Peggy Lindsey Van Hooser left this world peacefully February 11, 2018 at her sister Donna McGuire’s home in Port O’Connor, surrounded by family and friends.

Peggy was born December 23, 1946 in Victoria, TX to the late R.E. ‘Bob’ Lindsey (Velma) and Ocie Scott McGuire (Mac). She lived in Calhoun County most of her life except for a three-year tour of duty that took her to Puerta Rico, where she met and married the love of her life, Douglas Van Hooser.

She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty years, Doug; son, Doug Jr.; and brother Scottie McGuire.

She is survived by her granddaughter, Sonja Willis (Richard); great-grandsons, Jordan and Zacharia; sisters, Mickie Vossler (Craig), Donna McGuire; brothers, R.E. ‘Bobby’ Lindsey and Quinten Tracy Lindsey (Sondra).

The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and acts of kindness and a special thanks to Hospice of South Texas and Lynn Rhoads for all your help and loving care.

A private memorial will be held at a later date.

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.

When oldest son Peter was in Kindergarten, he came home very excited about trading Valentines with his friends at school. Patty took him to the store and he picked out Snoopy cards and Tootsie Pop suckers to share with his class. He took his little pencil and began to address his cards.

His mom got busy cooking dinner and after a bit returned to check on her son. Several cards had names written on them with newly learned letters carefully printed by the young boy. Next to the growing stack of cards sat more than a dozen suckers without wrappers and obviously licked and sampled. Disturbed to see this, Patty asked Peter why the suckers were open.

The boy joyfully replied that he was simply tasting them trying to pick his best friends’ favorite flavors to go with their cards. He explained that he didn’t lick much and would wrap them back up before gifting them.

After Patty stopped laughing she carefully explained that Peter couldn’t pre-sample the Valentine suckers and helped her young son read the flavors on the wrappers to match them with his friends’ favorite. Peter took his treasured treats to all his friends at school and kept the prelicked suckers for himself and his sister.

Peter gave many more Valentines, but Patty never forgot the hilarious generosity of his first Valentine exchange. He’s been teased often about his soggy suckers. Happy Valentines!

A teacher asked her students to tell the meaning of “lovingkindness”. A little boy jumped up and said, “Well, if I was hungry and someone gave me a piece of bread, that would be kindness. But, if they put a little strawberry jell on it, that would be loving kindness.”

Lovingkindness is not a word that we use often, but it has a lot of special meanings. It is used in several places in the Bible, especially in the writings of King David in the Psalms. Since we are still in the Month of Love, our thoughts should be centered not just on love, but also on kindness.

Too many people get the words “love” and “lust” mixed up. The idea of “falling in love” is probably in reality a lustful event! Love is always a choice. It is a decision that one makes and hopefully made after much investigative study. It is so important that people become friends before they become lust-ers!

I was reading a devotional book that I believe will help us understand the true meaning of “Lovingkindness”. I do not know the author, but I trust they will not mind me adding my own “twist” to their words.

Kindness provides a house, but it takes love to make it a home.

Kindness will pack an adequate sack lunch for our school kids, but love will put in a note of encouragement.

Kindness provides a computer as a learning aid, but love controls the time of use and will insist that a child “signs off”
!
Kindness sends a child to bed on time, but love tucks the covers around the child’s neck and provides a good-night kiss.

Kindness cooks a meal, but love selects the “your favorite food” menu and lights a candle.

Kindness writes a thank-you note, but love slips a joke or photograph inside the envelope
.
Kindness keeps a clean and tidy house, but love allows it to be comfortable to “live in”!

Kindness pours a glass of milk, but love occasionally adds a little chocolate or strawberry syrup to it.

Kindness is doing what is decent, basic, courteous, and necessary for an even, smooth, gentle flow of life, and love adds the extra step to make life truly exciting, creative, and meaningful!

Kindness makes life worth living! Love is what makes life special!

Far too many people have forgotten the meaning of kindness and the simple acts that will follow. If we would concentrate on just being kind one to another, we would find that love, real love, would quickly follow.

Calhoun County: Calhoun County property owners are encouraged to report damage incurred due to Hurricane Harvey to the Calhoun County Appraisal District. This can be done electronically by email or in person at the appraisal district office located at 426 W. Main in Port Lavaca. Appraisers are currently working throughout the county in the annual reappraisal. Property is appraised according to market value as of January 1, of each year. If your property was adversely affected because of the hurricane or any other reason and has not been repaired or replaced prior to January 1 of 2018 we need to know. This could mean a reduction in your property value for tax purposes for the 2018 tax year.

Photos and information can be submitted via email at: harveydamage2018@gmail.com

Appraisal district staff will be monitoring this email’s inbox. After you have submitted the email you will receive a confirmation email that it has been received by the appraisal district. Please be sure to identify your property by account number/property id, name, address and telephone number. Should you have any questions please contact our office for assistance at 361-552-8808. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.