Galveston Daily News

Rosa Patane, 76, of Galveston, passed away Sunday, April 21, 2024. She was born July 20, 1947 in Italy. Visitation will begin at 9:00 am, Friday, April 26, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A rosary will begin at 9:30 am. Funeral Mass will begin at 10:00 am with entombment following at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery. To share a memory or leave a condolence, please visit Rosa's page at www.malloyfuneralsandcremations.com.

Deacon Carol Ann Mills, 79, of Alvin, Texas, passed away on April 20, 2024. She was born in Illinois. She and her brother were born to Annie Catherine Gillis and Donald Eugene Gillis, a family of talented musicians. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Mills Jr., married for 53 years; son, Andrew Thomas Mills, and his fianc? Anne, and three children; also, by her daughter, Diana Mary Melissa Mills, son-in-law, Daniel Harding, and their four children. She is also survived by her stepsister, Julie Anne Gillis Lucas, and niece, Susan Gillis Alderink. Carol Ann is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Don Gillis, and her son, Aaron Donald Mills. Carol Ann graduated from Ann Arbor...

Clifton Anthony Kirby (Geeman) went home to be the Lord on April 19,2024 in Jennie Sealy Hospital, Galveston, TX. He was born May 16, 1957, to Loucelius and Lela Mae Kirby. Clifton is preceded in death by his parents, Loucelius and Lela Kirby, his son Khile Kirby, siblings Loucelius, Lubertha, Joyce, Lonnie, Frederick and nephew Keith Payne. He will be sorely missed by his surviving sister Sharon Kirby, his brothers Johnnie Ray, Willie Mack, Aubrey Wayne, Calvin Lawrence, Nathaniel, and Eric Calvert Kirby. His nieces and nephews. Clifton was educated in Galveston Schools, graduating from Ball High School in 1975. He served in the United States Air Force. After his time in the Air...

Funeral services for Sandra "Sandy" Kerzee will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Bowers Funeral Home in Teague. Bro. Joe Bill Reid will officiate. Interment will follow the services at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday with the family present from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Mrs. Kerzee passed away on Friday, April 19, 2024, at her residence in Teague. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida on November 9, 1947, and moved to Texas with her family at an early age. Sandy grew up in League City and Galveston and attended Clear Creek High School where she was crowned Miss Clear Creek in 1963. She married Don Kerzee in June of 1966,...

Cleo Vernetta Filer (93) of La Marque, Texas, passed away at her home on Thursday, April 18, 2024. She was born in Lovelady, Texas on September 20, 1930 to Edna and Bernard Wills. Cleo worked as a Secretary for SWECO. She is preceded in death by her husband, Alvy Lee Filer and her beloved dog "Dingo". Cleo is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Knight and husband Russell of Sugarland; son, Jeffrey Bitner and sweet heart Alice Rowe of Tomball; niece and nephew Lisa and Frank Hernandez; grandson Kyle Knight and wife Lesley Knight and two great-grandchildren Tyler and Emily. As per Cleo's request there will be no services.

We are sad to announce the passing of Dr. Collier Michael Cole of Dickinson, Texas. He passed away at the age of 74 years on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Webster, Texas. Collier was a full professor of psychology at UTMB and began a private practice from 1983 - 2016 with Lee Emory MD at Rosenberg Clinic in Galveston. He was also Chair of the Governor's Committee in Austin, Texas for sexual abuse. He was a member of the Harry Benjamin Society and worked with patients with gender identity disorders. Collier also taught at Texas A&M University in Galveston for many years and participated in the Physician's Assistant Program at UTMB. He semi-retired in 2016 and continued to see a few...

Manuela "Nelly" Martinez passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at UTMB Hospital surrounded by her loving family after a brief illness. She was born in Veracruz, Mexico on December 13, 1935 to Regino and Guadalupe Barrios. Manuela had been a longtime resident of Galveston for over 50 years. One of Manuela's greatest gifts and passions was that she was an extraordinary cook. She got tremendous joy from cooking for her children, grandchildren and friends that visited her. Manuela worked for 20 years for Food and Nutrition at Central Middle School. Upon her retirement she enjoyed caring for her grandchildren and continuing to cook for them all their favorite meals. Manuela is preceded...

Portrait of a Servant Even before his formation, God had a special plan for the life of Doris Nathaniel Benford, Sr. He was born into a sharecropping family in Kemp, TX, on March 12, 1930, to Mary Benford (Banks). He was raised in a loving home, along with his two brothers William (WD) and Rufus Jean, provided by his mother, grandmother (Seeny Stovall), uncle (Jesse) and aunt (Annie Lee). God was all they had. After hardship, members of the family relocated to Vernon, TX, and at the age of 6, he responded to the efficacious call of the Holy Spirit and accepted Jesus as his Savior at the New Hope Baptist Church. By the age of 12, he received and began to grapple with the direct call to...

Mary LeDoux Stafford, 94, passed away on April 15, 2024 in Sugar Land, TX. Mary was born on June 11, 1929 in Palmetto, Louisiana to Frank LeDoux and Amy Soileau LeDoux. She enjoyed a happy childhood with her three sisters and two brothers. Mary moved to Texas City, TX in 1946. She was a survivor of the Texas City Disaster in 1947. During the 1940's and 1950's, Mary worked at Public Drugs, The Spa and Bradshaw's Florist in Texas City. Mary married Donald "Punk" Stafford on February 19, 1955 at First Methodist Church in Texas City. They were happily married for 42 years. Mary was a loving and devoted mother to her children Eddie and Donna. Mary was a faithful member of Grace United...

