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May 17, 1919 - March 18, 2007
Siegfried Backhaus, 87, went peacefully to be with his Lord on Sunday, March 18, 2007, after a very short illness. He was born on May 17, 1919 in Sharp to Ernest Gus and Margaret (Wastermann) Backhaus. He was raised in Sharp and moved to Rockdale in 1946 after returning from WWII. He began working for Louis Gest Chevrolet in Rockdale. In 1950, he opened Backhaus Cleaners until he retired in 1984. He married Helen Janet Gamble on September 5, 1940 in Cameron.
Rev. John Warren conducted funeral services at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Rockdale. Burial was in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Pallbearers were Paul Backhaus, Ken Korthauer, Ronnie Gamble, Travis Rothwell, Jeff Byrd, Jacob Backhaus, Collin Korthauer, Lance Gamble, Colten Lusson and Brian Lusson.
Mr. Backhaus is survived by his wife, Helen, of Rockdale, son, John Backhaus and wife Sue of Austin, brother, Wilhelm Backhaus and wife Artie of Rockdale, sister-in-law, Edie Odell Korthauer and grandchildren, Kaithlyn Marie and Jacob Paul Backhaus. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
Mr. Backhaus was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church. He was a graduate of Sharp High School and a veteran of WWII, serving in the US Army campaigns with the 45th Artillery in Africa, Sicily, Italy and Germany. He was a former member of the Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department and Rockdale Masonic Lodge.
September 6, 1929 –March 24, 2007
Darrie Ray Gray, 77 of Rockdale, died on March 24, 2007 at Richards memorial Hospital in Rockdale. A graveside service was held at the Sandy Creek Cemetery on March 26, 2007 with Rev. Dave Gunnella of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Rockdale officiating.
Mr. Gray was born on September 6, 1929 at the family home in the Sandy Creek Community to the late Darwin Stanley and Luttie (Bounds) Gray. He worked as a fence builder for H.H. Coffield and was a rancher. His parents, brother Archie Gray and sister, Dorothy Callaway preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia, of Rockdale, sons, Edgar and Billy Gray, both of Rockdale and his half-brother, Marvin Gray of Rockdale.
July 27, 1916 - March 19, 2007
Mrs. Howey was born on July 27, 1916 in Elgin to Albert and Katie Shaefer Wolf. She and Henry Christiansen were married on September 16, 1934. Following his death in 1948, she married Pete Howey in January 1967. He preceded her in death in 1975. Her parents, infant daughter, son, Henry Christiansen, Jr., grandson, Terry Steglich, brother, Roland Wolf and sister Lela Karcher also preceded her in death.
She is survived by 6 children: Shirley and Otis Marburger of Paige, Albert Christiansen of Houston, Carolyn and Eddie Symmank of Houston, Delores and James Steglich of Smithville, Patrick Christiansen of Canyon Lake and Patsy and Jerry Steglich of Giddings; 11 grandchildren: Howard and Amy Marburger of Boerne, Bruce and Kathleen Marburger of Austin, Randall and Kathy Marburger of Austin, Mark Christiansen of Conroe, Sheila Goselin of Conroe, Kathryn and Ross Friedrichs of Houston, Carol and Robert Kennedy of The Woodlands, Charlie and Susan Symmank of Houston, Cherie Garcia of Giddings, Timothy Steglich of Giddings and Jarron Steglich of Giddings; 20 great grandchildren, 1 great great granddaughter; sister, Loucille Wolf of Austin, special niece, Vernell Cruemoke of Giddings and 2 sisters-in-law: Hattie Christiansen of Giddings and Erna Mae Wolf of Giddings.
Mrs. Howey enjoyed quilting and making afghans. She also enjoyed playing cards, canasta and dominoes. She was an active member of Martin Luther Lutheran Church where she had served on the Stewardship Committee and was a member of the WELCA Group.
Memorials may be made to the Capital Improvement Fund at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Giddings or to the Brazos Valley Hospice.
March 20, 2007
Thomas W. Jones, 81, stepped into the presence of the Lord he loved at 8:27am, March 20, the first day of spring. Tom was born in Austin, Texas, graduated from Lufkin High, and attended UT. He served his country as a Combat Infantryman Scout in WWII with the 3rd Battalion, 409th Infantry in Europe. In 1986 Tom retired from IBM after 35 years of service in the Houston area. He enjoyed serving people in the community through his church, missions, and the Star of Hope.
He is survived by his faithful and loving wife of 60 years, Leona D. Jones and 5 children, 9 nine grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, and one sister.
