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Mary Jane Dennis

In loving memory of Mary Jane Dennis of San Saba, Texas, who passed away at her home surrounded by family, on May 11, 2026. She was 91years old. Mary Jane brought joy, laughter, and kindness to everyone she met. She was born in Devine, Texas in 1935 to Kathleen (Cox) and Charlie Paine DuBose. She graduated from Devine High School and attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College (STSTC) in San Marcos, Texas, earning a degree in Home Economics Education. While at STSTC, she met the love of her life, George T. Dennis. George knew she was the one the moment he saw her smiling eyes.
Mary Jane and George got married after college in 1956. They lived in Shiner, Yoakum, and San Marcos, Texas before settling down on their little piece of paradise in San Saba in 1964. In 1965, Mary Jane started teaching in San Saba Junior High in Home Economics education. During the summers, since they enjoyed their summers “off”, she and George loaded the kids and picnic foods in the car and headed out for many educational adventures throughout the western United States. She received her kindergarten teaching certification in the early 1970s, and started her 21 years of teaching kindergarten at San Saba Elementary. Many people who attended San Saba Elementary during these years fondly remember the field trip to Mrs. Dennis’ home where they participated in Easter egg hunts, nature walks, picnic lunches, and boat races in the stream. Mary Jane retired in 1995, filling her time with extended education club, serving at the Bend United Methodist church, and spending time with extended family and friends.
Mary Jane will be remembered for her kindness to all, especially children, infectious laughter, sparkling eyes, exquisite sense of humor, enjoyment of sunsets and moon rises, and her care for wildlife and flowers.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Allen Michael Dennis, her brothers W.L., Pat, and Wade DuBose, nephew Leslie DuBose, brothers in-law C.R. Simmons, William Chambers, and Bob Dennis, and sisters in-law Kitty DuBose and Betty Lou Dennis Heath. She is survived by her loving husband, George Dennis, daughter Shannon Dennis (Sydney Minnerly), sister Rena Simmons, sisters in-law Bobbie DuBose and Carolyn Pickett, daughter in-law Nila Stricker, grandsons Christopher (Larina) Dennis and Matthew (Tina) Dennis and great-granddaughter Gwendolyn Rose and her wonderful nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at the Blaylock Funeral Home, Sunday, May 17th 2p-4p and services will be held at the Blaylock Funeral Home, Monday, May 18th at 2p with internment to follow at Colony Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to Bend United Methodist Church, Colony Cemetery Association, or San Saba Friends of Animals.

Raymond Vara, Jr.

Raymond Vara, Jr., a lifelong resident of Von Ormy, Texas, passed away on May 16, 2026, at the age of 74.
Born on August 13, 1951 in San Antonio, Texas to Ramon Flores Vara, and Eloisa Garza Vara. A dedicated accountant by profession, he was respected for his diligence, integrity, and thoughtful nature throughout his career. In recent years he was Office Manager at the Martinez de Vara Law Firm in Von Ormy, Texas.
Raymond graduated from Southwest High School and later earned his degree in accountancy from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he was a passionate vexillologist whose fascination with flags reflected his lifelong appreciation for history, culture, and identity. He was also a proud Texan who cherished the traditions and spirit of his home state. He was a jalapeno farmer alongside his father. He was a photography enthusiast with his own personal dark room and learned the art of developing photographs himself. He was always the photographer for family events through the years. He was an animal lover with a big heart. In high school he played the drums and loved all types of music throughout his life.
Raymond valued family, learning, and meaningful conversation. Though he never married, he remained devoted to those closest to him and took great pride in the lives and accomplishments of his family.
He is survived by his sister, Sally Ann Martinez; his niece, Stephanie Brady, and her family, J.D. Brady, Nikita Raylene Brady, Ezra Joshua Brady, and Gavin Ray Brady; his nephew, Art Martinez de Vara and his family, Marina Martinez de Vara, Rebecca Ann Martinez de Vara and Arturo Iñaki Martinez de Vara; his nephew, Jason Sanchez and family; and his niece, Patricia Sanchez.
He was preceded in death by parents, Ramon Flores Vara, and Eloisa Garza Vara, his brother Ricardo Vara, his sister, Elida Dolores Sanchez, brother-in-law, Robert Sanchez, and brother- in-law, Arturo Martinez.
Funeral Services will be held at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Von Ormy, Texas on Friday, May 22, 2026 as follows: 9:00am Visitation for family and friends to gather and visit, 10:00am Rosary, 11:00am Mass will be celebrated with burial to follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Somerset, Texas
Raymond Vara, Jr. will be remembered for his intelligence, independence, love of Texas, and enduring devotion to family and lifelong passions. His memory will remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Carolyn Beth Korczynski

