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The remains of Mrs. I. C. Richards who died in Waco, September 20, 1946, were brought to Palacios and on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock funeral services were held in the First Baptist Church conducted by Rev. L. W. Crouch, followed by burial in the Palacios cemetery. Mrs. Richards was born Burnette Ellen Baker on May 3, 1863 in Macon County, Mo. At the age of 18 she was married to Mr. Isaac Caleb Richards, and for many years they made their home in Missouri. In 1898 they moved with their family to Texas, locating in the eastern part of the state. During 1910 they came to Palacios and continued to make this their home. Mr. Richards passed away in 1934 but Mrs. Richards maintained her home until a few years ago, when failing health made it necessary to dispose of it. Since then she had lived with her children and was with her sons in Waco when the summons came. When 16 years of age she became a Christian and a member of the Baptist Church. In whatever community she lived she gave herself without reserve to the church and its activities. She filled many of the church offices gladly and efficiently, for next to her home came her Church, and was her pastor's friend and co-laborer. She was a devoted wife and mother, kind friend and neighbor, ever ready to lend a helping hand and cheering word as she traveled life's pathway. Five children survive: Mrs. Bertha Lea Rupe, McAllen; John W. Richards, Palacios; Jesse B. and Ira E. Richards and Mrs. Annie Parten, Waco, also 12 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Palacios Beacon, September 26, 1946 |
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“If it can be fixed, John will fix it.”
The little shop has been a fixture place in Palacios since 1914 when Mr. Richards first rented space there for part-time job work. In his spare time he taught music two days a week at the high school. “People would bring in little things for me to fix and the business worked out pretty good,” Mr. Richards said as he tinkered with a broken piece of electrical equipment in his shop. Eventually he rented more space and finally purchased the building. Born in Chariton County, Missouri, in 1889, Mr. Richards was the son of a wheat farmer. In 1896 the family moved to Trinity County in Texas where the elder Richards did some farming and concentrated on his real interest, fine cabinet making. He was also an excellent machinist, and John Richards says that what he knows about the machinist’s trade, he father taught him. Mr. Richards’ first teachers in Texas were the parents of former Governor Allan Shivers. The Shivers married while John was going to school in the two-room schoolhouse in Trinity County. The Richards family later moved to Abilene then to Albany where John finished high school. After graduation he went into the ranching business for a couple of years. He accompanied his parents, two brothers, and two sisters when they moved to Palacios in 1909. The Richards loaded everything they owned on a freight car for the journey to Palacios. John was assigned the duty of guarding the family belongings, during the six days it took for the freight car to reach here. He remembers that everything went smoothly until the train pulled out of Houston. There the air brakes on the train jammed and a flat car buckled. The two pigs, two horses, and a coop-full of chickens that were in the freight car were frightened by the commotion, but none the worse for wear! In Palacios Mr. Richards went to work for the Pierce Marine Construction Company building boats. He drew $3 a day, top wages for construction workers in those days. He saved his money and enrolled along with his brother in Baylor University in 1911. There he studied the violin while his brother endeavored to master the piano. Before Rubinoff and his accompanist were seriously threatened by competition, the brothers’ money ran out and the Richards returned to Palacios. Back in Palacios, John was cast in a home talent play along with Roberta Partain, a girl who would later become Mrs. Richards. John decided that here was a girl he would like to have a date with so one night while the play group was at the Baptist Encampment Grounds practicing, he approached a young lady and asked to walk her home. It wasn’t until the girl accepted that John realized that in the dark he had mistaken Roberta’s older sister for her. Without batting an eye he escorted the elder Miss Partain home—but it wasn’t long before John and Roberta were a regular twosome around Palacios. After two years in the carpentry profession, Mr. Richards rented a corner in the building on Main Street that he now owns. In addition to repairing machinery during the day, he taught music and played the violin for the old silent movies at