Scott was born Feburary 22, 1960 to John and Patricia Weller of Houston, Texas. He graduated from St. Thomas High School and St. Thomas University in Houston, Texas.

By profession, Scotty was a surveyor who ran systemic and dynamite in an airboat up and down the Texas Gulf Coast. He was an avid outdoorsman who love to fish and hunt, but most importantly Scotty was a steward of the water and land. He always did things the right way. Scotty was a hunting and fishing guide in Port O’Connor and took great pride in running the Saltwater Lodge, Seadrift, Texas. He also ran a few ranches in Texas. His favorite was the Mcray Ranch in Kerrville, Texas. The Mcray family had his heart, just like their beautiful 500 acres of exotics roaming God’s Hill Country.

If you knew Scotty, you knew he was a man’s man with a loyal heart and a strong work ethic. I (Heather) watched him climb up on Johnny and Joyce’s roof trying to tarp it as I held the ladder. He thrived on the waters of POC. After fishing all over the world, POC waters were his Paradise. His other passion was people. Scotty had this aura that surrounded him, a gift from God to serve and make others feel important, no matter what the stature of any person he came into contact with. Scotty made you feel special, important and heard, with his shy half-cocked smile. He had extra patience as he enjoyed teaching and taking inexperienced folks fishing. He participated in several tournaments over the years, winning the first Sharp Tooth Shootout with Will Smith, the Bombshell Blowout, and many others. One person I would like to mention is Cancace Hogan of Cedar Park, Texas. After her husband tragically died, Scotty would pull up in front of her POC trailer, load her up and take her fishing for years. That was our Sonny boy!

Scotty fought an admiral battle against his cancer, never giving up until his very last breath. He went to be with his Lord and Savior at 4:11 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2023.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Patsy and Big Johnny, and his beloved brother Don Weiler. Scotty is survived by his soul mate and lil’ mama, Heather Christing Weiler of POC; sister Challie McCord (James); Trey, Keleigh and John McCord of Houston; his two daughters Ashley of Deer Park, TX, Kristin (3 grandchildren); former son-in-law Shaun Schexnider and fiance Maddie Hooper, (4 grandchildren) Brady Paul Schexnider-15, Beau Schexnider-13, Beckett Schexnider -11, and Brinley Elizabeth Schexnider-9) of Friendswood, TX, and nephew Mason Weiler of Katy, Texas.

There will not be a formal service per Scotty’s wishes. He will be cremated and his ashes, along with his faithful duck dog Pearl, will be taken to Costa Rica at a later date.

John Dee Bertling, 85, passed away on August 22, 2023 at his home in Port O’Connor, Texas.

John Dee Bertling was born on June 24, 1938 in McKinney, TX, to Rodger Dee Bertling and Frances Bertling.

John graduated from Smiley High School in Houston, Texas. After high school John joined the Air Force where he was an inflight refueler. Following his service in the Air Force, John embarked on a remarkable entrepreneurial journey that showcased his resourcefulness and determination. Starting from humble beginnings, he began by acquiring discarded junk and extracting copper out of anything from old refrigerators to alternators and starters. As his ambitions grew, John transitioned into the trucking industry hauling sand and various aggregates. This marked a pivotal step in his career, and his resilience propelled him forward. Seizing opportunities wherever they arose, he eventually entered the realm of ready-mix concrete production in Houston, Texas. Always eager to expand his horizons, John ventured into the sand business, where he demonstrated his tenacity by mining and dredging sand to meet market demands. John’s enterprising spirit knew no bounds. After establishing a successful foothold in Houston, he extended his reach to Iola, Texas, where he opened an additional concrete plant. A true visionary, he didn’t stop there; he opened two more concrete plants in Madisonville and Marquez, each a testament to his unwavering commitment and innovative thinking. Even as his professional endeavors flourished, John’s passion for work remained. He was not just a businessman but was also a cattle rancher and held the Grimes County Commissioner Precinct 1 seat from 2005-2012. In a bold move, he decided to embrace the world of hospitality and became a restaurateur, opening “The Log Cabin” restaurant adjacent to his Iola concrete plant. John was also a proud member of the FreeMasons.

When John wasn’t working, you could find him indulging in his favorite pastimes. He loved heading to Port O’ Connor, Texas where he’d spend his time fishing from his houseboat along Saluria Bayou. John also cherished his ranch in Cotulla, Texas, Lost River Ranch. A true outdoorsman, he could be found in a deer stand or out in the shop, where he skillfully worked on various projects and embraced the hands-on work that brought him joy. Another one of John’s favorite pastimes was his love of flying. He became a private pilot in the early 1970’s and continued flying for the remainder of his life.
John possessed a remarkable talent for storytelling that left an impact on everyone fortunate enough to hear his tales. His words had a unique power to captivate any room, especially as he recounted stories from his own upbringing and the humble beginnings of his business ventures. Frequently, he would jokingly remark, “If I wrote a book about my life, they would call it fiction cause no one would believe it.” Beyond his storytelling capabilities, John had a knack for humor. Whether he was sharing a joke that brought laughter to those around him or delivering a memorable one-liner that stuck in your mind, he had an uncanny ability to uplift spirits and create moments of joy. John’s words were a true reflection of his vibrant personality and will stay with us, reminding us of the special person he was.

John was blessed with 3 sons, Roger Bertling, Keith Bertling and Kevin Bertling. As a father, he found pride, happiness and fulfillment in watching them grow and succeed.

