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July 19, 1950 – February 13, 2007
Tom Potter, 56, of Paige died at his home on February 13, 2007. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Paul Ecker and Artie and Brenda Huss at First Assembly of God in Giddings. Burial was in the Giddings City Cemetery. Pallbearers were Ray Radcliff, Kenneth Little, Jerry Smith, Robert Hill, Stan De Gerolami and Bob Holder.
Mr. Potter was born in Dallas on July 19, 1950 to Charles Elmer and Lucille Carrabba Potter. He and Maxine “Lou” Bale were married on August 8, 1969. He was best known for his work as a therapist for the Texas Youth Commission in Giddings, the owner of Bugs are Gone since 1984. He was an ordained minister for the Assemblies of God for 28 years. Mr. and Mrs. Potter were instrumental in starting the Gospel quartet called the Lamp Lighters. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers: Charles and Samuel Potter.
Surviving family members are his wife, Lou of Paige; son, Ricky and Candy Potter of Giddings; daughters: Tina and Chris Smith of Mesquite and Mary and Scott Gresham of Schulenberg; grandson, Christopher Smith of Mesquite; granddaughters: Kayden Potter of Giddings and Kerri Gresham of Schulenberg; great niece, Samantha Potter of Mesquite and great nephews: Charles Anthony Potter of Mesquite, Samuel Anthony Potter II of Royse City, Texas and Joshua Lee Potter of Royse City, Texas.
Some of Tom’s favorite things to do were fishing, working and taking care of his cattle and trees, and he loved driving his tractor. Some people say that he was a city boy turned rancher. The Lord blessed him with the gift of music. He was one who could pick up an instrument for the first time and play it successfully. His wife referred to his being God taught, as he never took any formal lessons.
Memorials may be made in Tom’s name to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association.
February 8, 1942 – February 13, 2007
Johnny Overall, 65, died on February 13, 2007 at his home near Cameron. Funeral services were February 16 at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale. Burial was in the Liberty Cemetery near Milano. Bert Graham of Liberty Community Church officiated. Pallbearers were Heath Davidson, Randy Coldiron, Larry Bartlett, Harry Jordan, Bennie Jones, Craig Debault, and Shorty Blake. Honorary pallbearers were Wayne Jones and J.D. Overall.
Johnny was born on February 8, 1942 in Jefferson, Texas to B.L. and Madie (Frazier) Overall. He married Pat Miller in Conroe, Texas on September 1, 1961. He owned and operated a welding business. His parents and a brother, Kirby Overall preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Pat of Cameron, son, John David Overall of Bryan; daughters: Leslie Davidson and husband Lloyd of Rockdale and Susan Blake and husband Carl of Milano; 7 grandchildren: Amanda Weaver, Jenna Overall, Emily Overall, Megan Davidson, Heath Davidson, Weston Rose and Cashlyn Blake and 2 great grandchildren: Hayden Weaver and Layne Ferrell; brother, Donald Overall of Cameron and sister, Patricia Boyd of Henderson.
He loved to go boating and fishing with the grandchildren and loved to garden. Memorials may be made to Vista Care Hospice, 2727B South 37th Street, Temple, Texas 76504.
September 14, 1929 - February 18, 2007
Opal Marie Praesel, 77, of Rockdale, passed away on Sunday, February 18, 2007 at her home in Rockdale. She was born on September 14, 1929 to Lewis Lee and Ruby (Hamby) Willard in the Black Jack Community in Burleson County. She married Henry A. Praesel on February 26, 1944 in Caldwell and was a homemaker all her life.
She was a member of the Full Gospel Church in Rockdale and enjoyed quilting, sewing and canning. She also loved fishing and camping.
Opal was preceded in death by her parents and one son, Larry Praesel. She is survived by her husband, Henry A. Praesel of Rockdale; sons Dwight A. Praesel and wife Melanie of Caldwell, Craig Alan Praesel and wife Catherine of Rockdale and Keith John Praesel of Rockdale; daughter Cindy Sue Matthews and husband David of Rockdale; step-mother Katherine Willard of Caldwell; brother Lewis L. Willard, Jr. of Lake Jackson; grandchildren Eric Matthews, David Matthews, Cody Praesel, Dena Praesel, Amanda Matthews, Chance Praesel, Caitlin Praesel and Caleb Praesel; great-grandchildren Jacob Matthews, Abigail Matthews, Gideon Matthews, Brandy Matthews and Austin Matthews; and nieces Kathy Dyson of Lake Jackson, Debbie McCrumb and Bonnie Cambiano, both of Austin.
The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at the Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale at 2 p.m. Burial will be in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Rockdale. The Reverend Doug Springer of the Full Gospel Church will preside.
November 15, 1965 – February 4, 2007
Jarvis Johnson, 41, of Lexington died on February 4, 2007 in Lexington. The funeral service was conducted at The Bateman Center in Giddings on Sunday, February 11, 2007 with Prophet Vernon D. Heslep officiating. Burial was in the Leo Cemetery near Lexington.
