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 grew up in the country, a farm boy familiar with butchering his own Thanksgiving turkey. Patty was a city girl who never even cooked a turkey before the first time she ever tried after marrying Parker in 1951. She was unfamiliar with giblets, had no idea about cavities and carcasses, and really didn’t want to know.

Parker brought home a big old turkey from his daddy’s flock and encouraged Patty to plan the dinner. He wanted it traditional, so she planned it all. Potatoes and yams, beans and bread, turkey and dressing, gravy and cranberries were on the menu. A cookbook borrowed from a close friend was meant to guide her to the perfect dinner. But, you don’t know what you don’t know.

Despite reading and preparing and trying to follow the recipes exactly, Patty never really understood buttering the cavity, blanching the vegetables or some of the other cookbook language. So, as she prepared the dinner she missed a few steps.

When Parker and his invited guests sat down to dinner they found undercooked turkey, soupy dressing, over salted gravy and undercooked potatoes beautifully served in her best wedding china. The meal was basically uneatable but they all tried to choke it down. Finally in laughter filled tears, Patty brought bread and butter, sliced ham and pickles to the table for everyone to make a sandwich. They ate and laughed and planned next year’s dinner.

After years shared and life lived, thanks to Parker Patty has learned to cook almost anything well, because he has brought it all home. Squirrel and rabbit, hogs and venison, game and fin fish, elk and moose and she always figures it out. Still, it never fails that in this 67th year of marriage they still laugh about that first Thanksgiving dinner and the many tasty and delicious ones they have shared in the years since.

With great grands around the table, Patty will ask Parker to carve the perfectly roasted bird, they will bow and give thanks and celebrate another year together. But, if you ask Parker what his favorite dinner is, he just might say a ham and butter sandwich. It is not about what you eat or even where you eat it you know. Life’s not all about getting what you want, but wanting and being grateful for what you’ve got he says. Happy Thanksgiving!

Port O’connor – Petronilo ‘Pete’ Garza, 94, of Port O’ Connor, Texas took the Lord’s hand and went home on October 31, 2017. He was born in New Braunsfels, Texas on May 13, 1923 to the late Santiago and Matilde Garza. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He worked many years and retired from Clark’s Fish Market. Prior to working at Clark’s, he worked for Pat Welder.

He is survived by his daughters, Mary Covarrubias (Adolfo) of Port O’ Connor, Alice Garza (Mahandran) of Brownsville, Rose Garcia (Felix) of Lubbock, Diana Davis (Jesse) of Vidor, Elizabeth Williams (Greg) of Port O’Connor, and Ester McDonnough (Kerry) of Port Lavaca; sons, Pete Garza (Maria) of Victoria and Gilbert Garza (Janice) of Goliad. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Rufina Cantu Garza, daughter, Matilda Shelnutt (Gary) of Victoria, grandson, Kevin Garza of Victoria and sister, Sista G. Munoz of Port Lavaca.

Funeral mass was celebrated at 1pm at Holy Family Church. Burial followed at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers were his grandsons: Adolfo Covarrubias , Petronilo Garza, Carlos Garcia, Gilbert Garza Jr., Casey Garza, Corey McDonnough and Cody McDonnough.

Honorary Pallbearers were his granddaughters: Monica Covarrubias, Kathleen Daniels, Megan Garza, Karra Marino, Jessica Harvey, Alicia Vasquez, Deanna Williams and Chezanne Garza.

The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Port O’Connor, Port O’ Connor Library or Accolade Hospice 3410 John Stockbauer Dr. #C Victoria, TX 77901

A resident of Port O’Connor, TX, passed away on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at Citizens Medical Center in Victoria, TX. He was born August 21, 1963 in Independence and was 54 years of age. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

He was a member of Lawrence Baptist Church, Loranger. He worked in hospital administration for 35 years. He was involved in Habit for Humanity of Victoria, TX and the planning committee for the YMCA. He won multiple first place awards in cooking competitions, winning.

He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Cauley Jones, Port O’Connor, TX; 2 daughters, Brooke Jones Richardson, and husband, Chris and Summer Jones; 1 grandson, Daniel Tassin, Jr.; sister, Debra Shields, Loranger; mother, Lillian Osborne, Baton Rouge. Preceded in death by his father, Lee Jones; sister, Tammie Daigle; 3 brothers, Dorrence Jones, Lee T. Jones, and Carl D. Jones; and his grandparents, John and Estelle Wilkinson and Charles and Eva Jones.

Services were held at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite on November 4, 2017. Interment Ford Cemetery, Independence. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

Seadrift – Leslie C. Blevins went to be with his Heavenly Father on October 5, 2017. He was born December 17, 1959 in Port Lavaca to Marcus and Sue Blevins.

A memorial was held on Saturday, October 28, 2017, at Seadrift Community Church, 305 W. Broadway, Seadrift.

The Calhoun County Republican Club will meet on Monday, December 4, at Grace Episcopal Parish Hall, corner of Austin St. (Hwy 238) and Guadalupe in Port Lavaca. Dinner (reservations – 552-6313 must be made by Nov. 24) will be served at 6:00 p.m. for a cost of $10.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. You are invited to come meet our candidates.

Calhoun County Republican Party will have 14 candidates running for county and precinct offices. Incumbents seeking re-election: Anna Kabela (District Clerk); Anna Goodman (County Clerk); Wesley Hunt (PC#4 JP); Nancy Pomykal (Pct #5 JP).

First time candidates seeking election:

For County Judge – Wesley McKelvey , Richard Meyer,and Larry Nichols;

For Commissioner Precinct #4: Willie Wooldridge (Seadrift); Gary D. Reese (Seadrift); Thomas Salazar (Port Lavaca, off US87); Russell Cady (Seadrift);

For JP Pct #1: Ramond Perez;

For Constable Pct #5: David Thomas (Port O’Connor).

Also, our SREC Representative, Michael Cloud, is challenging Blake Farenthold for the 32d Congressional seat.

Visitation during meal until start of meeting (6:;pm). Candidates will each have 2 minutes to speak. After all candidates have spoken, we will open for questions from the audience.