Ronald Domingo Rodriguez Sr. Born November 15, 1959 went to be with the Lord on February 14, 2023. Ronnie “Freebird” was a beloved father, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend to everyone.
He is survived by his three sons Ronnie Rodriquez, Rudy Rodriguez, and Jesse Rodriguez, 8 grandchildren, and a million brothers and a million sisters.
Ronnie was from Natalia but raised his family in Devine, Texas. He was an Army veteran ( served overseas) , Dallas Cowboys fan, free spirited & loved by all his family and friends. He also enjoyed a cold drink at the end of the day!
His life will be celebrated with a Military Honors Burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery , 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78201, Shelter #1 on Friday March 3rd, 2023 at 10 am.
Recently I had written a Tale about bringing “The Hiffers”, as our 3 year old Grand Son calls them, to the Home Place. We arranged a Sunday afternoon visit out there with our Daughter, Son In Law, and their kids, ages 8, 6, and 3. Our first step of the adventure included a little corn throwing at some of our game feeding locations while “searching” for our new bovine guests. We “found” them out in the middle of an overgrown pasture mixed with tall grass, pear and mesquite. The ladies were a bit nervous at first, given their very limited exposure to 3 little “jumping jacks” all talking loudly at the same time in the excitement of the moment. But the cattle cubes finally encouraged them to come around. Those kids sure were practicing their baseball throws in trying to see how close they could come to getting the cubes in just the right spots. All the young ladies were numbered with ear tags, and there were considerable debates on the “best one” among the three young evaluators. After feeding about half a bag, we motored over to the pasture where our new guests call Home. Each of the 3 got to sit in Poppi’s lap and drive the truck out on our place and on the 2 mile journey to the next destination on the isolated country roads. We did not have to search for the group of last year’s heifers, now spending time with the Herd Bull. A big grey Brahma with the black hump, our daughter calls him Big Daddy. His hooves are each about the size of a small dinner plate. Gentle as a puppy, but I still made them all stay in the truck bed as we had about 15 or more hungry mouths all around us. Our girl has never been afraid of animals and surprisingly to me, even the meanest cow dogs never harmed her a bit over the years of being around ranch animals all her life. Consequently, her kids don’t much think of the potential of danger. But Poppi does and his truck and feed mean his rules. They all petted on Big Daddy and he stood around with his ladies until the cubes ran out. After heading back towards Devine where we left their passenger car, 2 of the 3 fell fast asleep in the first 5 miles of travel. Mimi just told me they are coming over today (President’s Day) since there is no school. It will be interesting to listen to their recounting of the day. While I have no clue as to how they will recall the little trip, as long as they had fun, were safe, and made some memories to solidify their connection to our family acres, I am totally convinced it was a successful investment in a fine early Spring afternoon.
Two months into 2023 and no rain to speak of…only 1.5 inches and only 1.8 inches since November 25, 2022. Seems we also had a shortage of good winter weather. My lone mesquite tree (that Mike Barrera wondered why I kept) has green buds on it now. Usually, this means that winter is over but, according to Phil McAnelly, they been wrong before. Spoke with an old-school, retired DPS Trooper (Nap Herrera) the other day and the word “reform” came up. But not in the way that today’s liberal lead society uses the word. I remember the term “Reform School” referring to a place to send kids that refused to abide by society’s rules and laws. Never wanted to go there even though me and a couple others danced close to the edge a lot. Had enough common sense to know that if you do A, then you get B. Found that out with the Mailbox crew and Judge Oak Williams. Now we have students running the schools and their parents defending their belligerent, borderline criminal actions because the schools have no right to discipline their little angels. They have reformed the Public School System but, not in a good way. I remember that teachers could fail students for not making the required grade to proceed to the next level. Not now…the problems are just “placed” through the system whether they learn anything or not. I recall that once upon a time, if a student failed to make the grades in High School and they were of age, the Principal would send their names to the Draft Board. When a teacher screws up, rather than proceed with criminal charges or other disciplinary actions, said teacher goes to another school but does not have to reveal their past nor can the school tell the new school the reasons that they left. I know of one instance and that is too many. I have 4 family members in the Education field and am told that this happens frequently. (We have some excellent educators in our school system.) Parents should be responsible for basic education such as manners, respect for others, hygiene, the need to follow rules and the consequences for not complying with rules. Let the teachers teach and discipline when needed. Right now, seems that School is a baby-sitting service. Enough ranting about our Public Education System. I’ll save Law Enforcement for later. Pct 4 Commissioner Lawler and crew are in the process of re-constructing CR 777 from IH 35 to CR 7711…looks great and well needed. Pray a little harder for rain…Medina Lake is way down and seems the rivers and creeks have quit flowing.
Lytle P.D. activity from last week …. Officers responded to 60 calls for police service and conducted 85 traffic stops. Those traffic stops resulted in 73 citations and 12 warnings. We had only one incident that resulted in arrests; A traffic stop on Main St. by Ofc. John Cortez (assisted by Ofc. S. Pena) sent one person to the Atascosa Co. Jail for possession of cocaine and unlawfully carrying a weapon, and two other occupants received citations for possession of drug paraphernalia. Officers responded to three reports of property crimes: #1 – The Stripes C-Store construction site was the location of a burglary. A total of 8 large televisions, which were to be used as menu boards, were taken. A value hasn’t been provided. #2 – Two units at the Lytle Loft Storage Units (FM 2790E) were broken into. An assortment of items was taken, including various appliances. The value of the loss on one unit was approx. $13,000. We don’t have details on the second unit yet. #3 – A complainant reported that their vehicle was “keyed” at H.E.B. Congratulations are for the Lady Pirates being named Regional Semi-final Champs for this year’s basketball season. I know we have a good team when we do a lot of escorting them in and out of town and we did a lot of escorting this year! The city currently is accepting applications for an Animal Control Officer and a Public Works Water Laborer. Applications will be accepted up until 5 PM on March 6. Check out our website (www.lytletx.org) for more information. Now is a great time to join our team of dedicated public servants, which include people like me. I haven’t been around the office much the last three weeks; I took some vacation. I didn’t travel extremely far, I signed on to work as an off-duty peace officer at the rodeo in San Antonio. Every year they hire several hundred off-duty peace officers from all over the area to provide police service to their awesome event. I worked the night shift (Mid-8 AM) for 20 days straight and avoided all the big crowds. I did see trailer after trailer of pigs, goats, cattle, etc. I was impressed by all the Ag Mechanic projects too. I was told I would get to meet a lot of people and it would be a lot of fun. Well, mostly I met Mr. Cold almost every night and Mrs. Rain was there for a few days too. I wouldn’t say it was “fun”, but it was better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Wow! Didn’t the month of February fly by? Of course, it being three days shorter than most months, could have something to do with it, couldn’t? The weather can’t seem to make up its mind as to what season it is. Our mornings are cool enough for a sweater or light jacket and by noon, you’re shedding layers. The morning fog is sometimes stupendous, when you get up in the morning and can’t see your car, that is parked less than fifty feet from the house, you have a fog! It is not an unusual occurrence for me to be unable to see my brother’s house (across a hay field) in a fog, but usually I can at least see an outline, but not some recent mornings. With another three weeks (officially) of winter to go, we still have the chance of colder, damp, messy weather. The first day of spring is not until the 21st of March, and I have seen it freeze well into March. It doesn’t matter that trees are leafing out. It has been in the 60s each morning for several days and my elm and Arizona ash trees are beginning to sprout leaves already and I noticed, on the way home from church this morning that the blue bonnets were thick in several places. It amazed me that San Antonio made it completely through Stock Show time without rain or freezing weather, this is very unusual. I’ll believe spring is here when I see the first Scissortail