PORT O’CONNOR – Harvey Brandon, 79, of Port O’Connor passed away Sunday, July 3, 2016 peacefully at home, surrounded with family by his side. He was born on September 28, 1936 in Fox, Oklahoma to the late Ben and Eunice Brandon.

Harvey was an avid hunter and fisherman, a hobby he enjoyed with his wife. He loved his family, cooking, traveling, camping and gardening. Harvey had a career in the oil field as a production superintendent for over 40 years. He was involved in the Victoria Livestock Show for over 25 years.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Brandon; son, Dennis Brandon (Hilary); daughter, Tami Becker (James); step-son’s, Jamie Dierlam (Tonya) and Ray Dierlam; grandchildren, Toby Stary (Dawn), Chelsea Rogers (Forrest), Dustin Dierlam, Samantha Dierlam (Ryan Burke), Beau Dierlam, and Heather McDade (Kolby); great-grandchildren, Tobyn Stary, Colton Rogers, McKinley Rogers, Colton Dierlam , Camryn Dierlam, Hailey McDade, Jade McDade and Kenzie McDade.
Harvey is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Melva Christman; brother Ralph Brandon.

Funeral services were held on Friday, July 8, 2016, at Grace Funeral Home. Interment followed at Wood Hi Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Toby Stary, Forrest Rogers, Johnny Matocha, Tim Pair, Richard Marbach and Dustin Dierlam.

Honorary pallbearers were Arnold Donaho, John Hutson, Glen Green, Kenneth Malone, Phil Efantis and Mike Crain.

Memorial donations may be made to Methodist Heart Hospital in Houston, Texas. Condolences and memories can be shared online at www.gracefuneralehome.net.

Bunco Evening, that group of very fun ladies who thoroughly enjoy themselves, met again July 5th at 7 pm in the back room of the Community Center. Since this meeting followed immediately the celebration of the 4th, the hostesses acknowledged that special day with appropriate delights. The next meeting of this group will be Tuesday Evening, August 2, 2016, at 7 pm, and if any newcomer or other resident is considering joining in the fun, please contact Shirley Gordon at the Library for further information.

Fishing Tournaments began in earnest during the Memorial Day weekend, and the lists of these these events last until October. One weekend in June boasted five tournaments! Poor fish, I bet they went into hiding until Wednesday of the following week!

The 4th of July brought many visitors and residents, all seeking that special place to park and enjoy the big fireworks display sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, and lit by specially trained gentlemen. How this has grown from the time a wonderful gentleman on the Front Beach bought fireworks for the residents to admire and enjoy and was followed by the street dances. Now we have on our big fireworks show as well as the delicious BBQ dinner put on by our local firemen and EMS. All monies contributed for the BBQ help fund our volunteers. These are the guys who help you in time of need.

Further detailing our calendar of events for July is the 1st Music Fest of Poco Bueno Week. Do hope that the multitudes of visitors enjoyed the many vendors as well as the musical concerts. And that they take the opportunity to view the results of our Poco Bueno Tournament from the weigh-in station.

The Poco Bueno Tournament (July 14-16) is always a much anticipated event here in POC.

June has been extremely warm (?) and I’ve heard many folks saying we were getting August weather early. If that’s so, wonder what will happen in August?

Hey, all you wonderful cooks with the greatest recipes for either Chili or Gumbo. Hoop is once again hosting the next Chili/Gumbo Cookoff in October at his wonderful place for cooking at Hooper’s Bar and Grille. Get your recipes together so POC cooks can regale all the other out of the area cooks by WINNING! We want to show our skills in fixing a fantastic gumbo let alone a delightful chili to our neighborhood. And, as in the past, many of the monies derived from this event will go to benefit the funding for our new Library. Watch this column for more information re date, rules, and other information. And do hope to see many of you there!

One of my delights has been, after a heavy rain, watching the many sea gulls taking a bath in the puddles on 14th Street. They pop in the water and then scoop it up in their bills and let it pour down their bodies. Then they shake their feathers and do it once again. What a delight!

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I welcome correspondence from various organizations re their happenings for information to add to this column. Also welcome any remarks, good or otherwise.

SEADRIFT – Wayne Garner, 87, passed away on June 18, 2016. He was born June 8, 1929 in Pearland, TX to Phillip and Gladys Garner.

Wayne was a 1947 graduate of Pearland High School and worked drilling water wells for the Pat O’Day Company before proudly serving his country in the U.S. Army. Wayne was stationed in Okinawa from 1951-1953 during the Korean Conflict.

After leaving the army, Wayne worked for the Alexander’s in Pearland. In 1960, Wayne left Pearland to work for Union Carbide at its Seadrift, TX plant. He raised his family in Seadrift and continued to live there until his death. After over 30 years of service, Wayne retired from Carbide and began to oversee the Alexander Farm in Seadrift.

Wayne enjoyed fishing – especially floundering – and spending time on various hunting leases shared with his brothers and friends. And he always had to have a ‘pasture’ (a few acres devoted to several cattle and pigs) to tend to.

In addition to his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Shirley. Wayne was one of eight children (#3 in the birth order) and he was also preceded in death by all of his seven siblings: Eugene, Nadene Mahaney, C.L., A.C., Milton, Larry, and Lonny.

Wayne is survived by his four children Bobby (Tina), Ricky (Leigh Ann), Marion (Randy Spencer), and Pat (Charlotte); seven grandchildren Joni Burk (Josh), Julie McClellen (Kenton), Jill Garner, Lynn Garner, Jessica Garner, Paige Garner, and Taylor Biehl (Josh); and two great-grandchildren Mason Biehl and Jane Burk.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at the Clayton Funeral Home Chapel in Pearland with Bobby Garner officiating. Interment was at South Park Cemetery in Pearland.

Pallbearers were Ricky Garner, Pat Garner, Lynn Garner, Josh Burk, Kenton McClellen, Randy Spencer, Josh Biehl, and Chris Chatham.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.claytonfuneralhomes.com

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. Recently, like most of POC, they have had lots of company. Vacationing family, fishing friends and Fourth of July guests have kept them hopping. They found themselves with lots of work to get ready and stay ready for all the visitors. Mowing lawns, weeding flowerbeds, prepping guest beds and cooking were tasks that took time and the rainy time made it tough.

One week they had more jobs than time. Parker and Patty needed to be at a church function the same time they needed to start a promised shrimp boil for visiting family. Their young neighbor, a single dad with lots of ‘jobs’ of his own, volunteered to help out. He helped mow the lawn and tend the flower beds the day before the cookout. Then he came to their house the night of the cookout and helped again. He graciously started the fire, seasoned and tended the boiling pot, even started the veggies so that Patty and Parker could arrive home at the last minute to cook shrimp and serve their guests. He asked for no compensation, was a perfect gentleman, and made their job so much easier just by lending a hand.

Neighbors are one of the things that make our small community so special and unique. Lending a helping hand, sharing a cup of sugar or needed egg, looking out for them, looking in on them when they need it…these are just some of the ways we can be neighborly. If you haven’t had a chance to reach out to your neighbors, be they full time or weekenders, make time to be friendly. There are lots of places where you can be anonymous, faceless and know no one. This is not one of them. It is the best of small community America.

With all that is going on in our country, being friendly, treating those around us like neighbors, is more important than ever. We all need to find a way to reach out and get in touch with those around us. It makes a house a home and a town a community, and it just might make a stranger a neighbor and a neighbor a friend. Try it! You will be glad you did!

Calhoun County Republican Headquarters is located on Hwy 35 in Port Lavaca (Russell Cain Real Estate).
The headquarters has just sold out of Trump caps, but has buttons, bumper stickers and yard signs for sale. Proceeds will be applied to local GOP candidates’ campaigns.

You are encouraged to stop buy and support the Republican candidates.

Republican Club To Meet

The Calhoun County Republican Club will meet on Monday, August 1st at Beijing Buffet on Highway 35 in Port O’Connor at 11:30 a.m. If you wish to eat lunch, come a little early so you can get your meal before the meeting starts.

All interested persons are welcome to attend.