Carolyn Beth Korczynski, 80, of Beeville, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2026.
Beth was born on August 27, 1945, in Beeville to Milton and Ora Uhlig. She spent her life rooted in the community she loved and devoted herself wholeheartedly to her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched through her kindness and compassion.
She worked for many years as a teacher aide, where she was known for her patience, caring nature, and dedication to helping children. Beth had a gentle spirit and a warm presence that made others feel welcomed and loved.
Beth enjoyed antiquing, reading, and cooking for her family. She especially cherished spending time on the front porch visiting with loved ones and enjoying life’s quiet moments. More than anything, Beth treasured the time she spent with her family, creating memories with her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Joe Korczynski; her children, Lynn (Barrlynn) West, Wes (Rhonda) Korczynski, Matt (Rhonda) Korczynski, and Will (Stacy) Korczynski; eight grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Milton and Ora Uhlig; her grandson, Mathew Korczynski; and her cousin who was like a brother to her, Robert Ford.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Galloway & Sons Funeral Home, followed by a Rosary to be recited at 12:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The funeral service will follow at 1 o’ clock.
Burial will follow at Clareville Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Wes Korczynski, Matt Korczynski, Will Korczynski, Barrlynn West, Max Korczynski, Joey Korczynski, Josh Korczynski and Tyler Korczynski.
Beth will be remembered for her loving heart, her devotion to family, and the kindness she shared with everyone she met.

Kathleen Chant Barber

Kathleen Chant Barber, often called Kathie by friends and “Kakee” by her family, passed away on May 16, 2026, leaving behind a rich life of faith and love dedicated to God, family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband Neil Wayne Barber, her parents Ray and Connie Dee Chant, her sister Connie Richey, and her brother Lonnie Chant. She is survived by her daughter Suzanne Simons and son-in-law Jim, her son Dennis Barber and daughter-in-law Christina, her son Matt Barber and daughter-in-law Jalyn, and her sister Janice, along with 6 grandchildren (Coy, Demarise, Ryan, Kalyn, Ben and Matthew) and 5 great grandchildren (Kade, Ezra, Granger, Waylen, and Carter) plus beloved nieces and nephews.
For over 36 years throughout their married life, Wayne and Kathie Barber owned a number of small businesses in Devine and Natalia where Kathie served as bookkeeper and partner in life and business. A visit to Kathie’s Divine Collections shop was a real treat for lovers of fine china, crystal and home decorations. Kathie was also an expert antique dealer and always in the hunt for treasures.
Known for her style both in fashion and especially interior design, Kathie had a true flare. Starting as president of the Natalia High School Homemakers Association in 1958 to restoring a 1906 Craftsman home to decorating her charming home in the Sun City retirement community of Georgetown, Texas, Kathie created welcoming beauty wherever she was. Kathie was one of a kind and when you walked into her home you immediately felt design, love of family and the presence of a Christian woman.
Kathie made friends everywhere she went and she kept her friendships over the years she knew you, many since first grade. As her friend, Kathie cared about you, celebrating your high points and helping you through your low points. Affectionately called “Kathie Ann” (after Ann Landers advice column), she was quick to serve up Christian love and Southern advice.
Family and friends are welcome to come together to honor Kathie Barber’s life at Primrose Funeral Services in Devine, Texas. Visitation to be held May 26, 2026 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm and funeral service on May 27, 2026 at 10:00am. Interment at Evergreen Cemetery in Devine, Texas immediately after funeral service.

THANK YOU: What a season for Devine Soccer Club!

