Christmas and New Years celebrations were special at the Chapel. We had our usual Christmas Food Baskets distribution, which provided a lot of food for needy families. We had our fire pit ready for three occasions – our caroling evening and two evenings of live nativity scenes. There were a lot of hot dogs cooked and desserts as well. It was a special time for fellowship and celebration of the birth of our King! 

 On New Year’s Eve, we had a chili cook-off. There were eight entries, and Debbie was crowned as best in the class, with Liam coming in second place. Pastor Joane’s was named third place but Erny got honorable mention – the worst chili of them all! Since I picked the judges this year, I have already let them know they will never be asked to be a judge again! I am not bitter, but I know my can of chili was not that bad!  

January has also brought a lot of special activities. We honored the New Year with a new word – Pastor Joane had “JOY” as her theme for two years and last year, “Prosperity” was the theme. We experienced much added joy in our congregation as new victories were won and this past year, we noted a number of prosperous blessings coming our way. This year we are asking the Lord to provide “Multiplication” in every aspect of our congregation’s lives. We are believing that folks in the Chapel are going to have many testimonies of blessings that have resulted from “multiplication!” All are welcome to come and be a part of our growth.  

 This Sunday Evening, we are celebrating Pastor Joane’s birthday. We just celebrated Pastor Joane’s and Erny’s wedding anniversary and now we will be pulling out all the stops to help her celebrate another year of service to our Lord. We are having a special “gumbo” meal which will be the delight of all attenders. 

 Few will remember that the second Sunday of February, 1995, we came to Port O’Connor to see if we could help pioneer Fisherman’s Chapel. We are planning to have a 30th Anniversary event in February to mark the blessings of the Lord we have experienced. The plans are still being formulated, but we will be announcing it so everyone can come. We trust that those who have been a part of the Chapel congregation at any time in these 30 years will come and help us celebrate. We will have some pictures of past experiences that will bring back a lot of memories. Make plans to be here at the Chapel for this special Anniversary Celebration! 

 Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to assist all in developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One will always find a warm welcome at any of our services. We have a Bible Class on Sunday mornings at 10 AM, Morning Service at 11 AM, and Evening Service at 6 PM.  On Wednesdays we gather for a fellowship meal at 7 PM, which is followed by an opportunity to “feast on God’s Word.” Everyone is welcome and all are urged to, “Come, Grow With Us!” 

Port O’ Connor’s “Hooked on Books” Book Club held its monthly meeting on January 14. Hostesses Brenda Berger, Beth Smith, Mindy Miles, Lisa Barger and Kristina Lewis created a lovely atmosphere for attendees. Everyone began the new year chatting, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.

The ladies who attended the meeting were delighted to reunite after the holidays. The afternoon began with a meet-and-greet, followed by a delicious spread of deviled eggs, veggies with dip, delicious fruit, chicken salad sandwiches, desserts, and beverages. Members munched while catching up with each other about holiday experiences.

The book club hostesses took members on a trip back in time to a cotton farm in 1950s Arkansas with a book discussion to explore John Grisham’s A Painted House, a story inspired by the author’s childhood. Most readers enjoyed the historical setting, the coming-of-age story in a small town, and its relatable themes. Readers emphasized how the power of family unity helps people face challenges, and how tough times can make family bonds stronger. Readers also noted that Grisham’s slower, detailed writing style brings farm life, its struggles, and the main character’s journey from innocence to understanding life in a heartfelt and straightforward way. Also, many shared their personal experiences of relatives who lived and worked on farms and the life the farmers experienced.

Next month, Hooked on Books Club will meet on February 11, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. and the selected reading is Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer. If you would like to join “Hooked on Books,” please email your contact information to alanehaardt@yahoo.com.  All are welcome!

Betty “Lynne” (Bell) Hearn passed away at her home in Goliad, TX on December 28, 2024.  She was 77 years old.  Lynne was born December 4, 1947 and was the daughter of the late L’Roy, Sr. and Betty Bell of Port O’Connor, TX. She is preceded in death by her husband Richard Hearn and grandson Robbie Dendy.  Her life will forever be cherished in the lives of her children: Lisa (Mark) Baumann of Fort Worth, TX and Matthew White of Goliad, TX and her granddaughter Adele “Adie” Hawley of Fort Worth, TX. Also surviving her are her two brothers: L’Roy, Jr. (Liz) Bell and Steve (Susan) Bell and sister Shotsie Thumann. Her nieces and nephews: Denise Sandy, Sabrina Bell, David Bell, Brian Thumann and of fond remembrance the late Stanley “Bubba” Thumann, Jr. and Stevie Bell.

Lynne was born in Victoria, TX and through her father’s military career lived in places like Vienna, Germany, and a number of states before the family settled in Port O’Connor, TX.  She and Richard were married on October 17, 1983 and moved to Goliad in 1985. It was there that they shared the love of being in the country, raising animals and enjoying the peace and quiet.  Lynne was never one for sitting for very long.  If it had a root, she could grow it, inheriting the “green thumb” from her mother, and creativity was her real middle name as she always had multiple projects going.  She was a true artist in many mediums.

Memorial services will be held January 25, 2025 at the Port O’Connor Community Center, 3674 W. Adams Street, Port O’Connor, TX 77982 at 1pm. We hope you can join her family in this celebration of life.

Steven James “Styme” Saenz, 51, of Port O’Connor passed away January 4, 2025.  He was born February 9, 1973, in Houston to Manuel R. Saenz Jr. and Mary Helen Saenz.  Styme worked at Speedy Stop and Walmart and was a Catholic.

He is survived by his mother; sisters, Maria Saenz and Jeanette Chavez Hernandez; brother, Manuel Saenz III; he was a devoted loving uncle to his nieces and nephews, and leaves many extended family and friends to cherish his memory.

He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents, Manuel Saenz and Aurelia Ramos Breeden, and Jesse Ramirez and Victoria Ramirez.

Funeral Mass was Monday, January 13, 2025, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Port O’Connor.  Burial will follow in Port O’Connor Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Calvin Ragusin, Jose Ernesto Chavez Jr., Christopher Allen Saenz, Ricco Dante Saenz, Luis Alejandro Torres, Jaidence Pierce Villarreal and Jorge E. Torres Jr.

Words of comfort and special memories of Styme can be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com.

July 24, 1946 – December 19, 2024

Virgil Dixon Price, Jr., of Port O’Connor, Texas, passed away on December 19, 2024, after a recurrence of metastatic melanoma. Born on July 24, 1946, in Gladewater, Texas, Virgil lived a life rich in purpose, love and adventure.

Virgil is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Ursula Kalina Price, whose partnership and love helped him achieve his dreams. Together, they raised a family and a built a legacy of hard work, resilience, and deep connection.

Virgil leaves behind three children who were the pride of his life: his daughter Kelly Sudderth (of Gunnison, Colorado) and her husband David, along with their children Lily, Joseph, Caroline, and Wesley; his son Vincent Price (of Vanderbilt, Texas) and his wife Tracee, along with their children Luke and Paige; and his daughter Colleen Eckermann (of Lampasas, Texas) and her husband Derrek, along with their children Layton and Cora. He is also survived by many extended family members and close friends who will cherish his memory. He is also survived by his sister Pat Putnam, of Highlands, Texas.

Virgil was preceded in death by his mother, Wilda Sue Williams Kavitt, and his sister, Andrea Shanks.

Virgil proudly served his country with honor in the Army during the Vietnam War. After returning home, he dedicated over three decades of service to the U.S. Postal Service. Virgil was born to farm. He and Ursula bought their first farm in Ben Arnold, Texas, in 1976. They raised their family on that farm, and as farming families know, there were lots of good times and bad. Virgil and Ursula never gave up, and after Virgil retired from the post office, they began moving their life (and eventually the farm) to the Texas Coast.

Retirement was not a time of slowing down for Virgil—it was a time of living life to the fullest. With Ursula by his side, he chased his dreams with determination, traveling the world, exploring their love of wine by visiting the word’s greatest wineries, and building a vibrant life and community in Port O’Connor, Texas. He especially loved visiting wineries in Europe, discovering new wines and visiting with winemakers. He loved visiting the museums, monuments and churches of Paris and was always ready to share travel tips with family and friends. Virgil was happiest when surrounded by family and friends, whether hosting gatherings, building projects with his own hands, or sharing a glass of wine while swapping stories.

He was a devoted father and grandfather who rarely missed a school performance, sports event, or holiday gathering. His grandchildren will remember him as their biggest cheerleader and an endless source of love and support.

Virgil loved farming, the Texas Coast, the Colorado mountains, France, traveling, trying new wines, and, most of all, being with those he loved. With hard work, perseverance, and Ursula by his side, he turned dreams into reality.

His family and friends will remember Virgil as a quiet man who was hard-working, honest, and steadfast in his love. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched and in the memories of a life lived with purpose, adventure, and an unwavering devotion to family.

Visitation was at 9 am on Monday, December 23, 202, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Praha, Texas, followed by a rosary at 9:30 am and a funeral mass and burial at 10 am. A BBQ luncheon – one of Virgil’s favorite meals – followed at the parish hall. All are invited.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Virgil’s memory to the Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department, Gunnison Valley Hospital Paramedics Training Fund, (https://www.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/foundation/ways-to-give/ ), or Lampasas County Young Life, (https://giving.younglife.org/s/), or The Harbor Children’s Alliance and Victim Center (https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2429464).