Jarvis was born in Bryan on November 15, 1965 to Oliver Belton Johnson and Hazel (Hollie) Johnson. He was a 1984 graduate of Lexington High School and worked as a lineman. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, 1 brother, 1 nephew and 1 niece.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann (Morgan) Johnson, parents; daughters: Carissa Johnson of San Marcos and Jericka Johnson of San Antonio; sons: Christopher Johnson of Lincoln, Billy Turner of Halstom City, and Jason Johnson of Tomball; sisters: Bridgette and Miriam Johnson both of Round Rock, Shelia Johnson of Bryan, Wanda Simms of Garland; brothers: Samuel Johnson of Austin, Terrence and wife Kalissa Johnson of Hutto, Oliver J. and wife Ursula Johnson, III of Minneapolis, MN; Larry Johnson of Bryan and Earl and wife Christena Johnson of Bryan and sister-in-law, Brenda Johnson of Bryan.
March 18, 1953 – February 14, 2007
Lois Ann Richter, 53, of Giddings passed away on February 14, 2007 in the Seton Hospital in Austin. The funeral service was held at First United Methodist Church in Giddings on February 17, 2007. Burial was in the Lexington Cemetery in Lexington. Rev. Gail Harrelson of St. Matthews Methodist in Houston and Rev. David Davidson of First United Methodist in Giddings officiated. Pallbearers were David Graham, Randy Burns, Craig Newman, Wilfred Crenweige, Jo Wilson, Pat Bricker, Ken Eberspeicher and Ron Graham. Honorary pallbearers were Jim Newman and Fred Hannes.
Lois was born on March 18, 1953 in Alpine, Texas to James Vernon and Martha Annie Inez (Delson) Bricker. She worked as an immigration specialist at Applied Materials. Her parents preceded her in death.
She is survived by her sons, Clayton Richter and wife Kristi of Cypress and James Richter and wife Christie also of Cypress; grandchildren: Chase Richter, Grant Richter, Morgan Richter and Sydney Richter; brother Joe Bricker and wife Katharine of Lexington and sisters: Earline Burns of Taylor, Verna Dawson and husband Tommy of Midland, Juanita Graham and husband David of Boerne, and Margaret Newman and husband Jim of Lexington.
February 21, 1930 – February 9, 2007
Wallace Shalander,76, passed away on February 9, 2007 at his home in the Mt. Zion Community. Rev. Ronnie Dyer conducted the funeral service at Mt. Zion Baptist Church followed by burial in the Mt. Zion Cemetery. Pallbearers were R.D. Jenkins, Bobby Jenkins, Clifford Whiteley, Jack Yount, Albert Weller, and Lloyd Reeves.
Mr. Shelander was born on February 21, 1930 in Rockdale and was a life long resident of the Mt. Zion Community. He married Billie Ruth Denman on May 24, 1953 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. He was cattle operations foreman for TU Electric for 33 years and 11 years prior with Lazy Y. His granddaughter, Jessica Lynn Brogger, and his parents preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth of Mt. Zion Community, sons: Conley Shelander and wife Brenda of Fort Lupton, CO, Wesley Shelander and wife Judy of Mt. Zion Community and Luther Shelander and wife Dyan also of Mt. Zion; daughter, Collie Terry and husband Bob of Cameron; brother, J.C. Shelander of Smyrna, GA, and sisters: Gladys Cash of San Angelo, Frankie L. Cash of Sanderson and Mary Nell Naumann of Austin. Fourteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren also survive.
He was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school, was the Sunday School Superintendent, Chairman of the Mt. Zion Cemetery Committee and served in a number of other capacities in the church. He was a veteran of the US Navy and a charter member of the Rockdale Roping and Cutting Club.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 3739 FM 1712, Rockdale, TX 76567 or Fourway Baptist Church, 9966 CR 41, Fort Lupton, CO 80621.
November 7, 1963 – February 17, 2007
Virginia Leonard Taylor, 42, of Dime Box, died Saturday, February 17, 2007, in Austin.
Mrs. Taylor was born November 7, 1963 in Freeport, Texas, the daughter of Noel and Mary Highland Leonard. She attended the Freeport area schools. Mrs. Taylor was a member of the Baptist faith.
On December 29, 1990, she married David Charles Taylor in Nursery, Texas. Virginia was a homemaker. She loved to work with her computer, take pictures and play “Spades”. She loved children.
Survivors include her husband, David Charles Taylor of Dime Box, daughters Angel Shriver of Ft. Jackson, S.C., Dawn Leonard, Breanna Taylor and Tabitha Taylor, all of Dime Box; two sisters, Patricia Sullivan of LaFeria and Elizabeth Sullivan of Harlingen; two grandchildren, Dakota and Devin Shriver of Ft. Jackson, S.C., and her mother and step-father, Mary and Daniel Hickerson.
She is preceded in death by her father, Noel Leonard; two brothers Stanley and Mark Leonard; and a grandson, Tillman Shriver.
The funeral service is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at Harmony Baptist Church located on Hwy. 36 South in Caldwell. Burial will follow at 3:00 p.m. in Victoria, Texas in Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be T.J. Strickland, Cody Hopkins, David Hopkins, John Dixon, Matthew Tuttle, Clayton Waits, Leroy Sullivan, Jr. and Jamie Charles Taylor.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell.