Category: Obituaries

Linda Ann Barker Casburn, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, left this world on November 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 78. Born on August 27, 1946, in El Paso, Texas, Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Barker and Mary Kate Reames Barker of Las Cruces New Mexico and her brother-in-law Eli Eliason of Mimbres New Mexico. She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Edwin Houston Casburn, her sister, Adel Eliason, a beloved niece Kristen (Donny) Smith and two nephews Art (Sue) Eliason and Carl Eliason.

Linda was raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She came from farming roots as her parents owned and operated a chili farm called FC Barker & Company in Las Cruces, NM. What began as a family vegetable farm later became a successful and well-known chili farm. Linda’s father, Arthur Barker, along with the Department of Agriculture at New Mexico State University, developed a hot chili seed called “Barkers Hot”. The new chili variety gained momentum quickly and FC Barker & Company sold the chili whole, crushed and as chili powder to local vendors as well as national chains. They were pioneers in the farming world as the first to dry, crush and grind chili into a powder. They also sold scraps to Revlon Cosmetics so that the dye could be used in products that Revlon manufactured. Upon Arthur’s death, the farmland was sold as was the business name. Today, you can still purchase Barker Chili at various grocery locations across The United States.

Linda was known for her musical talent. Her parents encouraged her at the young age of six to take piano lessons. Her talent blossomed as she learned to play the accordion in the fourth grade and the clarinet in the fifth. Linda once went on a high school band trip to California, where she played the clarinet in The Rose Bowl. She later attended the Tiffany Music Academy in El Paso and later, while residing in Houston, the Palmer-Hugh’s Accordion Academy. There, she joined the orchestra and performed in a concert at the prestigious Jones Hall. Her musical prowess earned her a guest artist spot on the Lawrence Welk Show, where she shared the stage with Myron Floren in an accordion duet.

Linda married her high school sweetheart Jack Alton Morris in 1963, and they remained married for 28 years. They had three children: Scott (Melissa) Morris, Kathy (Wilson) Korona, and Debi (Kenneth) Capps. They were blessed with many grandchildren: Joshua (Brittany) Capps, Emily (Ernie) Morales, Mason (Alyssa) Capps, Zachary (Ebonee) Morris, Lyndsey Korona, Abbie Capps, Zane Morris, and Zander Morris, great-grandchildren, Elijah, Emmett & Everett Morales, Audrey & Kenneth Capps, Lincoln Capps and Eloise Morris.

Jack and Linda lived in various places over the years including Las Cruces, El Paso, Houston, Galveston and Pleasanton. They moved to Devine in 1976, the place they came to call home where they raised their three children. Linda served as a secretary for Hurley Funeral for many years and as a musician and choir director for The First United Methodist Church. She was active in many community organizations such as The Garden Club, Eastern Star, The Chamber of Commerce and the youth group for the Methodist church. She volunteered her time from everything from accompanying high school band members on the piano for UIL competitions to volunteering at youth church camp to driving cancer patients to San Antonio to receive treatment. She enjoyed entertaining and always kept a beautiful home that was decorated for every season. She had a way of making holidays special and made everyone feel welcome who came into the family’s home. Above all, she enjoyed supporting and cheering on her children in their interest including volleyball, basketball, 4-H, stock shows, high school rodeo and more!

In 1992, Linda’s journey continued with her marriage to Edwin Houston Casburn, with whom she shared 32 years of love and music. Together, they formed a jazz band called “The Nova Tunes”. They played for numerous assisted living communities over the years, bringing much joy to the residents. Ed and Linda served in the choir for Blanco United Methodist and Bulverde United Methodist Church.

Linda also embraced her role as a stepmother and grandmother to Ed’s children Mark (Irene) Casburn, Kyle (Julie) Casburn, and Karen (Jewell) Gravell-Morris, and their children Annie (Brad) Buysee, Sarah Casburn, Benjamin (Ann) Gravell, Alexander Casburn, Amy (Noah) Austria, Garrett Casburn, Mackenzie Casburn, and great-grandchildren Willow and Violet Buysee, and Annika Austria.

Ed and Linda enjoyed a quiet life in Bulverde for many years where they hosted many family events, reunions, Christmases and grandkid sleepovers. They went on many adventures in their fifth wheel and planned many special camping trips just for the grandchildren. The grandchildren have fond memories that they will treasure of many special occasions that Grammie planned just for them. She will be dearly missed but her legacy lives on in the lives of those she loved.

There will be visitation for family and friends at Porter Loring North of San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 10am until service time at 11am. Interment will follow at Hill Country Memorial Gardens.

