Betty Jean Stowe, age 81 of Cleveland, Texas, passed away Friday, January 13, 2017.  She was born July 29, 1935 in Nacogdoches, Texas to parents Bill and Betty Eason who preceded her in death along with her husband, Lloyd Stowe; and son, Billy Dean Spears.

Survivors include her son, Jimmy Spears; daughter, Betty Sue Gates and husband Jerry; sisters, Bobby Jean Kyle and Ima Jean Shaver; grandchildren, Jimmy Lee Spears, Shaun Ashley Spears, Lisa Marie Green, Kimberly Ann McGough, Thomas Dean, Robert Ramirez, Ritchie Ramirez, Tammy Ramirez and Chelsea Niermann; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Monday, January 16, 2017 at Pace Stancil Funeral Home, Cleveland, Texas. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at Pace Stancil Chapel, Cleveland, Texas. Interment will follow at Morgan Cemetery, Cleveland, Texas.

PACE-STANCIL FUNERAL HOME

303 E. CROCKETT

CLEVELAND, TEXAS

281-592-2641

Patsy Barker Dillon passed away on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at the age of 80.

Patsy was born to Bertha and Frank Barker in Nacogdoches, Texas on October 11, 1936. She graduated Nacogdoches High School and attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where she met and married her husband of 58 years, Jack Lee Dillon.

Patsy is survived by son, John Frank “Matt” Dillon and wife Cindy; daughter, Jackie Lynn Dillon Ward; granddaughter Brooke Nicole Dillon; grandsons Christopher Dillon, Jason Ward and wife Leah, and Logan Ward and wife Emily. Great grandsons Zachary Dillon, Dillon McCellon, Layne Oakley Ward, Jackson Edward Ward, Rhett Allen Ward and great granddaughter Mae Orene Ward. Her sister Mojie Weise Skelton.

She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Bertha Barker, step mother Violet Brewer Barker, husband, Jack Lee Dillon, and great grandson Marshall Oren Ward.

Ned Vernon Alexander

Sunrise: May 12, 1935                                                                    Sunset: December 25, 2016

          Ned was born on a crisp and beautiful spring afternoon on May 12, 1935. He grew up a precocious young lad in an all-male family in the deep Pineywoods of Lufkin, Texas. Those who knew Ned well during his lifetime would tell you he loved to live life to its fullest. His life story affirms that this he did. Eighty-one years later on December 25^th, Ned died while holding the hand of his beloved granddaughter. Upon his passing, she sang his favorite hymn as he was surrounded by the love of those he lived for and laughed with.

          The years 1954-55 were remarkable in memory. He graduated from Hudson High School, married his childhood sweetheart, moved to Houston and enrolled at the University of Houston, armed only with dreams, devotion and dedication.

          Following a family trait he sought and was employed in the transportation industry. He was hired as a dock worked by McLean Transportation Company. With time, he advanced to other positions—warehouse chief, dispatcher and finally a full-fledge local driver. Because of the numerous and strong competitors involved, his company was elated when he won Houston’s Top Road-eo Driver. Following 30 years of service, he retired from McLean at age 50.

          Ned’s enduring faith, love of people and outgoing spirit allowed him to wear many hats, and they all fit well. Having served for years in the Church, his quest for deeper commitment was answered when he entered seminary to become a second-career pastor. He was finally answering God’s call in his life. His service in the Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church included pastorates in Durkee, Rose Garden, Shepherd and Goodrich churches. He retired from active ministry in 1997.

          He thoroughly enjoyed constructing a houseboat, driving moto boats, camping and water skiing, and these were but a few of his interests. For fifty-plus years, Ned was a member of the Masonic Lodge. During his residency in Humble, Ned was very involved in the Humble Methodist Church; served as President of the Forest Cove Civic Club; was active in the Lion’s Club, and supported any and all of the Humble I.S.D. activities. Later he focused on building a lake house on the shores of Lake Livingston. After retirement he relocated to Coldspring, Texas. He was active in his community and was elected as Mayor and served several terms as their leader. His primary focus however, remained serving God at the oldest church in Texas. Coldspring United Methodist Church.

Ned was preceded in death by his parents, Burtis and Midia Alexander, and his two brothers, Douglas and Edgar. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy continues in the hearts and souls of his loving and devoted daughter, Donna; grandchildren, Tianna and husband Matthew Hitchens; James Brandon Hall; Christina Rose Hall; great-grandchildren, Alexander Edward and Evelyn Rose Hitchens. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends also share in his loss.

