Bert Haynes, 81, of Port O’Connor passed away July 3, 2018. He was born March 2, 1937 in Corsicana, Texas to Herbert B. and Avis Patrick Haynes. Bert was the founder and former owner of Action Welding Company from 1975-2013 and was an avid fisherman and fishing guide in Port O’Connor for 40 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Port O’Connor and of the Masonic Lodge 1098. He loved to travel. He flew his airplane and took his motor home to every state in the continental USA, as well as Mexico and the Bahamas. He loved being surrounded by his family. Bert always loved a challenge.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Joanne Haynes of Port O’Connor; daughters, Pam Stryker (Robert) of Goliad, Becky Haynes of Port O’Connor, Lisa Wallace (Charley) of Anahuac; sons, Donald Bert Haynes (Sheryl) of Port O’Connor, Bill Lee (Kathy) of Victoria, John Lee of El Campo and William Leon Storenski (Marcia) of Port O’Connor; 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Barbara Truett. Funeral Services were held Friday, July 6, 2018 at First Baptist Church in Port O’Connor with Rev. Donny Martin officiating. Burial followed in Port O’Connor Cemetery. Pallbearers were Tim Rohan, Allen Kinsel, Jason Stryker, Lucas Haynes, Shawn Singleterry, Ryan Stryker, Collin Haynes, Robert Lee, and Trace Lee. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com

Port O’Connor – It is with great sadness that the family of Rose Marie Calvert Smith announces her passing on Saturday, June 23, 2018, at the age of 84 years. She passed peacefully at home surround by her loved ones. Rose will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 64 years, Marcus “Grumpy”  Smith and her children, Marcus Smith II, Mary (Kelley) McCorkle, Gary Smith and Ann Walker.  Rose will also be fondly remembered by her eight grandchildren, Beau (Brittany) Smith, Steffanie Thompson, Toby (Tisha) Marek, Preston (Chelsey) Smith, Charles Smith, Bryan Smith, Tell Walker and Misty (Bubba) Bryant and twelve great-grandchildren, Beau, Casey, Annabel, Blake, Kennedy, Reagan, Brooklyn, Addison, Emerson, Logan, Jace and Juliet. Rose was preceded in death by by her parents, two brothers, sister and grandson Orrin Tyrell.
A Funeral Service in memory of Rose will not be held at her request.

Daniel Lee Harvell, 55, of Seadrift died May 7, 2018. Born August 9, 1962 in Victoria, Danny was the son of the late William Henry and Angelina Sophia Harvell. Danny is survived by his son, Daniel Lee Harvell, Jr. (Michelle), six grandchildren, sisters Liz Ratliff and Linda Yusko (Brad) and brothers Bill Harvell (Delores) and Mike Harvell, along with numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and good friends. In addition to his parents, Danny was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Brenda and Ronnie Ratliff and brother-in-law J.W. Ratliff. Following Danny’s wishes, he was cremated. Donations in his honor may be made to Hospice of South Texas.

Cynthia “Cindy” Jane DeBusk, age 59, of Seadrift, TX peacefully passed away in her home on July 7, 2018 surrounded by her loved ones. The graveside service was held at the Seadrift Cemetery on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.

My neighbors Parker and Patty are always telling me how proud they are to be a part of Port O’Connor, Texas. They say it is a great community and so friendly. Parker was talking with his sons about their mother’s garden. He said she shopped the catalogs, bought gloves and seeds and markers and supplies all year for the garden. he said she spent more than the veggies and herbs would cost if he just bought them. The boys decided the preparations took longer than the growing.

This year they decided to offer their version of a low work, no maintenance, money saving garden. They snuck out to the garden plot one evening while Patty was busy inside and just to tease Patty they planted their plot. Both sons and their dad took a row in Patty’s well prepped garden and filled it with their choices of ‘garden greats.’ Peyton planted a whole row of neatly jarred special hot salsa in shiny glass jars perfectly aligned in the row marked tomatoes. Just for fun he hung a large bag of tortilla chips on the row stake marker. Paul planted a long straight row of whole canned organic green beans in sturdy environmentally safe tin cans on the row marked beans. Parker tied large Ball Jars of pickled okra to the trellis carefully staked across the end of the row waiting for okra to climb its highest board.

They headed back in and were watching the game when Patty found their garden prank. She took the joke quite well and even found a way to get even just a little. The next night when dinner was served the only items on the menu came from the boys new and improved garden. it only took one meal without Patty’s fresh herbed chicken or scrumptious squash for the boys to decide that all her work was more than worth it, and the cost was nothing compared to what they got. Patty was back in her garden growing beautiful things for dinner and her own garden therapy by the very next day. And boy are those boys tired of green beans and pickled okra for game snacks. They are almost out of salsa. Maybe Patty will make them some fresh salsa soon from the produce she gets from her garden.