Matagorda County Obituaries
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Anthony Shundrell Daranda
November 7, 1975 ~ June 13, 2024

An obituary is not available for Anthony Daranda. We welcome you to share your thoughts and memories on our guest book. Please continue to pray for the family of Anthony Daranda.

VISITATION
Sunday, June 16, 2024, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, Lakeside Memorial Chapel, 3318 Ave D
Bay City, TX 77414

FUNERAL SERVICE
Sunday, June 16, 2024, 2:00 PM, Lakeside Memorial Chapel, 3318 Ave D, Bay City, TX 77414

Lakeside Funeral Home
 

James Davenport, 54, Buried Here Oct. 22

Graveside services were held here Saturday afternoon for James Davenport, 54, of Bay City. Interment was in Edna Cemetery.

Mr. Davenport, a former Edna resident, passed away in Bay City last Wednesday. Edna friends of the Davenports said the family lived in Jackson County several years in the 1940’s.

He is survived by his widow, five sons and three daughters.

Edna Herald, October 27, 1960
 

Dianne Davidson

Funeral services for Dianne Davidson, 41, of Houston are scheduled for 11 am Saturday, Nov. 5, 1994, at New Hope Baptist Church in Bay City with the Bishop h. J. Falls officiating. Burial will follow in Eastview Cemetery in Bay City.

Visitation will be until 9 pm today at the Duncan-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel in Bay City.

Miss Davidson was born Aug. 26, 1953, in Bay City to John Edgar and Leola Edwards Davidson and died Nov. 2, 1994 in Twelve Oaks Hospital in Houston.

She was a member of the Church of God and was a resident of Houston.

Survivors include a daughter, Pauline Davidson of Sweeny; a sister, Martha Hobbs of West Columbia; seven brothers, Ernest Davidson, Solomon Davidson, and Tom Davidson all of Bay City; Elder Samuel Williams of Brazoria, Arthur Davidson of Houston, Hugh Davidson of Houston and John Edgar Davidson Jr. of El Campo; a devoted niece, Marsha Simple of Sweeny and a number of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Edgar Davidson Sr. and Leola Davidson.

Pallbearers are Ricky Smith, Troy Davidson, Brian Davidson, Hugh Davidson Jr., Cecil Brown and Vincent Davidson.  Honorary pallbearers are Ernest Davidson, Tom Davidson, Arthur Davidson, Solomon Davidson, Elder Samuel Williams, Hugh Davidson Jr., and John Edgar Davidson Jr.

Arrangements are with Duncan-Roberts Funeral Home in Bay City.

Daily Tribune, November 4, 1994                   Obituary courtesy of Faye Cunningham
 

Claunese L. Davis

Funeral services for Claunese L. Davis, 59, of Round Rock, were held at 2 p. m. Sunday, Dec. 4, 1994, in the West Side Church of Christ in Round Rock. Burial followed in Palm Valley Cemetery in Round Rock.

Mrs. Davis was born Dec. 8, 1934, in Marlin, and died Dec. 1, 1994.

She had lived in Round Rock for the past two years and was employed by Weburg Furniture. She was an active member of the West Side Church of Christ.

Survivors include her husband, James “Jim” Davis of Round Rock; two daughters, Lisa Brewer and her husband, Jim, of Lubbock and Amy Holmes and her husband, Danny, of Midland; three sons, Jay Davis and his wife, Loraine, of Lake Jackson, Joe Davis and his wife, Margy of Angleton and Chris Davis of Ft. Riley, Kansas; a brother, Joe Dale Livingston of Houston and seven grandchildren.

The family requests memorials be made to the West Side Church of Christ.

Arrangements are with Henderson-Beck Funeral Home of Austin.

Daily Tribune, December 6, 1994              Courtesy of Virginia Sowell
 

Floyd Davis

Funeral services for Floyd Davis, 86, of Bay City will be held 11 am Wednesday at Enterprise Baptist Church with the Rev. A. H. Pointer officiating. Burial will be at Eastview Cemetery.  Visitation will be until 9 pm.

Mr. Davis was born Sept. 29, 1905 in Bay City to Mathern and Louida Washington Davis and he died Aug. 1, 1992 at Matagorda General Hospital.

He was a widower and a member of the Baptist Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Edna Davis Christopher of San Antonio; a brother, A. D. (Lottie) Davis of Bay City; a sister, Alma Davise Wyche of Houston; two grandsons, William Nelson Jr. and Reginald Nelson of San Antonio; a special cousin Thel Jones of Bay City and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be A. D. Davis Jr., Patrick Davis, Robert Floyd Davis, George Johnson, Willie Nelson Jr. and Preston Wyche. Honorary pallbearers will be Mr. Davis’s grandsons and brother.

