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Services for Oma Bell Perry were held on Tuesday, June 3, at 10 a.m., at the Kerrville Funeral Home. Dr. Otis Moore of Ingram presided. Miss Perry will be taken to the Perry family cemetery in Brazoria County for burial on Wednesday.
Oma Bell Perry has been a Texas treasure all of her life. Born into Texas royalty as the great-granddaughter of Emily Margaret Austin, sister of Stephen F. Austin, Miss Perry died quietly on Thursday, May 29, at age 90, after a life devoted to service of community and country.
She is survived locally by Emily Bierschwale of Junction.
Miss Perry was born on May 8, 1913. She came to live in the Hill Country in 1931, at age 18. She and her mother, Cora Alice, along with a brother, Mord, and two sisters, Corrine and Cora, purchased 100 acres of land at the headwaters of the Frio River in Real County in 1928. Few places on earth can match the beauty of the "Big Springs'', historic falls that feed the upper Frio River.
Over the next five years, between 1928 and 1933, the family acquired additional acreage and built the family home, forming the Big Springs Ranch on the Frio. which consisted of 7,500 acres by 1933. They raised sheep and goats, and their ranch served as a thoroughfare for travelers between Leakey and Kerrville for many years. In the 1970’s, the ranch became known as “the country of 1100 springs” when its falls and landscapes were immortalized in video clips for a television advertising campaign by Pearl Breweries.
By 1986, Oma Bell had survived the deaths of other family members. and continued to work the ranch, which had been converted to a cattle ranch when an invasion of Russian boars and other predators made the raising of smaller animals impossible. At the same time, Miss Perry began work to fulfill a family dream. Miss Perry had promised her two sisters, who both died in the summer of 1986, that she would carry forward the family decision made in the 1970’s to insure that the historic land and family treasures would be passed to a non-profit organization for the building of an orphan’s home and retirement village. In 1996, Miss Perry conveyed the Big Springs Ranch to Hill Country Youth Ranch of Ingram for that purpose.
Miss Perry's vision was that the ranch be developed to serve children and seniors who could most benefit from its naturally healing expanses. She worked for the past seven years of her life to promote the new village, which now includes a Charter School, four children's homesteads, and four grandparent cottages.
As the great granddaughter of Emily Austin, and grandniece of Stephen F. Austin, Miss Perry occupies a special place in Texas and Hill Country history. The Austin family came to Texas with the famous Colony of 300 Virginians in the 19th century. Stephen F. Austin himself was a bachelor, and as the last living member of her branch of the Austin and Perry families, Miss Perry was a devoted historian, preserving many priceless relics of Texas history. Her home now will become a museum for displaying these artifacts.
Miss Perry is survived by numerous relatives across the United States, and was beloved by countless friends. Miss Perry was an active member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Colonial Dames of 17th Century America, the Daughters of the American Colonies, the Real Granddaughters of the American Revolution, and the United Daughters of the American Confederacy. She was also a member of the Heritage Foundation of America, the Trans-Texas Heritage Association, and a leader in the Texas Cattlewomen's Association. She and her family were lifelong members of the Presbyterian Church.
Miss Perry served as Vice President of the Riverside and Landowner's Protection Coalition, Inc., member of the Real County Historical Commission, Trustee of the Real County Historical Museum, and President of the Real County Republican Party. Miss Perry believed that citizenship meant serving the needs of her community and country in whatever way she could, and she offered help to many worthy causes.
Miss Perry has left the stewards of her family land with two simple instructions: "Take care of the children, and keep the land the way the Indians left it." Her idea of including a grandparent's village makes the children's village unique. Miss Perry was fond of saying, “Older folks need to be around children, and children need to learn from them. I like the idea of the generations living together here in this natural setting, where God is still close by."
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to Hill Country Youth Ranch or other charities of choice in memory of Miss Perry.
Online tributes in memory of Miss Perry can be sent to the family at www.kerrvillefuneralhome.com.
Bruce Winkler
Lula Ann 'Dot' Bruce Winkler, 97, passed away on May 29, 2003. Dot was born on September 21, 1905, to Charlie Perry Bruce and Carrie Goode Bruce in Shaw Bend.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Monday, June 2, at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South, with interment to follow in Mission Burial Park South.
In 1908, her family moved to Junction, where they stayed until 1924. Dot was the fifth child of ten; one of two girls with eight brothers. She is remembered for helping her mother raise some of her younger siblings along with several other children from neighboring families.
Dot attended high school in Junction where she loved playing basketball. In 1924, Dot left home to attend college for two years, where she obtained her teaching certificate. Afterwards, she taught school in Santa Anna and Rochelle. In Rochelle, one of her duties was to drive the Model A school bus; the first bus in McCulloch County.
In the early years of the Depression, Dot moved to San Antonio, where she got a job at the Alamo Business College teaching several subjects. Within several years, she became the principal and co-manager of the school.
For several years during World War II, Dot lived in Arizona, but claimed there was “no place like Texas," so moved back to Fort Worth. By 1947, she had moved to Del Rio, where she married R.W. Kronkosky. In 1951, Dot and her husband moved back to San Antonio, where they bought the Ize House; a drive-in store on Commercial and Military Drive. Dot's husband died in 1951, but she continued to run the Ize House with her youngest brother, Woody.
In 1957, Dot married Waldo 'Red' Winkler. Dot and Red spent many wonderful years together, traveling every summer in their Airstream trailer. In their later years, Dot and Red lived in a house near Belton, where they hosted family reunions. In 1996, after Red's death, Dot moved to San Antonio to be near her youngest brother, Woody.