Robert (Zack) Toussant 78 departed this life April 14, 2024. His memorial will be held at Carnes Brothers Funeral Home 1201 Tremont St in Galveston at 11:00 am Saturday April 27, 2024. www.Carnes Brothers.com (409) 765-8080

Joy Holder, 95, of Texas City, Texas went to be with her Lord on Sunday, April 14, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Galveston, Texas on May 5, 1928. Joy lived in Texas City with her adoring husband Morgan Holder and was married to him for 66 years until his passing in 2017. Joy then lived with her daughter, Lori Kramer and family, in San Antonio and then Manvel, Texas. Joy loved God, her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many other friends and family. One of Joys greatest gifts and passions was crafting and woodworking. She got tremendous joy creating things for her church, family and friends. Joy is preceded in death by her husband, Morgan...

Mark Steven Quagliotti of League City, Texas passed away on April 14, 2024 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Mark was born on November 22, 1957 to John and Ann Quagliotti in Clarksburg, West Virginia. After graduation from Philip Barbour High School, he attended West Virginia University earning his baccalaureate degree in 1980, and subsequently his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the School of Dentistry in 1985. Mark was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his brothers Al (Jackie), Greg (Marilyn) and sister Monica Nordstrand (Joe). Also surviving are niece Melissa Gervinski (Jason), nephews Leif and Cyrus Nordstrand, great nephew Benjamin and great niece Mckenna...

Donna Jean Southern Reznicek, born December 31, 1949, passed away April 13, 2024, surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald Oliver, and Lola Mae, Southern. Raised in La Marque, Donna was a vivacious cheerleader and talented student. She graduated from University of Houston with a degree in History, which was a subject that she loved with passion for the entirety of her life. Later, she would achieve a Master of Arts in History from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Donna is survived by her husband, Ray, her two children and family. She was a history teacher renowned as a no-nonsense, creative, and resourceful instructor in and out of the classroom. Donna...

Glenda Joyce Ferrell Thibodeaux, 81 of Santa Fe passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024 in Texas City. She was born on February 18, 1943 to Charles and Joyce Ferrell. Glenda was a longtime resident of Santa Fe formerly from La Marque. She was a member of Highlands Baptist Church in La Marque. She is preceded in death by her parents and son Robbie Freed. Glenda is survived by her husband of 41 years, B. Ray Thibodeaux, daughter Sheri Bevis (Anthony), sons; Bennie Freed and Raymond Thibodeaux (Becky), 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren and 2 great-great-children. Donations may be made in her honor to Highlands Baptist Church in La Marque. As per her wishes there will be no...

Kerry Frank Bush, 82, of Galveston, Texas embarked on his final voyage on Friday, April 12, 2024, from Jennie Sealy Hospital in Galveston, Texas. Kerry was born on July 28, 1941, on the serene coastal key of Bonacca, Guanaja Bay Island, Honduras, to Edwin Theophilus Bush and Maud Elizabeth Tatum Bush. He was their last surviving child. Kerry, the second youngest of his siblings, grew up on Bonacca Key, spending his days sailing the boat his father crafted by hand, journeying between their home on the Key and the family farm on the island to gather vegetables for their meals. When he turned 19, Kerry decided to make a leap of faith and relocate to Brownsville, Texas to work on shrimp...

James A. "Jim" Hayes, Jr. passed from this life peacefully on April 12, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Jim was born November 13, 1935, in Texas City, Texas to James A. Hayes, Sr. and Mignon Huguet Hayes. He was the eldest of four children and a lifelong Texan, having lived in Santa Fe for the last 53 years. He met and married Leta Lynne Williams on December 13, 1958, and they made their first home in Grand Prairie, later moving to Fort Worth then Rockport and finally Santa Fe. It was in Santa Fe where Jim and Lynne began their lifelong journey, and true desire to help others, by opening Hayes Funeral Home on Highway 6 in 1972. The early days of the funeral business included an...

Mary Kay "Sissy" McLaren, 67, of Texas City, passed away Friday, April 12, 2024, at her residence. Mary was born on August 24, 1956, in Galveston Texas, to James Orvil and Billie Jean Vowell. She graduated from La Marque High School with the class of 1974 and was a Texas City Postal Worker for thirty plus years. Mary was a member of the American Postal Workers' Union and a member of the Church of Christ. She is preceded in death by her father J.O. Vowell and grandmother Pearl Love. Mary is survived by her husband, of 49 years, Robert Edward "Rob" McLaren III; her mother: Billy Jean Gillaspy of Dickinson; one brother: Terry Glenn Vowell of Texas City; one daughter and son-in-law; Jamie...

Billie Marie Reynolds Ivy died peacefully in her sleep April 12, 2024, in Texas City, Texas, where she resided since 1953. Billie was born August 15, 1935, to Silas Altus Reynolds and Eva Inez Baily Reynolds in Columbia County, Arkansas. Billie excelled at basketball at her McNeil, Arkansas schools. Upon Billie's marriage to George Warren Ivy in 1951, the couple lived briefly in San Antonio, Texas, where George was stationed by the U.S. Army before his deployment to France from 1951 to 1953. Billie joined George in France during most of his time there. After George completed his military service, the couple moved to Texas City and raised their three children. She was a devoted wife and...