night. In the same band with him was his brother, Jesse and Carlton Crawford. At that time Palacios was just becoming a thriving little tourist town. People came in by train from all over the state to ride the excursion boats. The Hotel Palacios was the gathering place in those days, and the Richards brothers supplied music for some 300 people daily at lunch and dinner. Later Mr. Richards assumed the managership of an excursion boat and, when that boat was wrecked in a hurricane, he built his own 36-foot boat capable of carrying 35 passengers. He named it the Claire M. after his sister-in-law. At that time it was the largest and fastest launch in the Tres-Palacios Bay. The Palacios Beacon wrote up the maiden voyage of the craft: “In a recent trip to the Gulf it made the quickest time that had ever been made by any launch in these waters.” On one excursion, Mr. Richards lost a passenger. One of the National Guard soldiers stationed here fell into the drink. Mr. Richards yelled for his son, Red, to take over the wheel while he lowered the skiff. The soldier was dressed in heavy clothes and was going down for the proverbial third time when the captain hauled him aboard the skiff. This was around 1917. In 1919 Mr. Richards added the locksmithing business to his shop and devoted most of his time to his profession. A natural when it comes to mechanics, he built a “shoot-the-chute” for his children complete with a little roller-coaster. An elevator built by him served to carry the family upstairs from the shop to their living quarters in the second story. Many amusing things have happened in his profession through the years. Once a man brought in his artificial leg to be repaired. The limb, complete with shoe and sock, was lying on this workbench when his mother walked in. She saw it and thought it was a real leg. “She almost fainted,” Mr. Richards remembers. Mr. Richards is a deacon in the First Baptist Church and has played at the church every Sunday he is in town since 1912. His hobby is traveling and photography. He has visited 20 states and five states in Mexico in the past 20 years. Some 500 photographic slides recall the visits on cold winter nights. The Richards were blessed with seven children, one of whom, LaNelle, passed away shortly after graduation from high school. The children are John C. of Palacios, Mrs. Billie Bert Rowe of Markham, Mrs. Peter Sells of Palacios, Joe of El Campo, Mrs. Ginger Turner of Bishop, and Miss Bobby Jean Richards of Palacios.
Palacios Beacon, February 28, 1957 |
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Collegeport Items A boat ride was enjoyed by the young people of Palacios and Collegeport, on Friday evening, October 7th. Seven from Collegeport and twenty-six from Palacios were on board when the Claire M., with Captain Richards at the wheel, slowly glided out toward the Pass. When several miles out, the hum of the motors ceased, and the table was spread with delicious things to eat. The supper was greatly enjoyed by everyone. The boat left Palacios at 8:20 p. m. and returned at 10:35.
Palacios Beacon, October 13, 1927 |
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John William Richards, who had been in business in Palacios longer than anyone, died at 1:30 Tuesday morning, July 7, in a Victoria Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 3 p. m. Wednesday, July 8, at the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Rayford Harris officiating. Interment will be in the Palacios Cemetery. A son of Bernette and Isaac Richards, he was born in Prairie Hill, Missouri on February 15, 1889. He came to Palacios in 1909 and in 1913 purchased the property at 421 Main where he has operated a repair shop ever since. Here he and his wife, Roberta Partain Richards, whom he married in 1912, raised their family of seven children. One of their daughters, LaNell, preceded her father in death. After the children were grown and most of them married, Mr. Richards built a home on Grassy Point Road, this was completely destroyed during Hurricane Carla in 1961. He and his wife have resided at 110 Duson since 1961. A member and deacon of the First Baptist Church, he was a gifted musician who was always ready to take part on any community program. He is survived by his wife, Roberta of Palacios; two sons, John C. Richards of Palacios and Joe Edward Richards of El Campo; four daughters, Mrs. Russell (Billie Bert) Rowe of Wharton, Mrs. LeRoy (Bobbie Jean) Braden of Port Lavaca, Mrs. Harold (Patsy) Sells of Palacios and Mrs. Kenneth (Ginger) Turner of Houston; one sister, Mrs. Anna Parten of Bay City; one brother, I. E. Richards of Waco; seventeen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Palacios Beacon, July 9, 1970 A Tribute To John W. Richards John W. Richards was a Christian gentleman, a term not applicable very often these days. He was a man of deep convictions, reflecting the good home from which he came. The "Fix It" shop became a town institution. Who else would spend hours repairing an old iron or some child's bicycle and then charge a nominal fee? His work offered a challenge which he enjoyed. Mr. John was an artist and the violin was the instrument which responded most to the master's touch. The years he and his equally talented sister-in-law, Claire Burton, combined their talents to bring such inspiring music at the Baptist Church can never be forgotten. No one could ever forget the day the gates of heavy were opened as Mr. John with his violin poured out his love and grief for his eldest daughter. It was a poignantly rare moment not many people were privileged to experience. No one who ever went on a moonlight ride on the Claire M. on Tres Palacios Bay could ever forget that Mr. John was the captain and crew. He made the world not only a better place, but a more pleasant one because he used his talents to brighten so many lives. What a rich heritage he leaves for future generations. I'm sure his children, grand and great grandchildren will add beauty, kindness and compassion to their world because of the man, John Richards. The "Fix It" shop on Main Street of Palacios will never be the same and the work of this man will never be forgotten.--Contributed The Palacios Beacon, July 23, 1970 Mrs. Roberta Partain Richards, 97, of Palacios died at 3 a. m., Friday, Jan. 18, 1991 in Wharton. Funeral services were held Jan. 21 at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Stacy Houser officiating. She was buried at the Palacios Cemetery. Mrs. Richards was born Jan. 11, 1894 in Deming's Bridge, Matagorda County to the late John Alfred and Martha Frances Partain, one of Texas' early pioneer families. She was a fifth-generation resident of Matagorda County and a homemaker. In 1910 the family moved to Palacios and joined the First Baptist Church where she remained a member for over 80 years. She met the late John W. Richards there and married him two years later. They were faithful supporters of the church and much that was meaningful in their lives occurred there. For almost 50 years, she and her husband lived above their "fix-it" shop in Palacios. The musical talent that John Richards brought to his family was echoed in his seven children and music poured from the windows of their home at 411 Main Street. Roberta Partain Richards was the heart and hub of her family. With a gentle wry humor and a teasing manner, she was a second mother to nieces and nephews and will be greatly missed by many. She is survived by the following children and their spouses, all of whom she claimed as her own; sons, John C. Richards and his wife Fanelle and Joe E. Richards and his wife, Pat; son-in-law Russell Rowe; daughter Patsy Sells and her husband Harold Sells, Bobby Jean Braden and her husband, LeRoy Braden, and Ginger Turner and her husband, Kenneth Turner. She also leaves 16 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. In addition to their parents and her husband, who died in 1970, she was preceded in death by two daughters, LaNelle Richards and Billie Bert Rowe; one grandchild, Suellen Rowe, four sisters, and two brothers. Pallbearers were her grandsons, Joe H. and Jack Richards, Ken D. Turner, and Bobby, John and Ron Sells. Memorials may be made to Port Lavaca's First Baptist Church Organ Fund, the First Baptist Church of Palacios, or charity of the donor's choice.
Palacios Beacon, January 23, 1991 |
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Billie Bert Rowe, age 75, of Wharton, died Oct. 24, 1990 at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Rowe was born March 12, 1915 in Palacios to John and Roberta Partain Richards. She married Russell Willie Rowe in 1928 in Palacios. Mrs. Rowe was a 52 year resident of Wharton and was a member of the First Baptist Church with Rev. Orville Roberts officiating, and Reverends Ken Shroeder and Willard Hill assisting. Interment followed in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Survivors include her husband, Russell W. Rowe of Wharton; daughters, Lou Claire Kuminecz of Clear Lake and Bonnie Cook of Wharton; mother, Roberta Richards of Wharton; sisters, Patsy Sells of Palacios; Bobby Jean Braden of Port Lavaca and Ginger Turner of Red River, New Mexico; brothers, John C. Richards of Palacios and Joe E. Richards of El Campo; and four grandchildren. Pallbearers were Joe H. Richards, Jack Richards, Ronnie Sells, Bobby Sells, Phil Cusimano, Kenny Turner, Lester Wallace, Arthur Lang and Adam Leisaner. Memorials may be made to the Building Fund of the First Baptist Church, 507 N. Fulton, Wharton, TX 77488 or to the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 245, Hungerford, TX 77488.
Palacios Beacon, October 31, 1990 |
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Starting out with the Central Power and Light Company in 1937 as a serviceman's helper, the Palacios native has advanced to the position of C. P. L. manager for Palacios. Mr. Richards has lived within three blocks of Main Street all his life and is highly active in community affairs. He is a member of the First Baptist Church, a director of the chamber of commerce for the past five years, a member of the volunteer fire department, and past president of the Rotary Club. When he was appointed C. P. L. manager in 1950, the red head remarked that it was "quite a change taking a boy off the poles and sticking him in the office. But he lost no time adapting to a desk job. He explains that he looks at his job as a service to the people. "I think our customers realize the bargain they are getting when they compare our bills with the cost of other consumer items whose prices have gone up over the years," he says. As he looks back over the years, the C. P. L. manager notes "tremendous advances and improvements both in technical and service departments." Although tremendously interested in his work, Mr. Richards still finds time for hunting and fishing. Last season he bagged the duck limit each time he went out. While he was growing up, he lived across the street from the fire department. Every time the engine roared off to a fire he gazed after it wistfully. For like most youngsters the fireman was his idea of bravery and heroics personified. When he grew up it was only natural that he volunteered his services to the fire unit. Since then he has been dropping whatever he is doing and dashing out to hip fires, both big and small. Through the years, jumping up at the sound of the fire alarm has become a reflex habit just like blinking your eyes or breathing. In 1943 he was bed ridden with a broken pelvis. The alarm sounded one night while Mr. Richards was sound asleep. Groggy with sleep he forgot about his broken bones and leaped out of bed. A flash of pain rudely reminded him of his condition, but since he was already up, he hobbled on to the fire. Mr. Richards was born 40 years ago, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Richards. He was graduated from Palacios High School in 1933 with football letters gained at the quarterback and halfback slots. He attended Texas A. & M. College and is still a big Aggie booster. Before he went to work for Central Power and Light, Mr. Richards held various jobs. He was a commercial shrimper during the depression, worked on his father's pleasure boat on the Bay, and was a plumber and electrician. He remembers during the depression, shrimp sold for two cents a pound compared to today's 30 cents. During the 1940's Mr. Richards was in the Civil Air Patrol and served as senior pilot. Married in 1938 to Fanell Barrier, the Richards have three children, Lynn, a 17-year-old junior in high school; Jill, a 13-year-old junior high student, and Jack, five. Palacios Beacon, January 31, 1957
Palacios--John Coble "Red" Richards, 81, of Palacios, died Wednesday Feb. 4, 1998. He was born July 27, 1916, in Palacios to the late John William and Eddie Roberta Partain Richards. He was the retired manager of Central Power and Light in Palacios. He was a former president, secretary and director of Rotary Club, vice-president of Chamber of Commerce, chairman of United Fund and Salvation Army Unit, assistant chief and secretary-treasurer of Volunteer Fire Department and president of Texas Mid-Coast Little League. He was senior pilot in U. S. Air Force Civil Air Patrol and member First Baptist Church. Survivors: daughters, Jill Lang of Palacios and Lynn Wallace of Bay City; son, Jack Richards of Friendswood; sisters, Patsy Sells of Palacios, Bobbie Braden of Port Lavaca and Ginger Turner of Kerrville; brother, Joe Richards of El Campo; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by: wife, Fanell Barrier Richards. Services will be at 2 p. m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Palacios, the Rev. Hollas Hoffman officiating. Burial will be at Palacios Cemetery. Taylor Brothers Funeral Home, Palacios, 972-2012. Memorials: First Baptist Church in Palacios. Victoria Advocate, February 5, 1998 Funeral services for Fanell Barrier Richards, 77, were Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1996 at the First Baptist Church in Palacios with Rev. Hollis Hoffman officiating. Interment was at the Palacios Cemetery in Palacios. Mrs. Richards was born Dec. 27, 1918 in Victoria to Walter Rosser and Frances Wesley Robinson Barrier. She died Sept. 2, 1996. She was a resident of Palacios for 60 years and a member of the First Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband John C. "Red" Richards of Palacios, two daughters and sons-in-law, Lynn and Lester Wallace of Bay City and Jill and Arthur Lang of Palacios; one son and daughter-in-law, Gertrude and Bob McDonald of Pearland; a brother and sister-in-law, Walter E. and Roberta Barrier of Olivia; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister, Jesse Zuella Barrier; and a brother, Charles Otis Barrier. Pallbearers were Lester Wallace, Arthur Lang, Britt Wallace, Jason Wallace, Zach Lang and Zeb Lang. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Palacios. Palacios Beacon, September 11, 1996 Richards Honored On 50th Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. John C. "Red" Richards were honored recently with a 50th wedding anniversary reception given by their children. John C. Richards and the former Fanell Barrier were married on August 27, 1938, in Port Lavaca, TX by the Rev. John Parten. The reception was hosted by the couple's daughters, Mrs. Jill Land and husband Arthur of Palacios, Mrs. Lynn Wallace and husband Lester of Bay City, and the couple's son, Jack D. Richards and wife Sharion of Texas City. Members of the house party were Miss Tiffini Wallace of Bay City, granddaughter of the couple, Mrs. Kara Wallace of Clear Lake, granddaughter-in-law, and Mrs. Janet Wallace of Palacios, granddaughter-in-law. Special guests included Mrs. Eloise Parten Sexton of Sweeny, TX who was an attendant at the Richards' wedding, and daughter of the presiding minister. Other special guests were Mrs. Roberta Richards, 94-year-old mother of Mr. Richards, and 2-year-old Mallory Wallace of Palacios, the couple's only great-grandchild. Approximately 150 guests attended.
