Cedarvale  - Bay City Cemetery

Photos courtesy of Betty Crosby
 

Joseph Andrews

Bay City Businessman Dies

Joseph E. Andrews, 57, of Bay City known to fishermen and Citizens Band Radio Club members as “Andy” died early this morning at the Matagorda General Hospital. Cause of death was due to an unexpected heart attack.

“Andy” had been in the Marine Supply business for quite some time and in business in Bay City since 1947.

He was a lifelong resident of Matagorda County. During the Second World War he served in the Merchant Marines and the United States Army.

He is survived by his widow, Hazel Andrews of the home address.

Funeral service will be held Thursday, Sept. 18 at 2 p. m. in the Bay City Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. G. Wayne Wilson of the Faith Assembly of God officiating.

Interment service will be held in the Cedarvale Cemetery.

Daily Tribune, September 17, 1975
 

Willie & Loretta Arnold

Catherine Loretta Arnold

Funeral services for Catherine Loretta Arnold, 76, of Bay City will be held 1 p. m. Saturday at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Jone Willmann of El Campo officiating. Burial will be at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City.

Mrs. Arnold was born March 31, 1916 in Tucson, Ariz. to Arthur Glen and Catherine Mattie Garvin Jones and she died Jan. 7, 1993 at Matagorda General Hospital.

She came to Bay City in August, 1931 and married Wilhelm H. “Willie” Arnold Sept. 22, 1935.

Survivors include a daughter, Loretta Sue Crosby of Nashville, Tenn.; five sons, Wilhelm H. Arnold Jr. of Van Vleck, Louis G. Arnold of Houston, James P. and Arthur R. Arnold of Bay City and Robert D. Arnold of Los Angeles, Calif.; two sisters, Margie Barlow of Bay City and Glennie Chesney of Farmersville, La.; four brothers, A. G. Jones of Orange, Sherwood Jones of Tennessee and Robert and Raymond Jones, both of Bay City; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Arnold was preceded in death by her husband, Wilhelm H. “Willie” Arnold Aug. 6, 1989; her parents and a brother, Otis Jones.

Pallbearers will be her sons, Wilhelm H. Arnold Jr., Louis G. Arnold, James P. Arnold, Robert D. Arnold, Arthur R. Arnold and a grandson, Ben Arnold. Honorary pallbearer is her daughter, Loretta Sue Crosby.

Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home in Bay City.

Daily Tribune, January 8, 1993
 

Emmett Wilborn Baughman

Graveside services for Emmett Wilborn Baughman, 89, of Bay City will be held 10 a. m. Friday at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City with Brother Joe Wrape officiating.

Mr. Baughman was born Aug. 11, 1903 in Texas and died August 3, 1993 at Vencor Hospital in Houston.

He was a lifelong resident of Bay City.

Mr. Baughman is survived by a friend, Georgia Williams of Bay City.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Nettie Bennett and Addie Owens and by one brother, Marion Baughman.

Arrangements are by Taylor Brothers Funeral Home in Bay City.

Daily Tribune, August 5, 1993
 

Otha M. Caldwell

Otha M. Caldwell

Otha M. Caldwell, 62, of Bay City died April 23 at Matagorda General Hospital.  He was a member of St. Paul’s

Methodist Church, the Fire Department and retired from Celanese Chemical Company.

Survivors include wife, Joan of Bay City, son Jerry Caldwell of Bay City; son-in-law, Marvin Etgen of Bay City; daughters, Coco Caldwell of Bay City and Mrs. Pauline Etgen of Bay City; brothers, Marshall Caldwell of Houston and Floyd Calwell of Uvalde; 3 grandsons; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be held at St. Paul’s Methodist Church at 2 pm Saturday, April 25 with Rev. Don White of St. Paul’s officiating. Interment will follow at Cedarvale Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Edith Armstrong Center Building Fund, Box 1305, Bay City.

Pallbearers include Bill Henry, Scott Richardson, Lewis Nygard, Bob Bulter, James Watts and Bill Dunsworth.  Honorary pallbearers are members of the Volunteer Fire Department.

Services under the direction of Dick R. Elkins Bay City Funeral home

Daily Tribune, April 24, 1981            Obituary courtesy of Faye Cunningham
 

William Floyd Curnutt

William Curnutt

Funeral services for William Curnutt, 71, of Markham will be held at 2 p. m. Friday at Sixth Street Church of Christ with retired Rev. Joe Ramsey officiating. Burial will be at Cedarvale Cemetery.

Mr. Curnutt was born Oct. 21, 1918, in Canadian, Texas to Columbus Floyd and Florence Adcock Curnutt and died Dec. 26, 1989, at Matagorda General Hospital.

He was a member of the Church of Christ, a resident of Markham since 1950 and a chemist for Marathon Oil Company. He earned a degree in animal husbandry from Texas A & M University before joining the United States Marine Corps. He served in the Fourth Amphibian Tractor Battalion for three years in the Pacific during World War II participating in invasions of the Marshall Islands, Guam and Okinawa. During his service, he received the Purple Heart.