A memorial service will be held at Crossroads Baptist Church in the Woodlands on Friday, March 23, at 11am. Graveside services will be held at 4pm at the Giddings, Texas Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the American Cancer Society.
February 25, 2007 - March 20, 2007
Tessa Rose Pollard, infant daughter of Richard Alan and Terrie Lynn Canida Pollard, passed away on March 20, 2007 in the Memorial Medical Center of East Texas in Lufkin. Rev. Robert Tiner conducted the funeral service on March 24, 2007 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings. Burial was in the Giddings City Cemetery. Darald Berger, David Berger, Michael Gray and Daniel Gray served as pallbearers.
Tessa was born on February 25, 2007 in Nacogdoches. She was preceded in death by her great grandfathers.
She is survived by her parents, Richard and Terrie Pollard of Lufkin, grandparent: Norma Gray of Wichita Falls, Terry Canida of Tennessee, Bruce Pollard and Maureene Curtis of England; great grandparents: Norman and Mildred Berger of Giddings, Mebel Waters of England and Mary Pollard of New Zealand; God-Parents: Darald and Rebecca Berger of Round Rock and David Berger of Giddings; uncles: Daniel Gray and Michael Gray of Giddings and Nicholas Pollard of England.
Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
August 10, 1960 – March 16, 2007
Frank Douglas (Doug) Ray, 46 of Lexington, passed away on March 16, 2007 at Brackenridge Hospital.
Doug was born on August 10, 1960 in Rockdale, Texas to James and Ellen Ray. He was preceded in death by his father, James and brother, James Ward.
He is survived by two sons, Colton Ray and Brandon Marshall of Lexington, mother Ellen Ray of Lexington, two brothers Alan Ray and wife Vicki of Lovelady and Jesse Ray and wife Tammy of Lexington, sister Marsha Griffith and husband Greg of Arkansas and numerous nieces and nephews.
Doug’s generous spirit and memory will continue to live on through his organ donations.
A Memorial Celebration will be held at 10:30 Wednesday, April 4th at First Christian Church, Lexington. Interment will follow at Memorial Garden Park, IH-35, Pflugerville, Texas where Doug will rest near his father.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made payable to Ellen Ray. Proceeds will be placed in trust for the education of his children.
March 3, 1940 - March 16, 2007
Floyd Rivers, 67, of Rockdale, died on March 16, 2007 at Hearne Health Care Nursing Home in Hearne. Rev. James Davis of Rising Star Baptist Church in Rockdale conducted graveside services on March 22, 2007 in the Oak Lawn Cemetery in Rockdale.
Floyd was born on March 3, 1940 in Lee County to Mary Thornton. He worked as a laborer in the oil fields. He married Lula Mae Coulter on March 3, 1971 in Rockdale. His parents preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Lula Mae of Rockdale, daughter, Lisa Rivers also of Rockdale, brother, George Rivers of Waco and four grandchildren.
January 6, 1938 - March 19, 2007
Barbara Ann Tyler, 69, of Patagonia, AZ, died at her home on March 19, 2007 following a lengthy illness. The funeral service was March 25, 2007 at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale, followed by burial in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Pallbearers were Rick Tyler, Jason Tyler, Clay Tyler, Donnie Laurence, Jr., Chad Chmelar and Tim Rau.
Ms. Tyler was born in Cameron on January 6, 1938 to Henry and Judy (Armstrong) Tyler. She was a resident of Canada over 35 years, becoming a naturalized Canadian. She was the Executive Director and CEO of McMichael Canadian Art Collection Gallery in Kleinbert, Ontario form 1986 until her retirement in 2000. Her parents preceded her in death.
She is survived by her brother, Rick Tyler and wife Jody of Longview, sisters: Lynne Laurence and husband Donnie of Kerrville and Patsy Chmelar and husband Glen of College Station. She is also survived by 7 nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
Ms. Tyler received her Masters Degree in American History from Texas Christian University. She first worked at the Amon Carter Museum of Western Art in Ft. Worth, then moved to Canada in 1969 where she worked for Parks Canada in the Historic Sites Planning Department. She was Director of Communications and then Director of Public Programs at the National Museum of Man in Ottawa. In 1979 she became Director of Policy, Planning and Evaluation for the National Museums Corp, Assistant Director of Programs for the Glenbow-Alberta Institute in Calgary and then to McMichaels Gallery. In 1995, she was named a Fellow of the Canadian Museums Assn., a lifetime honor held by only 25 people at any given time.
Memorials may be made to the Barbara Tyler Award on Museum Leadership to the Canadian Museums Association, 280 Metcalfe St., Ottawa K2P 1R7