Palacios Beacon, August 31, 1988 |
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PALACIOS [Matagorda County, Texas] -- Kathlyn
"Patsy" Sells, 79, of Palacios, died Tuesday, April 17, 2001. Funeral services for Harold M. Sells, 72, of Palacios, were held Jan. 7, 1995 at the First Baptist Church in Palacios with the Rev. Hollas Hoffman officiating. Burial was in Palacios Cemetery. Mr. Sells was born July 21, 1922 in Seguin to W. M. and Beatrice Moore Sells. He died Jan. 4, 1995 at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Wharton. A retired teacher, Mr. Sells has been a resident of Palacios since 1967. He was a U. S. Army veteran of World War II and a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church. Mr. Sells is survived by his wife, Patsy Richards Sells of Palacios; daughter and son-in-law Cathy and Phillip Cusimano of Rosenberg; three sons and daughters-in-law, John and Sheryl Sells of Shreveport, La., Robert and Cyndie Sells of Houston, and Ron and Marsha Sells of Port Lavaca; three sisters, Olive Virginia Wrenn of Port Lavaca, Libby Ramsey of Palacios, and Kay Chiles of Bayou Batrie La Batre], Ala.; and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, W. M. Sells and Norval Sells. Pallbearers were Don Landry, Robert King, Bill Scurlock, Jim Murry, Richard Sanders and J. E. Todd.
Palacios Beacon, January 11, 1995 |
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Do I remember Pearl Harbor? After graduating from Palacios High School in 1941, I went to work for Lockheed Aircraft in California. On December 7, 1941 I was lying in the hospital recovery room just awakening from anesthetic following emergency appendectomy surgery. The nurse told me that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. In my drowsy state, I remarked, "Pearl who? Look what they have just done to me!" Palacios Beacon, December 4, 1991 Joe Edward Richards at the Roundhouse Pavilion in 1940 with Yvonne Stegall and Irene Claybourn.
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Bobby Jean Braden, 79, of Port Lavaca, died September 9, 2005. She was born July 29, 1926, in Palacios, TX to the late John W. and Roberta Partain Richards. She is survived by her husband, LeRoy Braden; daughters,, Robbie Elrod and husband Harry of Pittsburgh, PA and Kim Leissner and husband Adam of San Antonio; her grandchildren, Braden Elrod of Waco, Kevin Elrod and Lauren Elrod of Pittsburgh; step-grandchildren, Russ Elrod and wife Amy and their daughter Emma of Conway, AR and Ryan Elrod of Austin. She is also survived by her brother Joe Richards of El Campo and her sister Ginger McKay of Kerrville. Bobby Jean grew up with six brothers and sisters on the main street of Palacios in a house filled with music. She worked as a teenager during WWII at Camp Hulen, followed by employment at the bank in Palacios. In 1949 she went to work for Alcoa where she met LeRoy. They married in 1959 and she became a homemaker and mother of two daughters. Her life was filled with their many travels, good friends, family, music at the First Baptist Church and a strong love for her grandchildren. Those who knew her will always remember a smile on her face. Visitation was held Sunday, September 11, 2005, form 1:00 to 3:00 p. m. at First Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held Monday, September 12, 2005, at 10:00 a. m. at First Baptist Church, Rev. Mike Gresham officiating. Interment will follow at Port Lavaca Cemetery. Pallbearers Ron Sells, David Evins, Joe Richards, Tony Smith, Bobby Partain, Ryan Elrod. The Family would like to thank Dr. Bunnell and Nursing Staff at Memorial Medical Center. Memorials to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 902 Calhoun, Port Lavaca, TX 77979 or The American Red Cross. Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home in charge of arrangements 361-552-2988.
Victoria Advocate, September 12, 2005 |
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say the people of Palacios when they have a broken gizmo in need of
repair. John W. Richards’ fix-it shop on Main Street is the place
people naturally think of when a minor mechanical disaster occurs.
John
C. Richards, better known to his many friends as Red, is a living
example of the American success story.