Fly Catcher. That is what Mr. Alfred Brieden told me was the real harbinger of spring, not pecan trees or mesquite trees leafing out! When is the last time, or have you ever baked a cake from ‘scratch’? When I was growing up, cake mixes didn’t exist. All cakes were baked from ‘scratch’, meaning that you got out a mixing bowl, a big spoon to mix the cake batter with and your ingredients. Until after the years following WWII, many homes did not yet have a mixer, and everything that needed mixing was done with a spoon! Times have changed, haven’t they, and aren’t we glad they have? The first cake mixes came out in 1947, after the war years, and bearing the Betty Crocker label. A cake from scratch is not hard to make. It just takes a little longer than a box mix. My two favorite recipes for yellow cake (which means you used whole eggs to make it, rather than just the whites of the eggs), were from my mid-1950s Betty Crocker Cookbook. These were two cakes that Mother had also used frequently. This cookbook gave two methods of mixing, the older, “cream together…” type and the newer, “mix together…” type. Both made wonderful cakes. Each page also has several variations of each cake, using the main, or “key” recipe and then adding nuts or fruit to the batter. Both of the following recipes are from this Betty Crocker Cookbook. I have used this one many, many times for birthday cakes and they never last long, it is truly my go-to recipe if I am baking a cake from scratch! Light Golden Cake 2¼ cups, sifted Softasilk® cake flour 1½ cups granulated sugar 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 1½ teaspoons flavoring 2 eggs Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour two 9-inch round or square cake pans or a 9X13 pan; set aside. Sift the dry ingredients together, stir the flavoring (usually vanilla extract) into the milk, add the shortening to the dry ingredients, along with a little over half of the milk/vanilla mixture; beat 2 minutes. Add remaining milk mixture and the 2 eggs. Beat 2 minutes longer. Pour into prepared pans; bake until cake tests done. Frost as desired. Here is my favorite recipe for enchiladas during the Lenten season. They are cheese enchiladas from a recipe my Mother used to make for a main dish at supper time for a meatless Lenten meal. Cheese Enchiladas SAUCE: 2 tablespoons butter, margarine or cooking oil 1 medium sized onion, chopped 1 small green bell pepper, chopped 1 or 2 finely minced cloves of garlic 2 tablespoons flour ½ teaspoon salt 2 to 3 tablespoons Gebhart chili powder 1 can (16-oz size) tomato sauce ½ cup water 1 small can diced green chilies Cook onion, green pepper and garlic in butter until soft. Add flour, salt and chili powder; stir until smooth. Add tomato sauce or tomatoes, breaking tomatoes up with spoon or fork (can use the ‘recipe ready’ type if desired), green chilies and water. Cook until thick and smooth. 1 pound shredded cheese (can use American, cheddar, or the pre-shredded type that is seasoned for tacos) 1 medium onion, chopped 10 to 12 corn tortillas TO MAKE ENCHILADAS: Dip tortillas into sauce to soften or soften by heating ¼ cup oil in heavy skillet and dipping them briefly into the hot oil, or soften by heating a short time in the microwave. Spray a rectangular pan with non-stick spray and spread a small amount of the sauce in the pan, just to coat the bottom. Spoon a small amount of sauce onto a tortilla, add some cheese and onion and roll up. Place each enchilada, seam side down onto sauce in baking pan, as you finish rolling it. Repeat until all tortillas are used. Top with remaining sauce and additional cheese. Bake at 350ºF about 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through.
