Category: Obituaries

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Laura Fern Brown of Devine, Texas, on November 22, 2025.
She was born in Devine, Texas on July 30, 1938 to parents Rayburn Ray and Elizabeth Allena Cadenhead. Laura was a kind and gentle spirit that was very involved in her church and had a strong relationship with Christ. She loved the Cowboys and the Spurs!
She is preceded in death by her parents, Rayburn Ray and Elizabeth Allena Cadenhead, and her beloved husband, Larry Allen Brown.
Laura is survived by her daughters, Lou Anne Frazier (Chris), Sherri Kelly (Mike), siblings; Billy Rhea, Betta, and Mary; grandchildren, Shawn and Fiance, Ashley, Nathan (Shannon), Jessica (Miguel), Ryan (Sarah), Isaiah, Jonathan. She will also be missed by her great grandchildren, Adan, Aaron, Amber, Tristan, Jacob, Caleb, Kaesan, Rylee, Aria, Camilla, and Norah.
There will be a visitation held in her honor on Wednesday, December 3rd from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Primrose Funeral Services in Devine, Texas. A funeral service will be celebrated on December 4th at 10:00am at First Baptist Church of Natalia, Texas. Her interment will be held at 2:00pm at Mission Burial Park South in San Antonio, Texas.
If you would like to share a memory or express your condolences, please do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com

Margaret Elizabeth (Newton) Dennis was born to Clyde and (Lara) Lydia Newton on January 28, 1941 in Drexel, North Carolina and went to be with the Lord on November 15, 2025.
Married to the late Keith Dennis, her loving husband of 62 years, Margaret was the beloved matriarch of a large family including her 4 children (Randall, Angela, Laura, and Lisa) along with 13 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. She loved her family fiercely.
Margaret was a woman of profound faith. She shared the gospel and her love of God with the world through her beautiful singing. She was the Music Minister at Redemption Baptist Church for nearly 50 years as well as a Sunday School teacher. She shared Jesus with everyone she came in contact with and is now walking down those streets of gold in His presence alongside her darling husband Keith, two of her children (Randall Dennis and Angela Carter), and countless loved ones who have gone on before.
Margaret is survived by daughters Laura West (husband John West) and Lisa West (husband Louis West), sister Coleen Brackett, brother Ray Newton (his wife Wanda Newton), sisters-in-law Christine Newton and Greta Newton, all her many grandchildren, great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and nieces and nephews.
Services will be held December 2, 2025 at Redemption Baptist Church in Devine, Texas with Visitation beginning at 8:00am and the Funeral Service following at 11:00am. Interment will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2:30pm.
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, 14822 Main Street, Lytle, Texas, 78052, (830) 709-0698.

Mary Kathleen “Kathy” Lynch, 74, of Pearson, TX peacefully slipped the bonds of Earth surrounded by loved ones on November 6, 2025. She will be remembered for her grace, compassion, and patience; qualities which shone in both her personal life, and her careers.
Born on October 21, 1951 in East Orange, New Jersey, Kathy came to Texas to escape northeastern winters and attend the University of Houston. She first met Arthur E. Lynch Jr. in the Fall of 1971 and he asked her if she would type up some school papers for him because he was a terrible typist. One thing lead to another and a Valentine’s Day 1972 first date led to their wedding on December 22, 1973. They remained happily married for the following 52-plus years during which they raised two daughters, and many cats.
During her career, Kathy started as a Food Stamp Eligibility Case Worker in Houston eventually transferring to the Pearsall office as a Medicaid Case Worker. She later became a Supervisor in the Hondo office. Kathy then transferred to San Antonio, first writing Texas Medicaid policy for the Department of Human Services, then enforcing state Medicaid policy by advocating for Medicaid applicants. After retiring from DHS she obtained certification as a Special Ed teacher and worked at Lytle ISD for a year. Then she got an offer from Texas Certified Elder Law Attorney, Patty Flora Stichler to be Case Manager to her practice. She took the offer and worked with Patty for years, along the way co-authoring the first instructional manual on Kid’s Medicaid Benefits in Texas.
Art and Kathy bought a small house in Pearson, Texas in January of 1977 and built their lives and family there. The family grew and so did the house. It is a house and family that love built.
Those fortunate enough to call her friend or family knew Kathy could be relied upon for thoughtful guidance, a good book recommendation, and an observant quip about the state of the world.
Kathy is survived by her husband, Art; her sister, Sharon; her daughters, Jess and Liz; and two beloved grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Doris C. and Thomas J. Riley Jr.
Arrangements were made by the Neptune Society. There will be a celebration of life at a later date.

Robert Rivas, 79, passed away in El Paso, on Oct. 14, 2025, after a short illness.
Rivas was a 1964 graduate of Devine High School and earned an associate’s degree from Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde, a bachelor’s degree in political science and history, with a minor in education from what is now Sul Ross State University in Alpine. Later, he earned a masters in counseling from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.
Robert was certified to teach grades 1-12 and Bilingual/ESL. His final assignment worked as counselor at at Laura Steele Elementary in San Antonio ISD. Prior to his teaching career, Robert worked at what is now the Texas Workforce Commission as a vocational counselor.
Robert took up several hobbies after an early retirement, practicing and studying until his work was at a professional level. He took classes in woodworking, photography, welding, construction and aluminum casting at his alma mater Sul Ross, in Alpine. After moving to El Paso to be with his wife, he filled their home with Mission Style oak furniture he made. He also made small pieces for family members. In El Paso, Robert took classes in ceramics and made glazed crucifixes, crosses, candle holders, figurines, and more. He taught himself landscaping and concrete work by studying books. Once he mastered those skills, he designed and built a retaining wall and xeriscaped the yard at his home, with concrete pathways.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Sylvia Rodriguez Rivas, of El Paso; a son, Michael Rivas, of Tacoma, WA; sisters Carmen Danna (Frank), of Castroville; Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez (Gil), of Austin; Guadalupe L. Rivas, of Austin; a brother-in-law, James L. Smith of PA; four grandchildren; nine nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Ramón M. and Henrietta Lopez Rivas; three sisters, Irma Rivas Estrella; Henrietta Rivas Smith and Connie Rivas Brown; and nephews Baby Boy Brown and Paul Danna and great nephew Bobby Kahmer.
A rosary in his memory will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Devine at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 21, 2025. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. following the rosary.

After a long and courageous struggle with dementia, Billy Ricord, 83, passed peacefully at Heritage Hall in Big Stone Gap, VA. He lived in Duffield, VA and owned and operated Bill’s Appliance both in Scott County, VA and in his home state of Texas for over 40 years.
His parents, in order to escape the devastation of the Dust Bowl in Dewey County, Oklahoma, moved to Devine TX, with five young children, after seeing an advertisement in the local paper that boasted “good farm land in Devine TX”. Billy was born in Devine, TX and the family eventually grew to 12 children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Coy Clell Ricord and Lilli Dell (Louthan) Ricord, as well as 11 siblings. Six brothers, Eddie, Manny, Nolan, Loren, Bobby and Lonnie and five sisters, Rose, Viola, Dena, (infant) Virginia and (infant) Clarise.
Left to cherish his memory and continue his legacy of a successful life are his wife of 35 years, Dorothy (Plant) Ricord of New York City, his three children: Rhonda Levy (Wayne), Coy Ricord (Billie Jo), and Shane, his 11 grandchildren: Britny Stricker (Charlie), Weston Levy (Chelsie), Seth Levy (Michaela), Cody Brown (Kaylin), Bailey Ricord, Dillon Ricord ( Korin), Luke Ricord, Faith Ricord, Will Ricord and Gracie Ricord, 10 great-grandchildren: Charlie, Cooper and Chloe Stricker, Wade and Timber Levy, Bentley Levy, Cannon and Chad Brown, Logan Ricord, and Harper Ricord.
Billy overcame some adversity in his younger years, but through his own self-determination and strength of character he spent the remaining journey of his life a success story. He was proud of this accomplishments.
Many thanks to the nursing staff at Heritage Hall, who loving cared for him in his final days.
His wishes were to be cremated, and the family will be having a celebration of life at a later date. These arrangements are being handled by the Fischer Funeral Home in Hiltons, VA. In his memory, you can remember a moment in time, or some adventure you shared with him fishing or on the motorcycle. That is how he would like to be remembered by his many friends and family.
His mind and body are finally at peace.

Juan Antonio Velazquez of Devine, Texas, born September 9, 1949, passed away on November 11, 2025, at the age of 76 in San Antonio, Texas, surrounded by his loved ones.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Esperanza Velazquez, his brother Raul Velazquez, and his sister Yolanda Gonzalez.
He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Dora Velazquez, his children, Antonio Velazquez (Teresita Del Carmen Velazquez), Lorraine Velazquez-Roman (Javier E. Roman), Esmeralda Serna (Jorge A. Serna), Jesus Velazquez, and Aaron Travieso (Kiara Travieso). Juan leaves behind brothers, Ruben Velazquez, Melquiadez Velazquez; sisters, Virginia Campos, Consuelo Rocha, will also be missed by his grandkids, Leonardo Velazquez, Diana Velazquez, Nicole Velazquez, Alejandro Serna, Cristian Serna, and Aurelia Trevieso. A very special thanks to his healthcare providers, Josefina Trejo, Hortencia (Tencha) De La Garza, and Sarah Clay, for all of their sweet care and attention to Juan and the family.
A funeral service will be held in his honor on Friday, November 21, 2025, in the Primrose Funeral Chapel in Devine from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Interment of his ashes will be celebrated with Honors at Fort Sam Houston at a later date.
If you would like to share a memory or express your condolences, please do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com

Martin L. Gutierrez of Lytle, Texas entered eternal rest on October 31, 2025, at the age of 72. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, on November 5, 1952, to Apolinar and Mary Leyva Gutierrez.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Irene Negrete.
Martin is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Rosa Irene H. Gutierrez, his brothers Baldino and Gilbert (Olga), sisters Delores, Guadalupe (Jaime), Negrete, Virginia (Ruben) Conde, Anita (Preston) Nichols, and Teresa (Joe) Douglas and numerous nephews and nieces.
Martin’s dream of becoming a truck driver came true when he first started with Coca-Cola Company, then a propane truck. What he really enjoyed was being a cattle hauler; he was able to own his own truck. Health reasons finally got him off the truck. He worked as a diesel mechanic when not driving. Retired he enjoyed watching wrestling and car racing. He will be deeply missed but will forever remain in our hearts.
Services will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at St. Andrew Catholic Church of Lytle, Texas, Rosary to be recited at 10:00 A.M. and the Memorial Mass starting at 10:30 A.M. a reception to follow in the Church hall.
Anyone wishing to leave condolences, share memories, or sign the online guestbook may do so by visiting www.primrosefuneralservices.com

Lucinda May Gonzales, born February 13, 1956, in Rochelle, Illinois, to John and Glendolyn Carson, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family and loved ones on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
Lucinda was a devoted wife, loving mother, and proud grandmother. Her life was centered around faith, family, and the joy she found in caring for those she loved. She was the beloved wife of Lorenzo Gonzales of Natalia, and the cherished mother of Matthew (Michelle) Gonzales of Natalia, and David (Gail) Gonzales of Devine.
She was a proud grandmother to Mylie Gonzales of Natalia and Zoe (Jacob) Barron of Devine, and a delighted great-grandmother to Tilden Barron. She also leaves behind step-grandchildren, Celeste Muzquiz of Devine, and Brandon Muzquiz of San Antonio, along with great-grandchildren Xavier and Xander Muzquiz of Laredo.
Lucinda is survived by her siblings: Belinda (Don) Luxton of Rochelle, John (Bonnie) Carson of Ashton, Joel (Lisa) Carson of Rochelle, James (Michelle) Carson of Rochelle, and Rhonda (Charles) Vardman of Creston.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, John and Glendolyn Carson; her sister, Glenda Beardin; and her in-laws, Eusebio and Maria Gonzales.
Lucinda will be remembered for her kindness, her unwavering love with her family, and her generous spirit. Her warmth and laughter will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Arrangements are under the care of Primrose Funeral Services, if you would like to share a memory or express your condolences, you may do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com

Charles (Joe) Rooks passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 surrounded by the love of his family. Charles was born on August 14, 1940, in San Antonio, Texas. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School, where he met the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Anna Mae. The two were married and shared 67 years of a beautiful, unwavering love story.
Charles was preceded in death by his beloved sons, David Michael Rooks and Patrick Joseph Rooks; his parents, Wesley and Hortensia Buentello Rooks; and his brother, Randy Rooks.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Anna Mae Rooks; his daughter, DeAnna Gail Huff and her husband Chad Huff of Helotes, Texas; his son, Clyde Lee Rooks and his wife Terrianne Rooks of Lacoste, Texas; his sister, Laura Faust. His legacy also lives on through his grandchildren, Kailum Rooks, Kaylee Elizondo (Bobby), Kurtis Rooks, Cooper Rooks, Ryland Alfaro, Sterling Huff, and Kaiden Rooks; as well as ten great-grandchildren, who will forever cherish his love and the lessons he instilled in them.
A proud skilled aircraft mechanic, Charles dedicated many years of service to Boeing Aerospace. Known for his strong work ethic and remarkable expertise, he took great pride in his craft. Beyond his career, Charles found joy in working in his yard, where his hands shaped the beauty around him.
Charles had a big heart, a gentle spirit, and an unwavering love for his family. He was a man who led with kindness, strength, and quiet wisdom. His presence filled every room with warmth, and his love will continue to guide his family for generations to come.
Charles Joe Rooks will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him, but his legacy of love, hard work, and family devotion will live on forever in the hearts of those he leaves behind.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Cemetery in Lacoste, Texas.
Memorials may be made in Charles’ memory to Lytle Animal Shelter or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. www.tondre-guinn.com

Ernst M. Graw, a respected Texas band director, died October 27, 2025, in Dallas at age 87.
Born June 17, 1938, Ernst graduated with honors from Uvalde High School in 1957. He studied music at Sul Ross State Teachers College in Alpine and earned a master’s degree from Texas A&I University in Kingsville.
Ernst began his teaching career in Van Horn, served at Hondo High School, and returned to lead the Uvalde High School Band. He later directed the band at Freer High School and completed his career as Band Director at Lytle High School. Widely respected across South Texas, he frequently judged drum-major and twirling competitions and took special pride in mentoring young musicians.
After retiring from education, Ernst drove for the Texas Test Fleet in Devine for more than two decades. He moved to San Antonio in 2019 and more recently to Dallas to be closer to family.
A proud Eagle Scout, Ernst served on staff at Camp Fawcett and Philmont Scout Ranch, supported council camporees and national jamborees, and was an early member of the Sahawi Indian Dancers. He was also known for his rich bass voice and lifelong love of singing church hymns.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernst A. and Flora Graw. He is survived by his brother, Julius Graw; two nieces; one nephew; one great-niece; and one great-nephew, along with many former students, Scouts, and colleagues.
A memorial service will be held November 3 at 10 a.m. at Rushing Estes Knowles Mortuary in Uvalde.