Betsy Joyce (Spears) Rudd, 85, passed away on August 6, 2013. She was born in San Saba, to the late Volage Milton and Johnnie Frances (Fry) Spears on September 25, 1927.

She trained in Houston as a nurse where she met and married her lifetime partner of 57 years, the late James Elvin Rudd.

She is survived by daughters, Lynda Joy (Paul) Amason of Dickinson, Sandra Gayle (Calvin) Hammett of Port Lavaca; sons, James (Janet) Rudd of Lake Jackson, Bryan Keith (Dixie) Rudd Sr. of Oyster Creek; Jacque Rene (Rose) Rudd of Port Lavaca; brothers, Milton Carl (Bud) Spears of Houston, Volage Gailon Spears of Cisco; sister, Roberta Joy Wallin of San Angelo; grandchildren, James Amason, Jacob Rudd, Brance Adams, Trace Adams, Kyle Adams, Kaci Martin, Chris Rudd, Virginia Taylor, Deanna Butts, Bryan Rudd Jr.; 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by son, Michael Rudd; granddaughter, Lakrisha Amason; grandson, Aaron Rudd; sisters, Mildred Srkala, Billie Jean Denman and Patsy Schultz Manning; and one great-great-granddaughter.

Funeral service was held August 9, 2013 at First Baptist Church in Seadrift with Reverend Dennis Wittnebert and Revered Marcus Blevins officiating. Burial followed at Seadrift Cemetery.

The family requests memorial donations to be made to Meals on Wheels in Port Lavaca or Hospice of South Texas.

Bonifacio “Blanco” Gonzalez, Sr., 85, of Seadrift passed away August 4, 2013. He was born April 22, 1928 in Odem, TX to the late Blas and Basilla Gonzalez. He worked for Brown and Root as a Carpenter and was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Seadrift.

He is survived by his sons, Alfredo (Judy) Gonzales of Oklahoma City, OK, Claudio (Socorro) Gonzales of Seadrift, Mario Gonzales of Seadrift, Bonifacio Gonzales Jr. (Terri) of Port Lavaca; sisters, Bica, Lupina, Elena, and Gloria; brothers, Ignacio, Hilberto and Pablo; grandchildren, Andrea, Brandi, Christina, Donovan, Evan, Marci, Claudio Jr., Jessica, Justin, Elizabeth, Wendy and Bonifacio III and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Gonzalez; parents and brothers, Aurello and Florentino.

Funeral Mass was held August 8, 2013 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Seadrift. Burial followed in Seadrift Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Alfred Delgado, Michael Gossett, Claudio Gonzales, Jr., Bonifacio Gonzales III, Christopher Mendez and Norberto Jaramillo.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com .

Mary E. Dierlam, 88, of Seadrift passed away August 10, 2013. She was born February 14, 1925 in Seadrift to the late Gilbert L. and Naomi Brown Dierlam. She worked for Seadrift ISD in the school cafeteria and was a member of First Baptist Church of Seadrift.

She is survived by her son, Barry Dierlam; sister, Evelyn Williams; brothers, Walter and Freeman Dierlam and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Leonard Dierlam.

Funeral services were held on August 14 at First Baptist Church of Seadrift, with Marcos Gohlke officiating. Burial followed in St. Procopius Cemetery in Louise.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com

July 1: Seadrift Volunteer Fire Department responded to a natural gas leak off of Toledo Ave.

July 3: Seadrift VFD responded to a grass fire off of Gates Road.

July 3: Seadrift VFD responded to assist Port O’Connor VFD with a RV fire in Port O’Connor; Port Lavaca FD also responded.

July 4: Seadrift VFD responded to a trash fire at Swan Point.

July 6: Port O’Connor VFD and Seadrift VFD responded to a two-vehicle accident at the Hwy 185 / Hwy 1289 intersection; Port Lavaca FD also responded.

July 29: Seadrift VFD responded to a one-vehicle accident on Hwy 185 in Seadrift.

July 29: Seadrift VFD and Port O’Connor VFD responded to a trash/brush fire off of Davis Road, Port Lavaca FD also responded.

July 29: Seadrift VFD and Port O’Connor VFD responded to a trash/brush fire off of Davis Road.

July 30: Seadrift VFD and Port O’Connor VFD responded to a trash/brush fire off of Davis Road.

July 30: Seadrift VFD responded to a trash/brush fire off of Davis Road.

The Port O’Connor Lions Club recently sponsored swimming lessons for children in the area. Being so close to the water, the POC Lions Club feels it is very important for every child to learn to swim and to be comfortable in the water – not only for the sake of safety, but for the exercise and enjoyment of swimming.

Therefore, lessons were made available for children from the age of 4 up coordinated by the Port O’Connor Elementary School and around 30 children attended the lessons given by expert instructors. Some of the children have taken lessons before and were working on improving their skills. This is the third year that the POC Lions Club has sponsored this project. The children I observed participating in the lessons seemed to be having a blast! Thanks to all the parents and children who participated.

We would like to thank the swimming instructors and also Kenneth and Grady Jean Clark who graciously let us use their pool. Without all of them, this project could not have been possible.

For information on the POC Lions Club, please contact Joyce Jordan, President, at cell # 361-655-7999. Also, please look in the Dolphin Talk for information on the Second Arts & Crafts Festival to be held on Saturday, March 8th, 2014. If you know of anyone who would like to reserve a booth for this event, please call. Items do not necessarily need to be hand made, just good quality products. We had a very good response earlier this year on our first Arts & Crafts Festival and have been requested to repeat it. So – vendors, come join us!