John is survived by his sons Roger (Catherine) Bertling, Keith (Bridget) Bertling, Kevin Bertling, his grandchildren Stephanie (Blaine) Brooks, Katie (Cameron) Powney, Kyle Bertling, Brice Bertling, Kenady Bertling, Zane (Briana) Vestal, Tobi Bertling, Sky Vestal Branson Bertling, his 8 great grandchildren, his sisters Gloria (David) Richardson, Arleen (Doug) Hopkins and Marilyn Vrana, and his loving partner Sharron Isbell and her family Carrie (Ryan) Borroway, Sara (Mathew & Baylie) McNeill & Cameron Robinson.

John is preceded in death by his father Rodger Bertling, his mother Frances Bertling, his brother Cecil Bertling and his sister Helen Dianne White.

The service for John Dee Bertling was held on Saturday, August 26th at Nobles Funeral Chapel in Navasota, Texas. Burial: Concord Cemetery, Iola, Texas.

PORT LAVACA — Michael J. Pfeifer passed away peacefully on August 21 at the age of 70. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Lynn; their children, Sarah Brumfield (Jason), Amy Boone (Ben), Matthew Pfeifer (Mallory); seven grandchildren; and siblings, Monica Pelech, Marcus Pfeifer, and Michelle Voss. He was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Mary Ann Pfeifer.

Mike lived a fulfilling and meaningful life as a rice farmer, cattle rancher, store owner, and in 2002, he was elected as the County Judge of Calhoun County. During his 16 years with the county, he (along with his team of dedicated commissioners and county staff) provided leadership during and after Hurricane Claudette and Hurricane Harvey, constructed and renovated key county facilities, and supported local economic development projects, including industrial expansions. He also led efforts for the county to acquire Green Lake for conservation. He was named “Man of the Year” by the Port Lavaca Chamber of Commerce in 2018.

Although he made many notable contributions to his community, he was most proud of his family. His favorite pastime was sharing a good meal and conversation with his family. Papaw Mike will be remembered for being fun, generous, and a great cook. He was a man of many interests and hobbies. From deer hunting, to nature photography, to raising and training homing pigeons, Mike Pfeifer tried it all and mastered most of it. He cherished his friendships and memories from the store, coffee shop, deer lease, livestock shows, river, and farm. He was a legend to those who were closest to him, and will be missed by so many.

A funeral service was held on Friday, August 25 at Grace, Funeral Chapel with interment following at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery, Port Lavaca.

Pallbearers were: Matthew Pfeifer, Jason Brumfield, Clay Brumfield, Ben Boone, Beth Boone, and Justin Pfeifer.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Seadrift, 103 West Baltimore Avenue, Seadrift, Texas 77983.
Thoughts and memories may be shared online at www.gracefuneralhome.net.

Thomas “Tommy” Doyle Skalak, Sr., age 74, of Port O’Connor, Texas passed away on September 6, 2023 at home.

Tommy was born on May 26, 1949 in Baytown, TX to the late Lloyd J. and Elizabeth Kenter Skalak. He is survived by his wife, Dorrissa; Children, Kimberly Fritz (George), Stephani Skalak-Baenziger (Mark), Douglas Skalak (Alicia), Kacie Skalak (Randy), Karie Skalak, Thomas Skalak, Jr., April Skalak, Jeramy Dunn, Heather Dunn (Jarrett); Grandchildren: Patryias, Bryce & Elliot Skalak, Kenna & Devin Rino, Kayne Carriles, Jacob & Joseph Diaz, Kaleigh Diaz Vickery, Thomas Skalak III, Ukiah & Seneca Baenziger, Bradley, Dylan & Peyton Dunn, Chelsea Therrien, Trey Goolsby and 10 great grandchildren. Tommy is preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd J. & Elizabeth Skalak,
brothers Douglas & Jimmy Skalak and grandson, Bryan Thomas Skalak.
He served two tours in the Vietnam War with the Army and once back in the states, found his love for the ocean. Tommy traveled the world as a ship captain navigating a variety of vessels across the seas. He spent hours designing and building boats privately and with manufacturers up and down the Texas Coast, including Shoalwater & Trans Sport Boats. Tommy was a craftsman builder, and not only mastered it himself but shared his knowledge & passion with his
sons and grandsons.

If you knew Tommy, you knew a friend. He never met a stranger, had a larger than life personality and was always ready for the next adventure. You would find Tommy looking for his next project, at the deer lease, fishing, or hanging out with Dorrissa on the deck listening to the Astros.

Tommy brought us together and insisted that we appreciate one another. Be patient and take it all in; He left this world infinitely better and had a love for life that was contagious.

“I’ve lived a life that’s full, I traveled each and every highway, and more, much more… I did it my way,” and yes, you did. Yours was a life well lived my dear, and man oh man, you’re gonna be missed.

Two Brothers

“Two brothers as different as different can be, sharing the same faith in the God of Eternity.”

Pictured above are Alexander and Edward Corporon who are our featured guests in the Kid’s Corner column.

Alexander is 9 and Edward is 10. Edward loves hunting and Alexander enjoys gaming. Edward’s favorite subject is Science and Alexander’s favorite is Math. Edward wants to be a bioengineer and Alexander wants to be a video game designer.

Ask them about their faith in Christ and they both have the same message that Jesus changed their lives.

Here is Edward’s story: “Because of my parent’s faithfulness to the Lord I was able to realize that Jesus is the only way to heaven. I wanted to tell other people about this amazing truth and that is what led me to the Lord and got me baptized.”

Alexander had this to say: “I was talking with my family about God and that night I couldn’t sleep because of the fact that I didn’t know where I would go when I died. And the next day I was talking to Edward about it. That night I talked to my parents about it. Two days later I committed myself to the Lord.”

Edward and Alexander are new to Seadrift. Their dad is the new pastor of Seadrift’s First Baptist Church. Their mom is Heidi. They are home schooled and are the proud owners of a dog named “Eevee.”

Alexander’s favorite Bible verse is 2 Timothy 2:15. Edward’s favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:38-39.