Albert Bryan Redding, 56, passed away on September 3, 2020 after a heroic battle with cancer. He was a lifelong resident of Calhoun County, Texas and a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, son, and friend, friend of so many.

Bryan was born to Albert and Faye Redding in Port Lavaca, Texas. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Rachel Redding; daughters Jennifer Redding and Katie Redding-Dennis, and son Ethan Redding; brother Virgil (Wanda) Redding and sister Sue (Marvin) Harris, grandchildren Shayleigh Sprague, Kaylynn Harding, Chase Harding, Serenity Riddle, and Kolt Albert Abraham. He was preceded in death by his parents, and beloved nephew Richard Clyde Hawes.

Bryan was devoted to his family, both immediate and extended, and he would do just about anything to help other people out. He was always active; he just couldn’t sit still. He was a former member Port O’ Connor Volunteer Fire Department, former board member of the Port O’ Connor MUD District, and served several years as Calhoun County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Bryan graduated early on from the School of Hard Knocks, with a Masters of No BS; never paid no student loan. He liked to work, but would not be constrained to a narrow career path. At various stages in his life he was a deckhand, mechanic, shrimper, jailer, deputy, and truck driver. His lifelong passion was keeping the family cattle company afloat. Bryan was Yard Superintendent at Orion Marine Group, Port Lavaca, when his illness shut him down.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at the Port O’ Connor Cemetery Pavilion

Pallbearers were Victor Huber, Joseph Huber, TJ Pompa, Jeremy Harris, Mike Clifton and Robbie Hawes.

Honorary Pallbearers were Andy Falcon, Phillip Gonzales, and Bryan’s nieces Kerri Torres, Christa Pompa, Rachel Huber, Taylor McKinney, Faith Hawes and Sarah Hawes.

Evelyn Lewis
9-18-28 – 8-26-2020
Evelyn Lewis, beloved wife, mother, and friend, passed away on August 26, 2020 at her Port O’Connor home.

* We are sorry to report that since this writing, Evelyn’s son, Velvet DeWayne has also passed away.

SEADRIFT — Mary Luna Raby went to be with the Lord September 7, 2020 at the age of 82. She was born May 1, 1938 in Bloomington, Texas to the late Felix Luna and Paula Escalante Diaz.

A Mass of Christian burial was held Thursday, September 10, 2020 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Bloomington. Interment followed at Seadrift Cemetery.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Delfino, Leonard and Jimmy Luna and sister Lily Galindo.
She is survived by her sons Lupe (Joyce) DeLeon, Manuel (Tracy) Luna and Eric Raby; brothers Johnny (Virginia) Luna, Robert (Connie) Luna, Ernest (Rosie) Luna and Raymond (Elena) Luna; sister Solia Reyes; 5 grandchildren Amelinda, Alex, and Lupe “Chuck” DeLeon and Ethan and Sophia Raby and 7 great grandchildren.

Mary was a loving mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother. At a young age, Mary stepped into the role of caretaker to her brothers and sister, embracing her place in each of their lives. She lived most of her life in Seadrift at her favorite place, Raby Road.

Mary was a homemaker with a servant’s heart who served many in her community. Mary was a lot of spunk and spit fire who loved a good laugh even at her own expense. She loved the art of music and dancing, often listening to The Hometown Boys.

Thoughts and memories may be shared online at www.gracefuneralhome.net.

So my neighbor has a little black rabbit…

It sits on a balcony across from where I go outside to sit, and I have been sitting out here a lot due to not steadily working since March 15th, and as much as when we are at work we want to be home when you’re used to working it gets stale pretty quick.

I guess that is why I kinda like staring at the rabbit, we both take it a day at a time, both having security for now but knowing careful footing is needed to avoid disaster.

Every once in a while too, he hops up in a chair to get a better view and I myself hop to see what’s needed next for what might lie around the corner.

But that’s the downside of the ‘spirit’ of the rabbit, the upside is that he still finds time to enjoy his little bunny existence, still sniffs everything so he misses nothing, and he still takes time to run a bit, to keep the juices flowing.

I notice the rabbit chews on various items they have out there for him like boxes or rabbit chew sticks, so he can keep his teeth filed down and ready for action, it’s a constant practice, his teeth grow all his life, he has to keep it up or his teeth will be too big to eat with.

So should we keep our skills and ‘tools’ sharpened, the better to be prepared and ready for action when a moment comes along where all of the toil and practice can raise huge positive repercussions.

The first time I ‘saw’ the little black rabbit on the opposite balcony, he actually really scared me.

It was the real middle of the night, and I came outside to light the cigarette I stupidly still smoke and the space in between me and my neighbors was black as soot.

I heard a loud noise from that direction, then several others and I could barely see the silhouette of a small creature, running fast on the cement right in front of the sliding glass window.

I could not make it out but at the time my neighbors had no pets, to wake them seemed rude, and there was no way to reach whatever might be trapped up there.

I headed inside eventually, figuring that I could not do anything.

Maybe it was a stuck or injured animal, maybe it was vermin like a rat or mouse, maybe it was better off left alone.

That lesson, the first one he taught, was the most important, and like the other insights the rabbit has whispered to me, I did not even know he was doing it.

Fear of something makes us run, sometimes though all is not what it seems, a danger or set back if done right can also be an opportunity, a new experience, and maybe even a chance to hop around every now and then.