Mr. Curnutt managed a Canadian grain elevator and was a warden with the Texas Prison System before moving to Markham. He served as foster father to John Mills of Houston and Glenna Balch of Austin—a nephew and niece—and was known affectionately as “Daddy Bill” by young people in the Tidehaven area.

He is survived by his wife Evelyn Curnutt of Markham; daughter and son-in-law Sara Lee and Stan Fuller of Markham; brothers Wilborn Curnutt of Waco, Horace Curnutt of Leadville, Colo., and Harold Curnutt of Blessing; sisters Helen Watts of Granite Shoals and Thelma Scales of Clovis, N. M.; grandchildren Scott, T. John, Bill and Bryan Crow of Markham; foster children John Mills of Houston and Glenna Balch of Austin; and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Perry Curnutt, Kerry Curnutt, Richard Curnutt, Tom Curnutt, John Mills and Douglas Miller.

Honorary Pallbearers include Jody Miller, Ray Sparks, C. W. Rush, Milam Sparks, Randy Fife and Billie Mack Williams.

Services are under the direction of Dick R. Elkins of Bay City Funeral Home.

Daily Tribune, December 28, 1989
 

William F. Davis

William Frank Davis

Funeral services for William Frank Davis, 46, of Lompoc, Calif., will be held 11 a. m. Friday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church with the Rev. Hugh Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City.

Mr. Davis was born Nov. 14, 1945, to William John and Elizabeth Langshaw Davis in Lompoc and died Jan. 13, 1992, in Painesville, Ohio.

A resident of California for 1 ½ Years, Mr. Davis was a former Bay City resident. He was also affiliated with the Episcopal church.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Davis, of Lompoc; mother, Elizabeth Davis of Perry, Ohio; a daughter, Stacy Lynn Davis of Lompoc; and three sons, Shane Davis of Lubbock, Brian Weinhold of Goodfellow Air Force Base and Greg Davis of Bay City.

Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home, Bay City.

Daily Tribune, January 1992
 

Mary Jane Fivecoat

Mary Jane Fivecoat

Funeral services for Mary Jane Fivecoat, 79, of Van Vleck were held 4 p. m. Monday at the Taylor Brothers Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Mike Zimmerman officiating. Burial followed at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City.

Mrs. Fivecoat was born Dec. 31, 1911, to William Henry and Margaret W. Reinke Hughes in Bay City and died April 28, 1991, at Matagorda General Hospital.

She spent many years in food service for hospitals in Freeport and Abilene and managed her own goat dairy and small produce business in Clyde. She retired in 1982 and has spent the last 9 ½ years with her sister in Van Vleck. She was a member of the Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her sister, Margaret Anne Dement of Van Vleck; two nephews and their wives, Joe and Kathy Dement of Bay City and John and Jolene Dement of Freeport;  three nieces, Margaret Bryant of Matagorda, Martha Zernicek of Wadsworth and Mary Bryant of Bay City; and a host of great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank V. Fivecoat, who died June 10, 1982, and a brother, Arie H. de la Bye.

Pallbearers are John Dement, Wyatt Ashcraft, Arthur Lee Burt, Gary Paschall, Scott Wakefield and John Hooker.

Honorary pallbearers are Wade Ashcraft, Joe Dement and David Molina.

Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home, Bay City.

Daily Tribune, May, 1991
 

John T. Grimes

John Thomas Grimes

Mr. John Thomas Grimes, age 45 years 2 months 1 day, passed away at the family residence in Damon Mound, Texas, Monday, at 7:30 p. m. Mr. Grimes is survived by his wife, Mrs. J. T. Grimes; one daughter, Fay Irene Grimes; one son John Weldon Grimes, and two sisters, Mrs. J. F. Williams of Bay City and Mrs. Pearl Sbatke of Freer, Texas. Mr. Grimes for a number of years operated a blacksmith shop here and a few years ago moved to Damon, Texas. Funeral services will be held Saturday at Taylor Bros. funeral chapel. Burial will be in Cedarvale Cemetery under direction of Taylor Bros.

Matagorda County Tribune, January 9, 1936
 

Delso C. Van Horn          Nora Van Horn

Nora Van Horn

Nora Van Horn, 89, of Bay City died Sunday, Oct. 13, 1996 at the Methodist Hospital in Houston.

She was born Feb. 7, 1907 in Card, Arkansas to parents Arthur and Florence Branch Given. She had been a resident of Bay City several years and was a faithful member of the Sixth Street Church of Christ.

Survivors are son and daughter in law; Earl T. and Leta Ward of Bay City, sister, Artie Scroggins of Okeechobee, Florida, Grandson, Erwin and wife Sharon Ward of Bay City, Great Granddaughter, Renee Ward of Bay City, several nieces and nephews.

Graveside service will be conducted at Cedarvale Cemetery Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 1 p. m. with Mr. Joe Wrape and Dr. Bryan Simons officiating.

Honorary pallbearers will be all the Elders and Deacons of the Sixth Street Church of Christ, Lewis Nygard, Raymond Stridde, Earl Long, and George Mort. Memorials may be given to the building fund of the Sixth Street Church of Christ in lieu of flowers.