Dot was a truly remarkable woman who will be dearly missed by brother, Woody Bruce and her extensive family of nieces and nephews. She was a strong-willed and feisty lady, who left a legacy of 'Aunt Dot stories' in the family. What she set her mind to, she accomplished.
Funeral services for Joann Wright, 64, of Conroe, will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at the Metcalf Funeral Home Chapel with Ed Bishop officiating. Interment to follow at Garden Park Cemetery with Metcalf Funeral Directors in charge of arrangements. Visitation was 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, June 3, at Metcalf Funeral Home. Joann was born February 28, 1939, in Mineral Wells, and passed away May 31, in The Woodlands.
She is survived by her loving husband, Tommy Wright; two sons, Ricky Wright and wife, Denise, and Tracy E. Wright; mother, Mavis Daharsh; three sisters, Sue Smith, Wendy Sparks and husband, E.T., Sherry Rogers and husband, Jim; three brothers, John Paul Basham and wife, Mary, Larry Daharsh and wife, Elizabeth, Mark Daharsh and wife, Elizabeth; grandchildren, Christi Schneider and husband, Steve, Ericka Wright, Destiny Gibson and husband, Robbie, Cory Parker, Clay Wright and Cody Wright; nieces, nephews, other loving relatives and friends.
Pallbearers were Joe Corley, Bill Foster, Randy Roan, Brian Powell, Tommy Fisher and Alex Bartee. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. B. E. Powell, Lawrence Pomeroy, Guy "Buddy" Hopkins and David Hooper.
Maurine Farmer Mahoney passed away May 14, 2003, in Kerrville. She was the daughter of Asa Grenade Farmer and Norma Louise Farmer of Junction.
Maurine was born April 20, 1911, and attended Junction schools and the University of Texas. She worked in civil service for thirty years at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.
After the death of her husband in 1979, Maurine moved to Kerrville to be with her daughter. Maurine is survived by her son, Don Edward Mahoney; her daughter, Linda Louise Blackstock; two grandsons, David Blackstock and Christian Mahoney; sister, Louise F. Boyer; brother, N. K. "Doc" Farmer of Junction; and many nieces and nephews.
Entombment was May 17, 2003, at Sunset Mausoleum in San Antonio.
Carlton Crouch 82, son of Ernest and Della Crouch, went home to be with the Lord Friday, May 30, 2003, in a Kerrville Hospital.
Mr. Crouch was born in Kimble County on March 14, 1921. He grew up in Mason and lived there most of his life.
He married Billie Louise Ake on April 20, 1942, in Mason, before leaving to serve his country in July of 1942. After three years serving his country, he returned to Mason to find his family and friends and to begin to build a life for his new family.
Mr. Crouch was employed by the City of Mason for 32 years, serving as city manager for 27 years.
He was a member of Spring Street Gospel Church where he was baptized by Pastor Jordan in the Llano River in Mason.
In 1996 Mr. Crouch and his wife moved to Marble Falls to reside with their daughter’s family.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Billie Louise Crouch; one son, Frankie Crouch and wife, Julie; one daughter, Dorothy Butler and husband, Mike; four grandchildren, Sharla, Carl and Steven Crouch, and Michael Butler; one great-grandchild Brandon Crouch, and honored friends Sue Eckert, Mildred Walker and Patty Grote. He is survived also by Jeff Gentry of Junction.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Myrtle Durst, in the year of 1999.
Visitation for the family was held Sunday, June 1, at Aubrey Fife Funerals.
Funeral services were Monday, June 2, 2003, in Spring Street Gospel Church in Mason and burial in Gooch Cemetery under the direction of Aubrey Fife Funeral Home.
Pall bearers were Jerry Crouch, Sammy Crouch, Doug Crouch, Harold Gentry, Kelley Ake, Jodie Ake and Chris Ake. Honorary pall bearers were J.D. Leifeste, Jack Crouch, Jesse Cavness, and Butch Leifeste.
Memorials can be made to the South Texas Health Care System Kerrville Division, 3600 Memorial Blvd., Kerrville, Tx. 78028.
Condolences to the family can be sent to www.aubreyfifefunerals.com.
Martha Alice (Goldie) Lay, 93, passed away Saturday, December 7, 2002.
Funeral services were held Sunday, June 8, 2003, at 2 p.m. in the London Cemetery.
She will be deeply missed by all her family and friends. Martha was a teacher for many years in the Douglas, Arizona, school system. She was a loving wife, wonderful mother and a dear friend. May her memory serve us always as a blessing.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Byron Lay, and is survived by her sister, Eunice Dayton of London; her sister-in-law, Victoria Lay of Kingsville; her five children; Thomas, William and wife, Cheryl, Charles Barry, Deborah Hilcove and husband, Philip and Amanda Brenden and husband, Lloyd; eleven grandchildren: Geoffrey, Kristin, Mark, Brittney Clark and husband, John, Rebecca Redman, Barry, Cindy Lindblom and husband, Buddy, Suzy Williams and husband, Dani, Michael Hilcove, Andrea Hilkovitz, and Sarah Smith and husband, Ryan; nine great-grandchildren; Aubrey and Adrianne Ollivares, Andrew Clark, Dylan and Chloe Redman, Gabe and Daniel Lindblom, Monique and Jordan Williams; one great-great-grandchild, Ricky Ordonez; and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are by Aubrey Fife Funerals of Junction. Condolences to the family may be sent to www.aubreyfifefunerals.com.