Category: Obituaries

Ted Evart Outlaw, 92, of Moore, TX, went to be with the Lord Sunday morning, July 20,2025, surrounded by his family.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, Evart and Inez Outlaw; brother, Don Outlaw;daughter, Renee Outlaw; and his first wife, Jonilee Hamblen Outlaw.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ruth Outlaw; brothers: Jon Outlaw (Kathleen), Ron Outlaw (Debbie); children: Ted Michael Outlaw (Catherine), Julie Outlaw Mize (Mark), John Mark Outlaw (Marianne), Michelle Wilson (Rusty), Angela Wilson (Chad), and Evart Bates Outlaw (Linsey); grandchildren: Cari Williams (Jay), Sarah Browning (Robert), Elisa Joseph (Michael), Nicole McFarlane (James), Tess Outlaw, Andrew Wilson (David), Addison Outlaw, Rachel Wilson (Derick), Gus Outlaw, Jane Outlaw and Amy Outlaw; 10 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Ted graduated from Devine High School in 1950 at the age of 16. He attended Texas A & M and was a member of the Corp of Cadets, graduating in 1954. He was later commissioned into the United States Air Force where he proudly served 23 years. During his tenure, he received many recognitions and the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service while engaged in military operations against Viet Cong forces. He was based in Morrocco, Germany, and several bases throughout the states, including Randolph and Kelly Air Force Bases, retiring in 1978 as a Lt. Colonel. He then began his lifelong dream of farming.

Ted loved his Lord, family, and farming. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Devine for 44 years, twelve of those teaching the Junior High Boys Sunday School class. He later became a member of First Baptist Church of Natalia.

All who knew him knew he was the happiest on his tractor and attending Texas A & M football games. Gig’em!

A public viewing will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025 from 4:00pm – 8:00pm at Primrose Funeral Services in Devine, Texas. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 10:00am at Natalia Baptist Church. Burial to follow at Moore Memorial Cemetery.

If you would like to express your condolences or share a memory, you may do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com Funeral arrangements are under the care of Primrose Funeral Services of Devine, Texas.

Leatrice “Lea” Joy Strunk, of Devine, Texas, passed away on June 4, 2025, at the age of 87.
Lea is preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Vinita Patterson, and daughter JoBeth Nieto, and son, Wesley Aliff.
She is survived by her husband, Billy Strunk, Jr., daughter, Judith Gonzales (Joel), brother, Terry Wayne Patterson (Eunice), and sister, Kay Johnston. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
The family will have a Memorial Service at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date.
Funeral arrangements under the care of Primrose Funeral Services of Devine, Texas, 303 W. College Ave, 830-663-4445.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Pascuala De La Rosa, a great daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother of Devine, TX. She was born on December 15, 1943, in Candela, Coahuila, Mexico, where she spent part of her life. She passed away peacefully on June 18, 2025, in San Antonio, TX., at the age of 82.
She is survived by her husband, Joe De La Rosa; son, George A. De La Rosa (wife), Bea De La Rosa; son, Hugo De La Rosa (wife), Leticia Luna-De La Rosa; niece, Violeta Mata, and many grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, Juan Castillo; her mother, Pascuala Cadena; her daughter, Nadia C. De La Rosa; and her son, Juan J. De La Rosa.
There will be a visitation on Friday, June 27, 2025, from 9 A.M. to 10 A.M., and a funeral service will begin at 10 A.M. All located at Primrose Funeral Services in Devine, Texas. A burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, located in Devine, Texas.

After a long battle with cancer, Brian Preston Koehler died on June 20, 2025. He was surrounded by his loved ones and was not in pain.
Brian is survived by his wife of forty-one years, Joni Koehler, his son, Adam Koehler, his daughter, Amy Koehler Catterson, his son-in-law, Arman Daniel Catterson, and grandsons Gabriel Heshmat Catterson and Anthony Terry Catterson. In addition, he is survived by his sisters, Ginger (Jonathan) Garcia and Bonnie (Tim) Friesenhahn, and their families, including nieces Holly (Rene) Muniz, Maggie (Dustin) Burleson, Erin (Tucker) McCord, Lindsay (Trace) Morrow, and nephew, Nicholas (Mairead) Friesenhahn, along with seven great nieces and two great nephews. On Joni’s side, he is survived by in-laws Audrey and Terry Wilkinson, brothers-in-law David (Tracey) Arneson and Jonathan (Mayela) Wilkinson, and sister-in-law Libby (Kevin) Paterson, and their families, including nieces Victoria and Emma Wilkinson and Kaitlan Gil-Najarro, and nephews Austin, Jordan, and Travis Paterson. He is preceded in death by his father, Preston Herman Koehler and his mother, Josephine Kunz Koehler.
In family gatherings, Brian was the one the babies all gravitated toward. He was kind and patient, and always put his family’s needs before his own. He loved hunting and being in nature and also tinkering with broken machines, often fixing things that would otherwise be lost causes. He volunteered for many years in his church and community.
Brian worked at Southwest Research Institute in the Fuels and Lubricant division for 39 years. He frequently traveled for his job, and went to many different countries, including China, which he visited multiple times. He was a committed employee and was trusted by many in his workplace as a problem solver.
As busy as his work life was, he found time to coach tee-ball and baseball, drive teenagers to contests and events, and be a present and loving parent, husband, brother, and son.
Our hearts are broken over his loss, but we know that his suffering is at an end, and for that we are grateful. We know that he is with his parents now, and is probably out hunting or watching all of the James Bond movies.
Brian’s celebration of life will be held at Primrose Funeral Home at 3 p.m. on July 27, 2025. In lieu of flowers, Brian requested that donations be made to the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org.

Carol Ann Ptiman Ashley of Devine, Texas, formerly of San Antonio, entered eternal rest on June 20, 2025. Born in Jacksonville, Florida on March 13, 1944, she was the only child of Ruth (Knight) and Jerome Carroll Pitman. Carol graduated from Sam Houston High School in San Antonio in 1962 and went to work at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. She worked there for twelve years. She married Frank Wayne Ashley, her husband of 53 years, in 1972. She is survived by her three daughters: Suzanne (Jack) Craig, Melanie (Matthew) Kotzur, and Michele Ashley, and her beloved grandchildren: Kirsten, Annalise, Jack, Aubrey, Ava, Logan and Maxston.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 from 5pm-7pm at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South. Graveside service will be on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at San Jose Burial Park, San Antonio, TX.

Clara Lucile Stein Ricks passed away peacefully on June 8, 2025, at the age of 79. Born on July 19, 1945, in San Antonio, she was the beloved daughter of Clarence A. and Wanda M. Spurgeon Stein of LaCoste.
On June 7, 1969, she married Kenneth Ricks of Brackettville at Zion Lutheran Church in Castroville, beginning a journey together that spanned fifty-six years. Their marriage was blessed with two sons, Cody Wayne Ricks (September 19, 1975 – February 9, 2004) and Jeffery Shane Ricks (December 2, 1981 – January 15, 2000), both of whom preceded her in death. In addition to her parents and sons, Clara was also preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Ronnie Ricks.
She is survived by her loving husband, Kenneth Ricks of LaCoste; her brother, C.A. Stein and his wife Kathy, also of LaCoste; her niece, Georgia Franklin (John) of Midland; nephews, Bill Stein (Jessica) of Roscoe and Randy Stein (Misty) of LaCoste, along with their children; brother-in-law, Gerald Ricks (Holly); and her sister-in-law, Pam Ricks.
From an early age, Clara was actively involved in the LaCoste 4-H Club, where she showcased her talents by competing in county stock shows, cooking, and sewing. She won Grand Champion in 1958 with a Southdown Sheep and went on to represent Medina County 4-H as a Gold Star Award recipient in 1963.
Her love for music was evident throughout her life. She began playing the flute in 1958 for the LaCoste Eagles School Band and later continued with the Medina Valley Band. She also found joy in singing, a passion she nurtured as a member of the Zion Lutheran Church Choir from junior high until recent years.
Clara pursued higher education at Southwest Texas State University, graduating in the spring of 1968. That fall, she embarked on her teaching career at Brackettville High School, where she taught home economics for eight years. In 1976, she and Kenneth moved to the family farm in LaCoste, and Clara began teaching at Devine ISD Middle School until her retirement in May 2004, concluding a remarkable thirty-six-year career.
Following the loss of their sons, Clara and Kenneth established the Jeff and Cody Ricks Memorial Scholarship Fund in 2000. Through this fund, they provided over forty-five scholarships to students pursuing agriculture or technical education at Medina Valley ISD, positively impacting countless lives over twenty-five years.
Dedicated to her community, Clara mentored many children in the LaCoste 4-H Club and served as treasurer of the LaCoste Garden Club for numerous years. She and Kenneth also shared a love for restoring and showcasing antique tractors, restoring a 1941 Farmall A and 1940 Allis Chalmers B. Their collection was featured at parades and antique tractor shows across Texas and beyond, earning them many ribbons, plaques, and trophies.
Clara’s life was defined by her love for family, dedication to education, and passion for her community. She leaves behind an enduring legacy of kindness, mentorship, and generosity.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. A funeral service will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Castroville, followed by interment at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Castroville, Texas.
Memorial donations may be made in Clara’s memory to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home – www.tondre-guinn.com.