If you would like to express your condolences, or share a memory, you may do so at www.porterloring.com

Michael Jay Morse, 65, died on Monday, October 7 in San Antonio. He was born November 20, 1958 to Charles Morse Sr. and Beatrice (Bea) Galindo.
He is preceded in death by his father, grandparents Cresencio and Lilly Ortiz and Marie Mae and Vernon Edwin Morse.
Mike is survived by his wife Cayce Morse, daughter Holli Williams (Andrew), son Cole Morse, mother Bea Morse, brother Charles Morse Jr., sister Maureen Ekrut (Kerry), brother and sister-in-law Joe and Sherri Cowan, sisters-in-law Teresa Frank and Sarah Horton and grandchildren Emmeline, Benjamin, Kahlia and Corabelle Williams. He is also survived by two aunts, Elia (Lela) Ortiz and Dorothy Kenny, and two uncles, O.B. Henderson and Roger Morse along with nieces/nephews Logan, Olivia and Sophie Morse, Abby, Savannah and Ethan Ekrut, and Maci Cowan.
Mike attended Lampasas High School where he played football, along with baseball where he was a catcher. After high school he worked in a machine shop with his father. He then became a police officer and worked for the Lampasas Police Department.
In 1993 Mike graduated from the game warden academy and was stationed in Rio Grande City, Starr County, where he worked until transferring to Frio County. Then in 2011, Mike reached the rank of game warden captain where he oversaw Region 5, District 1 before retiring in the fall of 2019. In 2020, Mike ran and won the office of Frio County Sheriff where he worked until he passed.
Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation at tpwf.org in Mike’s memory.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Primrose Funeral Services, Pearsall.

January 30, 1927 – September 25, 2024-  Ruby Winifred (Winnie) Bloomquist Mason was born on January 30, 1927, in Hobart, Indiana to Robert and Myrtle (Danielson) Bloomquist.  She died September 25, 2024, in Houston, Texas.  Shortly after her birth the family moved to Texas.  Her father was a Methodist minister, so the family moved whenever he was appointed to a new church.  Winnie graduated from Karnes City High School and then attended Southwest Texas Teachers College where she received her bachelors and masters degrees.  She began teaching English and taught in Victoria and Brownsville before moving to Corpus Christi to be closer to family.  While there she met Troy Mason in a Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church.  They married on August 13, 1960.  Troy was transferred to San Antonio where Winnie continued to teach and while there, she received her masters in library science from Our Lady of the Lake University.  In 1969 Troy was transferred to Beaumont and at the time Winnie was pregnant.  She decided to stop teaching and begin her new job as a stay-at-home mom to Teri who was born in October.  Troy was transferred again and after a year and a half in Tulsa, Oklahoma they returned to Texas and bought a house in Houston in 1973.  Troy and Winnie soon joined CypressUnited Methodist Church and became involved in various activities.  Winnie was an avid reader and was interested in having a church library.  That became a major focus for her over the years and she helped create a library and served as a volunteer librarian.  In 2002 she had the honor of having the church library named after her.  Winnie was also involved in the Wesley Sunday School class, Truthseekers, United Women in Faith, Emmaus, Fifty Plus, and she started a book club.  

Continue reading “Winnie Bloomquist Mason”

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lucille Marie Watson, of Devine, Texas. She was born in Albion, IL on October 30, 1937, and passed at home surrounded by her loved ones at the age of 86 on October 9, 2024.
She is preceded in death by her parents Roy and Frances Briggs, her husband John H. Watson, Jr., brother Doyle, and her son Warren.
Lucille is survived by her sons, Herb (Kim), Wesley (Sharon), Clint (Shelly), siblings; Esther, Nolan (Connie), grandchildren; Hayden, Shelby (Cheyne), Paul (Monica), Ashton (Matt), Jacob, Meagan (Nathan), Riley, Ryan, Joslynn, and Sydney, great-grandchildren; Rylee, Crozier, Maiev, Hudson, Parker, Maverick and Vincent. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews.
She spent her formidable school years in a one room school with children of all ages. By the time she entered high school, her family had moved to Edinburgh, TX, where she graduated before going on to Texas A&I, Kingsville, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Home Economics in May of 1958. During her summer breaks she worked as a waitress where she met her future husband, John H. Watson, Jr. who was working in the oilfield on his summer break from Texas A&M. They married on May 9, 1958, and raised 4 boys, Herb, Warren, Wesley, and Clint.
Lucille started her career at Somerset ISD teaching Home Economics. She later went to Devine ISD and taught for several years until going to work with John managing Loggins & Lilly until it’s closing in 1971. At that time, she remained home to raise the boys and help John start his new business, Watson Cattle Service, and continued raising Brahman cattle until the mid 80’s. Lucille found her way back into education at Devine ISD teaching Homemaking and Special Education until her retirement in May 2003.

Continue reading “Lucille Marie Watson”

Doyle Dewayne Eads was born on September 29th, 1949, in Vernon, Texas, to parents Donald Leon Eads and Vera Frances Arrington. Doyle later served in the United States Army and then served 19 years with the Devine Police Department, where he retired as Chief of Police in 1999. He then spent his remaining years in Devine, Texas, before passing away on September 26th, 2024, in San Antonio.
Doyle is survived by his six children and two grandchildren of varying ages. His last final act of service was donating his body to the University of Texas Health Science Center, where his eyes and tissue were collected, and medical students could have the opportunity to study medicine and disease prevention with his remains. He will eventually be cremated shortly after doing his part for the education and advancement of the practice of medical science. 

September 20, 1946 — October 10, 2024
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Hondo Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by Recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Thursday, October 17, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment at Evergreen Cemetery.
Full Obituary Pending
Services under the direction of Hondo Funeral Home