Devine SC U12/U13 Fierce Wolves 1st Place Gold Champions. Top row (left to right) Coach Jose Garcia, Alonso Lopez, Nicholas Garcia, Avriana DeLaO, Lennox Weaver, Joshua Gutierrez, Victoria Granados Garcia. Bottom row: Pierce Limon, Darrion Kendrick, Ezra Hernandez, Francisco Limon, Samuel Marquez, Shaun Guardiola, Michael Morales.

From growth and development to medals and trophies, our players showed what hard work, heart, and dedication can accomplish.
6 Teams
5 Medals
2 First Place Trophies
A huge congratulations to our champions:
U12/U13 Fierce Wolves – 1st Place
U8/U9 Timberwolves – 1st Place
And congratulations to the U8/U9 Fighting Wolves for battling hard and earning 3rd Place!
Every team this season represented Devine Soccer Club with pride, passion, and determination. The growth we saw on the field—from teamwork and communication to confidence and effort—was incredible to watch.
To our players: thank you for giving it your all every single game and training session. Your hard work paid off.
To our coaches and volunteers: thank you for your time, energy, and commitment to helping these players grow.
And to our parents and families: THANK YOU for the endless support, trust, sacrifices, and encouragement throughout the season. None of this happens without you.
This club continues to grow because of the commitment, character, confidence, and community that each of you bring to Devine Soccer Club. The future is bright for DSC!
Thank you,
Pablo Carmona 
Devine Soccer Club 
210-885-1451
admin@devinesc.org 

Devine SC U8/U9 Timber Wolves 1st Place Gold Champions. Pictured Top row (left to right): Coach Nathan Jimenez, Gael Santiago Valenzuela, Bryan Camacho Ramos, Noah Flores, Sophia Flores and Coach Enrique Flores. Bottom row: Ella Jimenez, Jaime Beltran, Demi Kendrick.

DHS puts the wraps on’26 at UIL State Track Meet

Warhorses Ryan Weinkam, Mikey Rodriguez, Rowdy Esparza, Zach Guerra and alternate Alex Garcia competed at the State Track and Field meet in Austin. They participated in the 4×400 relay race and came in 9th place with a time of 3:21.71. Photo from Diana Ruiz.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
For a small town, moments like these carry a little extra meaning. On May 14 at the UIL State Track and Field Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium, Devine was represented proudly as Rowdy Esparza, Karter Brown, Bo Wheeler, Rylie Wells, Zach Guerra, Ryan Weinkam, Mikey Rodriguez, and alternate Alex Garcia-Castillo achieved something many high school athletes only dream about as they competed on the biggest stage Texas high school track and field has to offer.
Earning a trip to Austin is never accidental. It takes months of early mornings or late evenings training on their own, long practices, sore muscles, and unwavering commitment. For these Warhorses and Arabian, the journey reflected not only athletic ability, but also resilience, teamwork, and belief in themselves. From district competition all the way through the regional meet, Devine’s athletes continued to rise to the challenge and proved they belonged among the state’s best as many set school records along the way.
While medals and times are often what people remember most, the experience of reaching the state meet is something far greater. Walking into the atmosphere of the UIL State Championships and competing against elite athletes from across Texas is a memory that will stay with these young student-athletes forever as just earning the right to step onto that track places them in rare company.
The performances in Austin also reflected the strength of an entire community. Behind every athlete stood supportive families, dedicated coaches, teammates, teachers, and fans who helped make the journey possible. Devine has long taken pride in athletes who compete with heart and represent their town the right way, and this group did exactly that throughout the season.
Rowdy, Karter, Bo, Riley, Zach, Ryan, Mikey, and Alex represented Devine with class, determination, and pride and poured their heart and souls into giving Warhorse and Arabian fans a reason to cheer all the way through the final race of 2026…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Warhorse Karter Brown participated in the State Track and Field meet last week in Austin. Brown competed in the Shot Put event and placed eighth overall. Photo from Alison Brown.

Arabian Riley Wells participated at the State Track and Field meet in Austin last week. Wells competed in the Triple Jump event where she placed 9th overall. Photo by Pamela Wells.