Marlene Dyer Wells, 85 of Austin Texas, went to be with the Lord, joining her husband, Fred, February 24, 2023, after a short but fierce battle with Leukemia. Marlene lived a beautiful and robust life. An independent woman of faith, she provided guidance, care, and love to her children and grandchildren; and a life of love to her husband and friendship with those close to her. Her husband Fred adored her and together they taught their children, Sharon and Cindy, integrity, loyalty and compassion, encouraging them with the confidence necessary to pursue life with passion. Marlene was born May 29, 1937, in Bellville, Yell County, Arkansas to Gibbs Marvin Dyer and Edna Palestine Buckman Dyer. The family moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico in 1943 where her father found employment in the potash mines. Marlene’s zest for life, friendly and engaging nature resulted in forming many childhood friends that ended up being lifelong friends. Growing up with three brothers and a sister, her life was somewhat modest but full of faith and love of her family. After high school, Marlene married the love of her life, Fred Wells, on September 3, 1955, and started their life together in Texas. They welcomed daughters Sharon and Cindy, and eventually four grandchildren in whom they took great pride and spent time with whenever possible. Marlene always relied on her faith in Christ to see her way through life’s obstacles including polio, two bouts of cancer, and a debilitating stroke. This positive approach to life became the setting to provide an example for her daughters and grandchildren. To no surprise, she recently said, “I’ve had a happy life”. Her grandchildren will tell you she was the “best grandmother” who supplied all the sugar cereals a child could consume! She leaves behind a legacy with her family on how to live life. Marlene is survived by her daughters Sharon Wells Lott and husband Jerry Lott, and Cindy Wells McCarthy and husband Mitch McCarthy, grandchildren: Rachel Guevara and husband Henry Guevara, Allyson Lutz, Colter Lutz and Jacob McCarthy, her brothers: Tommy Dyer and Don Dyer, and many loving nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. She will be greatly missed, but as she recently told us, “you’ll get over it”. We won’t get over it, but we choose to move on with her positive outlook. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Fred, parents Marvin & Pally Dyer, a brother, Joe Dyer and her sister, Rebecca Stringer. The family would like to extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to the compassionate care providers who were wonderful and attentive to our mom from Cedar Pointe Health and Wellness in Cedar Park and Altus Hospice. A celebration of life is scheduled for March 25, 2023, 11:00 am at Walnut Creek Baptist Church at 12062 N. Lamar, Austin, TX. Marlene will be laid to rest next to her husband at the Montell Cemetery, Montell, TX at a later date in a private service. In lieu of flowers, Marlene suggested memorial donations be made to any of the following: Swan Songs Musical Last Wishes: https://www.swansongs.org/; Walnut Creek Baptist Church, https://www.walnutcreekbc.org; Texas Choral Directors Association: https://www.tcda.net; The Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation: https://carrietingleyhospitalfoundation.org.
Sandra Martinez Alvarez age 52 of Devine, Texas entered eternal rest on Thursday, February 23, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on March 16, 1970, to parents, Ramiro and Anna Martinez in Pearsall, Texas. She is preceded in death by her stepfather Lazaro Martinez, Aunt Isabell Esquibel, Uncle Lupe Martinez, and Grandparents Juan and Lucia Chapa, Lupe and Maria Martinez. Sandra is survived by her father Ramiro Martinez, Mother Anna M. Martinez; first husband, Mariano Alvarez; partner Bernard Garcia; sons, Jose Rizo, Mariano T. Alvarez, Charles Alvarez; granddaughter Sophia Rizo; sisters April Casas and July Martinez; brothers Joey Martinez, Jason Martinez, Josh Martinez, Jonathan Martinez, Gabriel Martinez Enrique Martinez; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 5:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. with a Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. Primrose Funeral Services Chapel, Devine, Texas. Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 10:00 A.M. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with interment to follow at St. Joseph’s Catholic cemetery. Anyone wishing to leave condolences, share memories, or sign the online guestbook may do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com
