longhorn Ranch, 2620 FM 2200, Devine, TX 78016. The Naegelin family invites all who knew John to join them in sharing stories and remembering his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in John’s memory.
Rest in peace, John “Sonny” Naegelin. You were loved, you will be missed, and your spirit will live on in the land you worked, the family you cherished, and the lives you touched.

Marvin Foxworth

December 16, 2024, my father, “Big Marv” as we called him for most of our lives, which later turned to Gpa slipped away from us peacefully as he slept. My mom, his wife and companion for 62 years, was by his side. He has struggled with heart issues for years and it finally was too much to overcome. He lived a great life and was able to accomplish so many things and lived it like he wanted. Last couple years were hard on him, but he always just pushed on. He loved Top Fuel Dragster racing more than any other person I have known. He was fortunate enough to be able to operate his own team for 11 years. He was able to stand in the Winners Circle 4 times in that period, 3 times with me, Doug Foxworth and 1 time with Jim Bailey driving. He still talked Drag Racing every day!! Words cannot express how much he will be missed here in our family. He was the rock that we all anchored on. If there is a Heaven, there better be a Drag Strip there or he is gonna be pissed !!!!Love you Dad, Godspeed.
Marvin was born on June 22, 1940, to parents Elton and Myrtle Foxworth in Harmony, Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents. Marvin is survived by his loving wife of sixty-two years Linda Glynn Headen Foxworth; sons Marvin Douglas Foxworth (Tere) and Edward Len Foxworth (Jennifer); grandchildren Christian, Emma, Alecia, Brandon, Ethan, Arturo, Noah, Savannah; two great-grandchildren Aubreylynn and Aiden; brother Albert Foxworth; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 27, 2024, from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. with sharing of memories at 6:00 PM at Primrose Funeral Services Chapel of Lytle, Texas. Services will conclude at the funeral home.
Anyone wishing to leave condolences, share memories, or sign the online guestbook may do so by visiting www.primrosefuneralservices.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Primrose Funeral Services 1488 Main Street, Lytle, Texas, 78052, (830) 709-0698.

Rachel Vivian Nicole Currie

Rachel was a bright light in the world who deeply loved and was loved by her family and friends. She was quick to laugh, quicker with a joke, and smiled with her whole soul. Her inner strength kept her smiling no matter the circumstances. She always acted compassionately, as she could see people for their hearts.
True to her Natalia High School Prom Queen status, she loved beauty and brought it to the world and people around her. The first person to go to for fashion and beauty advice, Rachel has always been a trend-setter (be it headbands or a new nickname). She was a licensed Cosmetologist and dreamed of bringing her visions to the world by owning her own salon.
She had a wide range of interests. In school, she Cheered, was a Track, Basketball, and Volleyball athlete, and even won Best Performer in One Act Play (which she participated in unbeknownst to her friends). She was also voted as Class Clown (a heredity Superlative passed down from each Currie sibling to the next). Her pop culture favorites included Beetlejuice, The Office, The Little Mermaid, and Sailor Moon.
Above all else, Rachel was the most devoted mother. Anything she could do for Autumn, Eric, Amadeus, and Atticus to provide a safe and happy life was delivered selflessly and without hesitation. As much as Rachel loved life, her children were the reason for it.
These words do very little justice to the spunky and beautiful spirit that embodied Rachel, and to all this bragging, our humble girl would tell us to “shut up!”
The family left behind to continue to love her include: her partner Lucas Dueñez, children Autumn, Eric, Amadeus, and Atticus, parents John and Susie Currie, sister Samantha Currie, brother Jeremy (Hilary and children Audie, and Ambrose) Currie, sister Roxanne Brasuell (children Breanne and Brayden), Grandparents Gene and Sue Olson, Aunt Carrie (Randy and cousin Jim Bob Little) Brown, Aunt Donna (Roger and cousins Ashlee, Heather, and Kayla) Havlack, Uncle Robert (Amy and cousins Megan, Tiffany, and Kim) Rankin, Aunt JoEllen (Mike) Shelton, Uncle Billy (Vicky and cousins Gordon, Garrett, and Cody) Ward, Aunt Dana (Troy Schuehle and cousins Chelsea and Chase) Ward, and their families. Other family members include Marty and Sandy Lawler, Jacob Sanchez, David Sanchez, Tim Dimmick, Scott Aguilar and family, Marisa and Kyle Mata, Selena Bowman, and Gina Garza.
In her memory, please wear something pink and/or sparkly and spread kindness to the world.
The memorial service will be led by Tommy Ramirez at First Baptist Church Devine on January 3rd.

Monseis “Monsie” Perez, Sr.

Monseis “Monsie” Perez, Sr. was called to be with his Lord and Savior on December 13, 2024. He was born on November 21, 1945, in Moore, Texas. Monseis passed away peacefully at home with his family at his side.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Emma Perez; father, Donato Pere; mother, Angelita Perez; brother, Saul Perez; and sisters, Naomi Jass & Elva Delgado.
He is survived by his siblings Arturo Perez, Eliseo Perez (Mary), Tomas Perez (Rose), Don Perez, Yolanda Sanchez (Arturo), daughter Patricia Ann Perez, son Monseis Perez, Jr., daughter-in-law Maryalice Perez, granddaughter Giovanni Italia Perez, and grandson Julian Monseis Perez.
Monseis was known as a hard-working but friendly man who would lend a helping hand whenever and wherever needed. He spent most of his adult life as a truck driver by trade. His career afforded him the opportunity to make numerous friends and acquaintances from many areas of South Texas. His kids remember what a hard-working man he was. It was very normal for him to wake up in the very early morning hours to head to work and return home in the evening hours, all to support his family. He had so many good qualities that drew people to him.
Family and friends were such an important part in Monseis’ life. He loved his wife, his kids, his grandkids, and his daughter-in-law very much. But he also loved his brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Whether it was attending a family gathering or simply drinking a cup of coffee with his brothers and friends, he loved the time he spent with them.
After Monseis lost his father in 1982, he made an important decision that would shape him into the man he would become. When his father passed, he decided to attend church regularly and eventually enrolled in ministry classes. He was later named the pastor of Iglesia de Dios, the same church that his father had planted and cultivated. He led the church for a few years-it’s something that he didn’t really speak much of later. But we know how proud he was to have had such an amazing experience. His Christian faith is something he never lost and attending church was an important part of his life.
In honor of Monseis, a Visitation will be held in the funeral chapel at Primrose Funeral Services in Lytle, Texas on Thursday, December 26th, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm with a Funeral Service at Prevailing Word Church in Lytle, Texas on Friday, December 27th at 10:00am with interment to follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Devine, Texas.
If you would like to share a memory or express your condolences, you may do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Primrose Funeral Services.