          A memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 21^st of January at the First United Methodist Church, 800 Main St. in Humble, Texas. Officiants will be Reverends Jim Flagg, John Barfield, Audrey Mitchell, and David Green. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family and share their fondest memories during a reception to be held in the adjacent Fellowship Hall.

          In Ned’s honor, the family respectfully requests any remembrances be directed to the Coldspring United Methodist Church, One Cemetery Road, Coldspring, Texas 77331; First United Methodist Church, 800 Main Street, Humble, Texas 77338; or Autumn Grove Cottage, 5500 Atascocita Road, Humble, Texas 77346.

          The family will gather for a private interment at the Gann Memorial Cemetery, Lufkin, Texas, on Sunday afternoon, January 22, 2017.

          Even in death, Ned continues to give. He gave his grieving family peace in one of his favorite scriptures, John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you…Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid..” We find peace in our gratitude that God let us be loved by such a man for 81 years. We find peace in our memories of him, which encourage us to have the same faith, support, and love that he would have. We find peace in the knowledge that by his example and God’s promise, we will see him once again.

Frank Ross “Buddy” Bruscato passed away on January 9, 2017, at the age of 82. Frank was born to Vincent Charles Bruscato and Nina Scalia Bruscato on January 28, 1934. He grew up in Monroe, Louisiana and at an early age joined the Navy. Frank was stationed at Naval Submarine Base New London, in Groton Connecticut, where he was a Submarine Mechanic. After leaving the Navy, he enrolled at Louisiana Tech, and then moved to Houston, Texas, to attend the University of Houston. In 1976, he planted his roots among the tall pine trees of Coldspring, Texas, which has been home ever since.

Frank worked as a Petroleum Landman, and over the years he worked with Sinclair, Huber, Tenneco, Pacific Enterprises and Hunt Oil Company. Frank trained many landmen in his time and worked in the field before about 55 years before retiring in 2009. He was known to landman that he trained and worked with as the “World’s Greatest Landman”.

Frank was passionate and knowledgeable about sports cars. He loved both racing and fixing sports cars and had a shop full of “Garage Queens”. Frank also enjoyed relaxing while sailing during his down time.

Frank was an extraordinary husband, dad and grandfather and a loyal friend.

Frank was predeceased by both his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce McVay Bruscato and his children: Lydia Clare Bruscato, Marcia Bruscato-Poss and her husband, Jeff Poss, and Dianne Bruscato-Tyler, and her husband, Brad Tyler; and grandchildren: Pearl Poss, Audrey Tyler and Addisen Tyler; siblings: Bea Shelton, Mary Clare Davis, Charlotte Buford and Mark Bruscato and his wife, Connie Bruscato; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Kidney Foundation or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2017, from 5 pm to 8 pm, the funeral services will be held on Friday, January 13, 2017, from 2 pm at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, 14250 Hwy 150, Coldspring, Texas 77331, and the burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

Pace Stancil Funeral Home

14250 Hwy 150 W.

Coldspring, Texas 77331

John Edward Gillum, 71, passed away on January 3, 2017, in Dripping Springs, Texas following a courageous battle with cancer.

He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Sharon Gillum; his only son, Jon Gillum and wife Leah; his beloved grandchildren Grant and Nora Gillum; his sister, Dorothy Badgett and husband Donnie; his brother, Ron Gillum; his sister-in-law, Nicka Howard and husband Paul; numerous nieces and nephews, including Kimberly Diamond, Tiffany Bledsoe, and Roilyn Lentz; and many other cherished relatives and friends who called him “Johnny”.

Born in Goose Creek, Texas, the son of John Henry and Dantie Gillum, Johnny was a long-time resident of Baytown.  He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1963, attended Lee College, and served in the U.S. Army from 1966-1968 with a tour in Vietnam.  He met his wife, Sharon, at the El Capitan Theater in Pasadena, Texas, and they married in 1969 at Central Baptist Church in Baytown.  In 1968, Johnny began working at the Exxon Refinery in Baytown, from which he retired in 2000 after 32 years of service.  Their son, Jon, was born in 1975 and Johnny proudly saw him graduate from Ross S. Sterling High School, Rice University, the L.B.J. School of Public Affairs, and the University of Texas School of Law.

Johnny enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends.  In 2008 he and Sharon moved to the Texas hill country to be close to their son and grandchildren, who called him “Gramps”.  Once there, they enjoyed traveling with their family, including memorable trips to Alaska, Arizona, Wyoming, Florida, and California. 

A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Pace Stancil Funeral Home in Cleveland, Texas.  Graveside services will be held on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Farley Chapel Cemetery in Shepherd, Texas.