Services under the direction of Dick R. Elkins Bay City Funeral Home.

Daily Tribune, October 15, 1996
 

Arter P. Williams          Jennie F. Williams

Jennie Williams
Last Rites Held Sunday Afternoon For Mrs. Williams

Funeral services were held at 2 p. m. Sunday at Taylor Bros. Funeral chapel for Mrs. A. P. (Jennie) Williams, 2601 Elm Street.

Mrs. Williams, 78, died Friday. She was a native of Alabama but had been a resident of Bay City for 42 years.

Surviving are her husband: daughters, Mrs. Arlis Coker, Mrs. Odell Reinke, Mrs. J. H. Holloway, Mrs. E. P. Holloway and Mrs. M. E. Dickson, all of Bay City; and Mrs. J. L. Williams, Houston; A. W. Williams, A. P. Williams, Jr., W. R. Williams, J. F. Williams, all of Bay City; 29 grandchildren, and 26-great-grandchildren.

Interment was in Cedarvale Cemetery.

The Rev. Ferman Weedon officiated.

The Daily Tribune, July 31, 1961
 

Bonnie E. Yeager

Bonnie Earl Yeager

Funeral services for Bonnie Earl Yeager, 91, of Bay City will be held at 10 a. m. Wednesday at Taylor Brothers Home with the Rev. Bill Dugger officiating. Burial will be in Cedarvale Cemetery.

Miss Yeager was born Sept. 1, 1893, in Texas to George and Ida Koch Yeager and died March 2, 1987, at Matagorda General Hospital.

She was a resident of Bay City since 1902.

Survivors include five nieces, Bonnie Nelson of Houston, Janice Sailor of Monarch, Mont., Jean Hadley of Ganado, Doris Belville of New Braunfels and Bonnie Briggs of Texas City; a nephew, George B. Yeager Jr. of Bay City; and a lifelong friend, Cooper H. Gusman of Bay City.

Pallbearers include George B. Yeager Jr., John Nelson, Gus Briggs, Henry Belville, Dwight Hadley and Alvin Hadley.

Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

Daily Tribune, March 3?, 1987
 

Ida A. Yeager

Mrs. Ida Yeager

Mrs. Ida Yeager, resident of the city for many years, died at her home Tuesday afternoon at 4:40 o’clock. She was 74 years, 9 months and 14 days of age.

Besides her husband, she is survived by two sons, George, of Bay City, and Henry of Galveston; and three daughters, Mrs. Jim Fitzmaurice of Houston, and Mrs. Ida Swem of Newgulf, and Miss Bonnie Yeager of this city.

Service will be conducted from the Catholic Church Thursday morning at 10 o’clock. Walker-Matchett funeral directors, are in charge of the funeral arrangements.

The Tribune joins the many friends of this good woman’s bereaved family in expressing sympathy. A full account of the life of this wife and mother will appear later.

Daily Tribune or Matagorda County Tribune, September 17, 1936
 

William E. Yeager

William A. E. “Bill” Yeager

February 25, 1882 – August 29, 1925

W. A. Yeager Drowned

Goes in Undertow in Mitchell’s Cut

W. A. Yeager, familiarly called “Bill” by his many friends, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Yeager, Sr., of this city, was accidentally drowned in “Mitchell’s Cut” on the beach at 10 o’clock Saturday night. His body was found yesterday morning at 10 o’clock and laid to rest in the Bay City Cemetery this afternoon at 2:30.

Bill had accompanied a crowd on a fishing excursion to “Mitchell’s Cut”, and immediately upon arrival he and Mr. John Brotherson, of Galveston, proposed to take a swim. Their companions warned them about the undertow and the treachery of the water. They replied that they would not go far and only wanted to cool off. Immediately after the two entered the water they were instantly swept away by the undertow, Mr. Brotherson being rescued in an exhausted condition. An all night search, which continued until yesterday morning when the body was found, was kept up.

Decedent was born in Fayette County on February 25, 1882, and was 43 years of age, the oldest of a family of six children of Mr. and Mrs. Georg Yeager, Sr., who moved to Bay City in 1902, residing here continuously. Besides the father and mother, two brothers and three sisters survive: George Jr., Henry, Mrs. J. M. Fitzmaurice, Misses Bonnie and Ida May, all of whom were here to attend the last sad rites, and to whom is extended the sympathy of the entire town.

“Bill” Yeager was a big-hearted, jovial boy, a friend to all, without malice or enmity in his makeup. He had a friendly smile, word and handclasp for everybody and the most tender solicitude for parents and brothers and sisters.

God’s benison be over him – may he rest in peace.

Matagorda County Tribune, September 4, 1925

From Thursday’s Daily:

Those from out-of-town attending the funeral of Mr. W. A. Yeager, who was drowned in Mitchell’s Cut Saturday night, were: M. Fernau, Flatonia; W. J. Koch, Flatonia; E. O. Arnim and wife, Moulton; Mrs. H. Paul, Moulton; A. and H. Sloma, West Columbia; Mrs. G. B. Taylor, Houston; Frank Koch, Galveston; and co-workers and friends from Galveston, representatives of the Galveston Gas Co.