The Brownsville Herald - Online Edition OBITUARIES Obituaries, April 6, 2006 DIONICIA TORRES, 39, passed away on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at Methodist Hospital Medical Center-Houston. There will be no local services. Funeral services will be held at Funerarias Escobedo in Matamoros. Local arrangements are under Delta Funeral Directors, 1300 E. Harrison St., (956) 542-2222. MINERVA VILLARREAL, 45, of Port Isabel passed away on April 4, 2006 at her residence. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Port Isabel. Burial will follow at Port Isabel City Cemetery. Funeral arrangements under Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston Blvd., San Benito (956) 399-1331. MARGARITA G. OLIVARES Margarita G. Olivares, (Tia Mage) 81 years old entered into eternal rest at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville on April 4, 2006. She was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas on April 21, 1924. Her parents, Juan Olivares, Silvestra G. Terrell and stepfather, Charlie Mac Terrell; sisters, Rosa Maria Olivares and Elvia Maslock; three nephews, Juan Rodolfo Olivares, Andrew Maslock and Gilberto Moreno Jr., preceded her in death. She is survived by four brothers, Benito (Tina) Olivares, Rodolfo (Nena) Olivares, Manuel Rene Olivares and Juan (Mary) Olivares; two sisters, Gloria Lopez and Maria de Jesus (Gilberto) Moreno; from 28 nieces and nephews, she devoted her life to raising five; Robert (Maria Herlinda) Lopez, Rudy (Melissa) Lopez, Jerry (Tammy) Lopez, Sandra (David) Langley and Sylvia Lopez (Diane Greco). Tia Mage, (as everyone called her) truly enjoyed creating Easter eggs every year for her 41 grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. with recitation of the holy rosary at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at Garza Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2006 at Christ the King Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Pall bearers will be her nephews, Jerry Lopez, Rudy Lopez, Juan Olivares Jr., Salvador Zamora, Juan Blanco and David Langley. Honorary pallbearers will be, Robert O. Lopez, Sylvia Lopez and Ernesto Olivares. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Joe I. Treviño, Garza Memorial Funeral Home, 1025 E. Jackson St., (956) 54-5511. JOHN WESLEY "J.W." CULVER SR. John Wesley "J.W." Culver Sr., 78, passed away on April 4, 2006. He was born in Brunswick, Georgia on May 8, 1927 and was the son of George Franklin Culver and Nolia Spell Culver. J. W. was a member of the U. S. Army and served in WWII. He was a retired commercial fisherman of over 50 years. He met his wife Ninfa R. Culver in 1955. He settled in Brownsville, Texas where he raised his family and called it his home. He is preceded in death by his wife, Ninfa Rocha Culver; his parents, George and Nolia Culver; his brothers, Lester and Edward Culver; and his sister, Minnie Brown. He is survived by his sister, Edna Lockleer of Washington; six children, Frank (Elizabeth) Culver, George Franklin (Irene) Culver, John Wesley (Alma) Culver Jr., James Lucious (Mary Helen) Culver, Cynthia Lee (Jose Guevara) Culver, and Marian Iris (William Kingsbury) Culver; and 21 grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista. Visitations will resume from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2006 at Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista. A chapel service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2006. Committal service follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Frank Culver Jr., Stephen Lloyd Culver, James Lucious Culver Jr., Valerie Louise Culver, John Wesley Culver III, Georgina Renee Culver, Jose Guevara Jr., and Matthew Yamal Culver. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista, Cemeteries, Mausoleums, and Crematory, 125 McDavitt Blvd., Brownsville, Texas 78521 (956) 541-5400. VIRGINIA ROSE FELLOWS BURNS Virginia Rose Fellows Burns passed away peacefully in her sleep at her residence on April 4, 2006. She was born in Charleston, West Virginia on September 14, 1914. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert Fellows and Sally Nidy Fellows, and her husband, William Gilford Burns. Also preceding her were her brothers Garland Fellows and Shelburne Fellows, and sisters Flo Keller and Ivy Henderson. Surviving her are her sons, William A. Burns and Robert C. (Bobby) Burns; grandchildren, Vicky Brand (Jeff), Gregory Burns (Lori), Robert Burns (Denise), Bradley Burns (Kelly), and great-grandchildren, Tyler Brand, Violet Brand, Brandon Burns, Trevor Burns, Sydney Burns, Bailey Burns. Her sister Melbadene McDonald also survives her as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Virginia was the owner of Brownsville R.V Park and ran the family-owned property for forty-five years until a few months prior to her death. She took great pride in her excellent record-keeping skills for the business and could be seen regularly about the property in her trusty golf cart tending to her tenants with her faithful and loving companion Cody (the Yorkie) happily riding beside her. Virginia was well-traveled, having visited most of the United States, Canada, and Mexico on wonderful road trips throughout her lifetime. One of her many interests was history and she enjoyed reading about historical events, both past and present. Among her passions was growing beautiful plants and flowers, and she made the best oatmeal cookies ever. Special gratitude goes to Jose Oliva, her trusted and loyal groundskeeper and Uve Garcia, her housekeeper and helper for many years. Honoring her wishes, Virginia will be cremated and her ashes interred in Brownsville at a later date. A memorial service honoring her life will be held at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home on Saturday, April 8 at 2:00 p.m. NICOLAS I. PEREZ Nicolas I. Perez, 81, of Brownsville, entered into eternal rest on April 4, 2006 at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. He was born in Brownsville on December 6, 1924 to Juan G. and Francisca Infante Perez. He graduated from Brownsville High School and also from Southwest Texas State Teachers College with a degree in Business Administration. He retired from the accounting firm of Haskins and Sells in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Nick was the oldest of 11 siblings and a super role model. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Aguileo Sr., Rosendo, Juan and Alfredo Perez; and by a sister, Oralia Perez Eriksen. He is survived by his siblings, Alejandro (Minerva) Perez, Amalio (Lupita) Perez, of Brownsville, Abelardo (Carol) Perez of Mclean, Va., Enrique Perez, and Frances (Richard) Baldwin; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m today, Thursday, April 6, in the Darling-Mouser Chapel. A chapel service will be held at 1 p.m., tomorrow, Friday, April 7, with burial to follow at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Alejandro Perez, Amalio Perez, Abelardo Perez, Enrique Perez, Richard Baldwin and Jonathan Baldwin. Honorary pallbearer will be Julio Serrano. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd. Brownsville, TX 78520 (956) 5467111. PEDRO GRACIA II Pedro Gracia II, 72, entered into eternal rest with the Lord on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at his residence in Brownsville, Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents, Pedro and Magdalena Gracia. Mr. Gracia is survived by his wife, Librada Gracia; nine children, Celedonio Gracia, Sr., Norma Montiel (Cesar), Pedro Gracia Jr. (Alma), Alida (Rosendo) Galaviz, Victor Gracia (Ana), Marisela Gracia, Adalia Casanova (Santiago), Guadalupe Acosta (Antonio) and Jorge Gracia (Becky) all of Brownsville; 21 grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and numerous other relatives. A 24-hour visitation service and recitation of the holy rosary were held on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at his residence, 461 N. Brownie Ave. Interment will follow at Guillen Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Guerra Funeral Home of Brownsville, 3955 Coffee Port Rd. (956) 544-1171. JOSE ANGEL "CHUY" RIVERA JR. Jose Angel "Chuy" Rivera Jr., 65, entered into eternal rest on Monday, April 3, 2006 in Brownsville, Texas. He is preceded in death by his father, Jose Angel Rivera Sr. in October of 1977 and a brother, Salvador Rivera in April of 2005. Mr. Rivera is survived by his loving mother, Maria S. Rivera; sons, and daughters, Rene Rivera, Rosie Rivera of Brownsville, Texas, Robert Rivera (Angelica), Michelle (Jaime) Beltran, both of Salinas, Calif.; a brother, Roberto Rivera of Brownsville; sisters, Eloisa Juarez (Benito), Gracie R. Blanco (John) and Norma Robinson; eight grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a holy rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. today, Thursday, April 6, 2006 at Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista. A chapel service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 7, 2006 at Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista. Serving as pallbearers will be Johnny Casares Jr., Efrain Larrasquitu, Roy Blanco, Raul Salinas and Jesse Canales. Honorary pallbearers will be Benito Juarez, Roberto Rivera, John Blanco and Robert Lopez. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Funeraria del Angel Buena Vista, cemeteries, mausoleums, and crematory 125 McDavitt Blvd. Brownsville, Texas 78521 (956) 541-5400. AURORA HERNANDEZ CORTEZ Aurora Hernandez Cortez, 87, of Harlingen, Texas passed away Tuesday, April 4, 2006, at Mother of Perpetual Care Help Home in Brownsville. Mrs. Cortez was a member of Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church of Harlingen. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Manuel Montes and second husband, Gilberto Valdez and several brothers and sisters. She is survived by her son, Gilbert (Lila) Valdez, Jr., of League City, Texas; three daughters, Lucila (Edward) Pace of Laguna Vista, Texas, Delma (Richard) Henry of Kemah, Texas and Viola (Jose Luis) Hernandez of League City, Texas; 14 grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., today, Thursday, April 6, 2006 at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow to Harlingen City Cemetery in Harlingen. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandchildren and sons-in-law. The Cortez Family gives special thanks to Mother of Perpetual Care Help Home of Brownsville. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, TX 78586. (956) 399-1331. RAUL TABARES JR. Raul Tabares, Jr., age 57, entered into eternal rest on April 4, 2006 at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Mr. Tabares was born in Los Fresnos, Texas on January 13, 1949 and was a lifelong resident of Brownsville, Texas. He is preceded in death by his father, Raul Tabares, Sr. and brother, Reynel Tabares. Mr. Tabares is survived and much loved by his family, wife Maria del Rosario Reyna; his mother, Raquel Rodriguez Tabares of Brownsville; his daughter, Margarita Rivera and husband Roberto R. Rivera II, his sons Miguel Angel Roberts and Marco Antonio Roberts all of Brownsville; his sister, Rosita Almazan and husband Leonardo of Corpus Christi, Texas; his brother, Rodolfo Tabares and wife Consuelo of Firebaugh, Calif.; his brother, Reynaldo Tabares and wife Teri; his brother, Ricardo Tabares; his sister-in-law, Yolanda Lopez Tabares all of Brownsville. Raul worked all his adult life as a welder for Marathon-Lathernal until it closed and then as a Quality Control Welding Inspector, until the time of his illness, for Keppel-AmFELS at the Port of Brownsville. Raul's (T-Bird) passion was the game of fast pitch softball. He played ball for over 35 years in local teams, both in Mexico and Texas, including Masters 50 and over. He participated in local and national tournaments held every year throughout Texas and took the opportunity to play in several Master's 50 and over national tournaments in several other states in the U. S. and Mexico. His wife would like to thank all of their friends, neighbors, family and co-workers who gave generously and took the time to lend a helping hand, and continue to keep Raul in their prayers. She would like to give a special thanks to Ms. Paula Gomez, Executive Director and Enrique Garcia, Finance Director of the Brownsville Community Health Center for their words of encouragement and supported her whole heartedly through the three years of her husband's illness and extends her gratitude to her brother Juan Eduardo Reyna, and friend Ms. Guadalupe Blanco, who unselfishly stepped in as caregivers to her husband. Thank you to Dr. Todd Shenkenberg and staff in Harlingen, Texas; the physicians, nurses, Chaplains, and support staff at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas for their professionalism and excellent medical care. Arrangements are being made by Paradigm Funeral & Cremation Services. A Memorial Mass is pending for a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Brownsville Community Health Center -Social Service Fund; 2137 E. 22nd Street, Brownville, TX 78521 in memory of Mr. Raul Tabares, Jr. ETHEL MARIE (COURTNEY) ALLISON Ethel Marie (Courtney) Allison, 93, went home to be with the Lord, April 3, 2006 at Spanish Meadows Nursing Home in Brownsville, Texas. She was born July 26, 1912 at Berlin in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma to (Benjamin) Frank Courtney and Lena (Moorehead) Courtney. Ethel married Lody V. Allison, the love of her life on December 24, 1929 at Foss (Wichita County), Oklahoma. There were no children born of this marriage. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lody, July 15, 1977; two brothers, Jess and Clarence Courtney; two sisters, Annie Kelly and Ruth Marshall; and a step-granddaughter, Donna Farney. She is survived by one brother, Floyd Courtney of Sayre, Okla.; two sisters, Golda Fairless of New Castle, Calif. and Helen Jo Chester of Elk City, Okla.; step-son L.B. Allison of Wickett, Texas; two step-granddaughters, Christine Ward of Monahans, Texas and Jo Alice Pence of Granbury, Texas; seven step-great-grandchildren; eight step-great-great-grandchildren; and she was much loved by numerous nieces and nephews, including Doris Peart of Brownsville, special friend, niece and caregiver in her last years. Ethel was a long time resident of Brownsville having come here in 1930. She returned to Sayre, Oklahoma in 1945 and back to Brownsville in 1947 to live out her life. She was a longtime member of the First Assembly of God Church, now Hosanna Assembly, where she was a primary teacher for over 40 years. Public viewing will be from 3 p.m to 7 p.m. today, Thursday, April 6, 2006 at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 7, 2006 at Darling-Mouser Chapel with Will Stevenson of Portway Baptist Church officiating. Speaker will be Thomas Carubba of Hosanna Assembly. Interment will be at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Portway Baptist Church Food Pantry, 2000 N. Minnesota Ave., Brownsville, TX 78521. Pallbearers will be Robert Allison, nephew; Rick Lind, great-nephew; John Hollie and Jim Davis, nephews; Dwayne (Bubba) Smith, nephew; and Jody Allison, nephew. Honorary pallbearer will be Jack R. Peart. Arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, TX (956) 546-7111. THELMA EVELYN DARLAND WEEKS Thelma Evelyn Darland Weeks passed on April 2, 2006. She was born May 28, 1919 in Garrison, Iowa and was the daughter of John Abraham Darland and Eletha Evelyn Strait Darland. She attended elementary school in Garrison, Iowa; high school in Mt. Auburn, Iowa where her parents had moved. She graduated in 1936. She went to Gates Business College in Waterloo, Iowa. After graduation she moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa where she met and married Charles E. Weeks in Sioux Falls, S.D. on August 12, 1939. In November 1940 they moved to Brownsville, where Mr. Weeks was associated with Pan American Airways and Texas Southmost College. Before retiring from the banking business in 1984, Mrs. Weeks was active in Boy/Girl Scouts, March of Dimes, and School System. She is preceded in death by her parents; five brothers and a sister; her daughter, Judith Evelyn on May 1, 1956; her husband, Charles on November 13, 1956 and a grandson Matthew D Mungle on November 26, 1968. Mrs. Weeks is survived by three children, John and wife Sherry Weeks of Garden Grove, Calif., Susie W. Cole and husband Carl of Boulder City, Nev. and Sallie W. Dalton and husband Jerry of Deer Park, Texas. She is also survived by a brother, Richard Darland of Tucson, Ariz. and a sister, Donna Sullivan of Hemet, Calif.; four grandchildren, Chuck Weeks, David Cole, Jerry Mungle, and Denise Wright; four great-grandchildren, Breanna, Davey, Dustin, and Travis. Mrs. Weeks was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she volunteered for 15 years. She was very active with the United Methodist Church Women. She will be sorely missed by her family and numerous friends Mom-you are sleeping in God's Keeping. There will be a visitation from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, Thursday, April 6, 2006 at Darling-Mouser Chapel. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2006 at First United Methodist Church with burial to follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to The First United Methodist Church or Good Neighbor Settlement House. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home 945 Palm. Blvd. Brownsville, Tx. 78520 (956) 546-7111. The Brownsville Herald 1135 E. Van Buren Brownsville, TX 78520 956-542-4301 1-800-488-4301 © 2000 The Brownsville Herald