Maggie J. Aguilar, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2025, at the age of 75. Born on April 3, 1950, in Pleasanton, Texas, Maggie lived a life full of color and creativity, with her warm heart leaving an indelible mark on all who knew her.
Maggie dedicated many years of her life to her work as an insurance clerk at Humana, where she earned the respect and affection of her colleagues. After retiring, she embraced her passions with enthusiasm, often seen tending to her beloved plants and allowing her creativity to flow through her vibrant home, which never seemed to settle on just one color. Her love for crocheting and painting brought joy to her life, showcasing her nurturing spirit.
Maggie is survived by her husband, Abel Aguilar, sons Ricky Briones and Christopher Torres; daughter Rachel Medina; brother Ruben Martinez; sister Carmen Villarreal; grandchildren Mario and Matthew Medina, Margaret, Brenda, Debra, Daniel, Jude, Mia, and Alejandro Briones, Ezariah, Coco and Jozlynn Torres; great grandchildren Nevaeh, Jonothan Jr., JAnthony, Giuseppe and Nia Cortez, Cyrus, Eli, Roman Briones, Ariana and Isabella Reyes, Liam Saucedo as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A memorial service is being arranged by the family.
Maggie was preceded in death by her parents Baldemar and Beatrice Jaramillo; and grandson Ian Briones.

Max passed away on May 29, 2025 at the age of 92, in San Antonio, Texas. He was born on May 23, 1933 to John Clark and Helen Katherine Krebs-Melendy in Hennessey, Oklahoma. He graduated from Hennessey High School in 1951. In the same year, after graduation, he joined the United States Air Force, proudly serving his country and retiring from the Air Force after 23 years of service. During his Air Force military career, he served two tours of duty to Southeast Asia to include Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. While serving in Thailand, Max was awarded the Bronze Star Award for Meritorious Service in recognition of his outstanding leadership, personal endeavor, and devotion to duty. During his Air Force career, he also served at several other bases to include, Ardmore, Oklahoma; Smyrna, Tennessee; Okinawa, Japan; Charleston, South Carolina; and Ramstein, Germany. After retiring from the Air Force in San Antonio, Texas, he stayed in San Antonio and continued serving as a civilian working on the Kelley Air Force Base golf course until it closed.
He loved his family and was a dedicated and loving father and grandfather. He enjoyed watching birds and working in his yard planting, growing, and caring for all his trees and flowers.
He met Drusilla Ann Bettes while he was stationed at Ardmore AFB. She became his beloved wife as they were married on June 10, 1954 in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Max is survived by two children; his son, Max Raymond Melendy and wife Peggy of McLoud, Oklahoma, and daughter Sharon Maxine Melendy of San Antonio, Texas. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, Drew Melendy-Fortney with husband John, Kendall Melendy, and great grandson, Jonas Fortney; all of Hunstville, Alabama. He will also be missed by two brothers, Dale Melendy, and Allen Melendy with wife Maxine, of Hennessey, Oklahoma, his sister, Mary Melendy-Hampton with husband Franke of Versailles, Missouri; and numerous nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Max was preceded in death by his parents, John and Helen Melendy; wife, Ann, of nearly 62 years; brothers, Peter Melendy, Loren Melendy and wife, Laverne; two sisters, Betty Melendy-Gritz and husband Lairy, Dorothy Melendy-Hawk, and husband Donovan.
Max has gone to be with the Lord Jesus and will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched with his kind and giving heart. His wish was to be cremated and his ashes scattered in Oklahoma.

Charlie Nowlin Brown, 94, of Devine, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2025 in Baytown, Texas.
Born in Bigfoot, Texas, on June 15, 1930, Charlie served in the U.S. Air Force. He studied at Southwest Texas State and Texas A&I in Kingsville, Texas. After graduating from Texas A&I, he worked for Brown and Root for more than 28 years as an Engineer. In that role, he moved with his family to new and exciting locations including Alabama, Louisiana, and even Puerto Rico. After retiring from Brown and Root, Charlie moved back to Devine to build a home and a successful cattle business, which he ran until his passing.
Charlie was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ernestine Brown. He is survived by his daughters, Karen, Paula and Linda. He was a proud grandfather to his four grandchildren, Chris, Jessica, Sarah, and Tiffany. He was a doting great-grandfather to his six great-grandchildren Trent, Ashlyn, Bailee, Hailey, Hannah and Smith. He was blessed to be a great-great-grandfather to Scottie, Monroe and Archie.
Charlie will be remembered for his strong will, his clever mind, his quiet humor, his witty stories and his deep love for his family.
A celebration of life is being planned in the coming months. Details will be shared at a later time.

Angelita (Angie) G. Ortiz, a cherished mother, peacefully passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the age of 83, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on August 25, 1941, in Rio Grande City, Texas. A devoted housewife, Angie wholeheartedly dedicated herself to her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Juan Ortiz, and her brothers, Gregorio and Benito Garcia.
She is survived by her children: Sonya (Mickey), Alma Miller (Bill), Joe Ortiz (Ruby), Ruben Ortiz (Odette), Cindy Plemmons (David), and Luis Ortiz. She was the proud grandmother of Allison Clark, Tawny Martinez, Austin Clark, Shelby Ortiz, Ethan Miller, Justin Plemmons, Everett Miller, Jocelyn Plemmons, Quay Ortiz, Zachary Ortiz, and Dorian Ortiz. Angie was also a beloved great-grandmother to Aria Grantz. In addition, she is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom she held dear.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, June 5th at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Lytle, Texas. The Rosary will begin at 9:00 AM, followed by a Memorial Mass at 10:00 AM. A light lunch will be served in the parish hall afterward.