07/27/1972 ~ February 13, 2023 Kissie was called to the Lord on February 13, 2023, at the age of 50, after battling diabetes for 16 years. She grew up in San Antonio, in the 70’s and attended John Marshall High School, where she participated in the band. Kissie loved music. At the old age of 25, Kissie joined the Navy, and served her country for nine years as a Torpedo Man’s Mate on the USS Cole. While her passing broke our hearts, we are comforted by her family as well as her many wonderful relatives and friends. They were the light of her life and Kissie enjoyed every minute she spent with all of them. Kissie spent her final days under the loving care of her niece, Samantha Gomez, who devoted years to her wellbeing. We miss her more than words can convey. Because of her tireless efforts to serve her country, family and friends, she was always there when we needed her. She was the first of nine children and nine cousins. Kissie was preceded in death by her father, Leroy Stine; her grandparents, Martina Madrigal Davis, Harold Davis, and Louis R. Gomez. She is survived by her mother, Mary Jane (Skip) Pitlock; her daughters and sons, Celena Gonzales, Michelle, Jennifer, Blake and Adam Buswell; siblings, Billie Jo, Duffy, River (his fiancé Anne), Andrew, Benjamin Pitlock, Heather Sanchez, Steven, Tony, Gabriel Stine; honorary sisters, Kelley Widerstrom and Crystal Ellis; aunts and uncles, Diana (Richard) Padilla, Michael (Diane) Gomez, Mary Helen (Sam) Balleza, Judy (Hector) Tudyk and Louis (Anne) Gomez; nieces Ariel (Austin) Beal, Samantha, Madison, Prudence, and Amelia; nephews, Nathaniel, Jaxon, and Gideon; grandnieces, Liberty Gomez, Adelaide, Sophie, KC Beal; and grandnephew, Benjamin Beal; cousins, Diana Marie (Joe) Bonelli, Anna Lisa (Scott) Bacon, Lydia Martina (Chevy) Hernandez, Jennifer Lee (Clifford) Martinez, Jason (Cynthia) Gomez, Roxanne Dillon (Donta), Louis Michael (Melly) Gomez, Eric (Melissa) Dillon, Page (Kevin) Martin, Victoria and Elizabeth Gomez; cousins, once removed, Martina Weikle, Vivian Gomez, Sienna Gomez, Louis Gomez Jr., Richie, Jude and Clifford IV Martinez. There will be a Visitation held Monday, March 6, 2023, beginning at 5:00pm – 9:00pm, with a Rosary recited at 7:00pm at Primrose Funeral Services, 14822 Main St., Lytle TX 78052. A final visitation will begin Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 8:30am with a Church Service at 12:00 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Somerset with Fr. James Janish. Kissie will be laid to rest with military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2:00pm with a gravesite blessing by Pastor Michael Cochran. There will be a reception following the service in the Fellowship Hall at St. Mary’s Church in Somerset. Anyone wishing to leave condolences, share memories, or sign the guest book may do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com. Arrangements by Primrose Funeral Services, 14822 Main Street, Lytle, Texas 78052.
John Fredrick Williamson, Sr., age 92, of San Antonio and New Braunfels, Texas went to be with his Heavenly Father on February 20, 2023, surrounded by his family. A devoted Christian, John was born on June 12, 1930, in Devine, Texas, at home, to Fred and Allene Williamson. The second oldest of four children, John graduated from Devine High School at age 16 when there were only 11 grades. He met the love of his life, Mary Grace Henson, at a school dance, when he was 18 and she was 16. Mary always felt that God had put them together at that early age. They married 2 years later, on June 30, 1950, weeks after Mary graduated from high school. They spent their early married years living with his grandparents while he worked as a carpenter, butane gas truck driver and life insurance salesman while supporting his young family, and his widowed mother and sisters. In 1956, he moved his family to San Antonio and took a job at the Burroughs Corporation selling adding machines. Through that job, he was fortunate to meet a business associate that owned a data processing company, called Central Processing Center. In 1968, he joined CPC as an owner and was instrumental in CPC pioneering the conversion of banks and savings and loans to their ‘on line’ mainframe computers via high speed phone lines, replacing the bank’s hand written, manual account systems. After 20 years of his leadership, CPC went public by joining FiServ in 1985, allowing him an early retirement at age 57. John enjoyed vacations of all kinds with his family. Early on, there were many memorable camping trips to the Medina River, complete with lots of Dr. Pepper and Vanilla creme cookies, under the big Cypress trees by the rapids. Also, there were