Pirates have strong showing at State Track and Field Meet in Austin

Pirates Jewell Hicks (left) and Sebastian Garcia (right) competed at the State Track and Field meet. Hicks took home fourth place in 400m dash with a time of 49.90. Garcia ranked eighth in the 800m run with a time of 1:57.86. Photo by Jewell Hicks Sr.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Lytle Pirate runners Jewell Hicks, Jacob Cantu, and Sebastian Garcia earned the right to compete at the UIL State Track and Field Meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin after their outstanding performances at Regional just a couple of weeks ago. As hundreds of athletes hit the track over the weekend showcasing some of the best athletes in Texas, the Lytle Pirates proved they belonged among the elite.
Competing against the top runners in the state, the Pirates delivered memorable performances and represented their school and community with determination, toughness, and honor on the biggest stage high school track has to offer.
Together, Cantu, Hicks, and Garcia gave Pirate fans plenty to celebrate and added another memorable chapter to Lytle’s proud track and field tradition which has now made numerous State appearances over the last few decades…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Pirates sets sail forfinal time this season

Lytle Pirate Toby Davila led the team in the following categories in his senior season: Stolen bases (20), runs (58), and triples (6). Photo by Moose Lopez.

Matthew “Moose” Lopez
Sports Editor
The Lytle Pirates’ historic season comes to an end in Kenedy after falling to the Orange Grove Bulldogs in two games. Despite the series only lasting two games, the fight and effort put on by both teams is undeniable.
Game one was where all the drama took center stage. Head coach Bryan Bippert said the first game had everything you could ask for as a baseball fan.
“We saw a great pitching performances from both teams, especially Devin Cordova. We turned in two double plays.  Weston Jackson’s catch in centerfield was one of the best catches I have ever seen,” Bippert said. “We had a ton of quality at-bats including clutch hits from Devin and Seth Pierce. Good bunting from both teams. Controversial calls and the crowd jeering.”
The pinnacle of the game came from the clutch three-run homerun from Mason Hill to put the Pirates ahead going into the last inning.
However, the Bulldogs miraculously rallied and scored five runs in the final frame to take the lead and game 8-9.
Bippert lamented the team’s missed opportunity, having been three outs away from a win.
“It makes me sick to my stomach,” Bippert admitted. “It was difficult to deal with…we had won all our previous 18 games.”
Game two was a much more straight forward victory for the Bulldogs. Bippert gave credit to Orange Grove’s pitcher Leelan Rodriguez for his performance, coupled with clutch and timely hitting, Lytle found themselves playing from behind all game. The Pirates would fall 6-1.
This Pirates squad will be forever etched as one of the most successful teams in the program’s history, finishing the season with an overall record of 27-8-1 and undefeated in district play at 10-0. The 27 wins are the most ever in the history of the school since starting the program in 1981. This Pirates squad also set a record for most consecutive wins at 18 in a row.
To be able to execute at high level like this requires not just skill, but consistency, grit and experience. This dugout consisted of seven seniors, five(Devin Cordova, Toby Davila, Damien Barco, Juan Patlan and Travis Norton) of which have been with the program since their freshmen year. Along with juniors Mason Hill and Weston Jackson, who have also been playing since their freshman year, Bippert described this mix of seasoned veterans as a “recipe for success.”
“These guys know each other well.  They know the importance of the little things in this game.  We have leaders by example and we have vocal leaders,” Bippert said. “Both held everyone accountable all season long and helped us to compete at a very high level for a long time.”
Looking ahead, Bippert assured that this 2026 team has raised the bar for all the young players in the program. They have proven what is possible for Lytle and the legacy they leave behind will continue to propel the Pirates’ baseball program for years to come.
The departing seniors consist of Devin Cordova, Toby Davila, Damien Barco, Juan Patlan, Travis Norton, Lee Mills and Chase Guevara. This group earned four District championships, four Bi-District championships and two Area championships throughout their careers.  No other baseball class has accomplished this.
Devin Cordova, Toby Davila, Damien Barco, Juan Patlan and Travis Norton are four-year lettermen that started at their positions for their entire high school careers.
“Thank you to all of our fans for your tremendous support throughout this season,” Bippert said.  “We are extremely proud of our accomplishments. We know that we are not perfect, but we hope that we have represented our school with pride and class.”…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!