countless weekends taking the boat to Canyon Lake, skiing, and tubing, with John primarily driving the boat, and occasionally getting in a ski run himself. His family’s love of the lake turned into building their dream home on Lake Dunlap in New Braunfels, where he bar-b-qued many chickens, and smoked many briskets, to feed the hungry kids coming off the lake. Not limiting their travels to just Texas, they also enjoyed international travel to Israel, Europe, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. Beyond that there were many cruises, and an African safari with their best friends from Devine, the Belews. John and Mary also fell in love with Breckenridge, Colorado, where they purchased a home, and spent winters skiing and summers hiking with their family. They also enjoyed the annual ‘Happy Everything’ summer family reunions at their lake house. John and Mary had a deep faith in God and were active members of several churches throughout his lifetime. Their involvement in Trinity Baptist Church and The Fellowship of San Antonio, as well as Oakwood Baptist in New Braunfels generated many lifelong friendships. John was a generous man, supporting both local and international causes. In recent years, a commitment to sponsoring 6 children and funding building projects at the Jehovah Jireh school in Nicaragua, touched his heart in a particular way. These acts of benevolence were an indication of his supportive, positive, and encouraging manner. John was known to inspire people with his simple but powerful line to ‘just do the next, best thing.’ He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Mary Grace, his sister Patricia Voelz, and his three children: Cyndi Wideman, of McKinney, Marilyn Ammon (Bob), of Waco, and John Williamson Jr. (Donna), of Dripping Springs. John also has 7 grandchildren, John, Kari, Ryan, Robyn, Audrey, Ava, and Scott, plus 8 great-grandchildren, Jossalyn, Jacob, James, Beau, Jackson, Cooper, Hayes, and Grace. Funeral services will be at Primrose Funeral Home in Devine, Texas, on March 3rd, at 2 pm, with a committal ceremony following at Evergreen Cemetery. Primrose Funeral Home used to be the First Baptist Church in Devine, where John and Mary were married, and where John was named the youngest deacon ever at the time. He always kept in mind and his heart the wonderful promise God gives in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to FundaCristo Missions International (www.fundacristo.com) or a charity of your choice. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 3,2023, starting at 1:00 P.M. with a Funeral Service to beginning at 2:00 P.M. Primrose Funeral Services Chapel, Devine, Texas with interment to follow at Evergreen cemetery. Anyone wishing to leave condolences, share memories, or sign the online guestbook may do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com Arrangements are under the direction of Primrose Funeral Services, Devine, Texas 78016, (830) 663-4445.
November 9, 1951 – February 20, 2023 James Lee “Skeeter” Cotter, Sr., 71, of Goodwell passed away Monday, February 20, 2023 at the Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kansas surrounded by his family. The son of Travis and Ruth (Rose) Cotter, Skeeter was born November 9, 1951 in San Angelo, Texas. He attended school in Devine, Texas. Skeeter had many hobbies he enjoyed – hunting, fishing, playing dominoes and pool, as well as playing music with his Rose cousins. Skeeter had many jobs but loved being a carpenter most of all. He learned carpentry from his dad. Skeeter married Nancy Waddell, June 1970. They had four children together: Jimmy, Cindy, Candice and Janet. He later married Charlotte Douthitt on May 8, 1996 in Canton, Texas. They moved from Mineola, Texas to Guymon in 2009. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Bobby Gandy and one sister, Susie Alexander. Survivors include his wife, Charlotte Cotter of the home; his kids: Jimmy Cotter and wife, Tammy of Guymon, Cindy Skipper and husband, David of Holcomb, Kansas, Candice Edwards and husband, Justin of Hysham, Montana, and Janet Cotter of Guymon; his bonus kids: Brandon Douthitt of Arlington, Texas, Breanne Bennett and husband, Neal of Mansfield, Texas, Chelsea Mullins of Arlington, Texas and Stacy Ray of Guymon. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; his sweet sister, Margaret Mazar and husband, Lou of Grand Saline, Texas; and two brothers, Bill Gandy of Amarillo, Texas and Stephen Gandy of Alvarado, Texas. There will be a family celebration of Skeeter’s life at a later date. Friends can sign the online guestbook and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com.