Greens Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

 The Daily Tribune, August 4, 1992                  Obituary & marker photo courtesy of Faye Cunningham

Lemon Davis     Opal Davis     Eastview Cemetery     Photo courtesy of Faye Cunningham

 

Mary L. Davis     Eastview Cemetery     Photo courtesy of Faye Cunningham

 

Edwin Albert Derrich, Jr.
February 16, 1943 — February 26, 2025

Matagorda, TX

Edwin “Ed” Albert Derrich, Jr. of Matagorda, Texas, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on February 26, 2025, at the age of 82. “Gramps,” as his six grandkids and four great grandkids knew him, was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather with a quick laugh and ready smile. He shared his life with the love of his life, Mary Ann Wendt Derrich, who he married in 1962. Through his life’s work, a 55-year career in public education as a teacher, coach, administrator and school board trustee, “Coach Derrich” touched the lives of countless students across Texas.

Ed was born February 16, 1943, in El Campo to the late Edwin Derrich, Sr. and Annastazie Stavinoha Derrich. He attended St. Phillip’s Catholic School in El Campo and is a graduate of El Campo High School and the University of Houston. After graduating, he began his coaching and teaching career in Edinburgh before moving back to El Campo, and then in 1969 moved to Columbia High School in West Columbia, where he stayed until 2003. After 10 years at CHS, he became Head Football Coach and Athletic Director and led the Roughnecks to district championships in 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1987, when he also coached the team to the state 4A Quarterfinals. In 2017, Coach Derrich was inducted into the CHS Athletic Booster Hall of Honor. 

Although he left coaching in 1993, he continued building his educational legacy as an assistant principal at West Columbia Jr. High and CHS and principal at West Brazos Jr. High. He officially retired in 2003 but went on to serve as interim superintendent/principal at Matagorda ISD and later President of the Matagorda ISD Board of Trustees.

Ed’s dedication to his community also included 24 years officiating at the Texas State Track Meet in Austin, active membership in Rotary International, serving as 1987-1988 President of the West Columbia chapter, and founding membership in the Matagorda chapter of the Lion’s Club. Ed was also actively involved in his local Catholic parish throughout his life.

Above all, Ed enjoyed being with his family, with whom he shared his love of football and the outdoors. He leaves his family with many happy memories, whether fishing, hunting, playing around at the beach, or just enjoying time spent together. And though his family knows it well, many others may not know that Ed played the harmonica, which he called the French harp. 

 He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Ann; children Wendy Whitt (Tim), Deanna Hudgeons (Randy) and Paul Derrich (Kay); grandchildren Jacob Whitt, Travis White, Zachary Whitt (Cally), Nathan Hudgeons, Hannah Kruppa, Hayden Derrich and McKenzie Derrich; great grandchildren Derrich, Nolan, Wimberly and Shephard Whitt; sister Etheline Sanders; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Annastazie Derrich, and his sister Delores Greer.

Visitation will be at C.T. Baker & Sons Funeral Home, 634 S. Columbia Dr., West Columbia, TX on Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and praying of the rosary will begin at 6:30 pm. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 1:30 pm at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 807 Loggins Dr, West Columbia, TX, followed by a graveside service at 4:00 pm Holy Cross Memorial Park, 1615 Mechanic St., El Campo, TX. A reception celebrating Ed’s life will be held after the burial at 4:30 pm at Danevang Community Hall, 357 County Road 426, Danevang, TX.

Pallbearers will be Jacob Whitt, Zachary Whitt, Nathan Hudgeons, Hayden Derrich, Travis White, Dale Wisnieski, Chris Wisnieski, and Clint Leopold. Honorary pallbearers will be Hannah Kruppa, McKenzie Derrich, and Cally Whitt.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Holy Rosary Catholic School in Rosenberg, St. Philip the Apostle Catholic School in El Campo, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic School in Richwood, and/or Holy Cross Catholic School in Bay City.

C. T. Baker & Sons Funeral Home, West Columbia, Texas
 

Simon Roland DeSoto
August 21, 1955 - January 9, 2025

Simon Roland DeSoto, 69, of Bay City passed away January 9, 2025.  He was born August 21, 1955 to the late Foster DeSoto and Rose DeSoto.

Simon graduated from Bay City High School, where he played baseball, in 1973. In 2018, he was inducted as a Distinguished Alumnus of the school.

Simon served the US Army Corps of Engineers for more than forty years in the Galveston District. He was recognized by the US Department of the Army with the Superior Civilian Service Award, the third highest award awarded by the department to civilians, and by the Commander of the US Coast Guard for Outstanding Waterway Management. The highlight of his career came when he was selected as one of the 100 most influential members of the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association at their 100-year anniversary celebration.

Simon was also recognized by the International Boating and Water Safety Summit and US Congress for his water safety advocacy.

He sat on numerous boards in Matagorda County and worked in countless ways for the community he loved. Over the years, Simon served as Fire Marshal, EMS Director, and Fire Chief for Matagorda Volunteer Fire Department and as a Deputy Constable in Matagorda County.

As part of his strong faith, Simon loved to share gospel music and was CEO of Texas Gospel Music Barn Ministries.

Simon took great pride in broadcasting his radio show on Happy Radio 92.5 FM and was a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

One of his greatest loves was football. He was the voice of Bay City Blackcat Football for over 30 years, broadcasting alongside Roland Orsak for several of those years and Tommy Griffin for the last nine.

When he was not serving in the community, Simon’s greatest joy was in spending time with his family. He was a beloved husband, stepfather, father-in-law, and grandfather known affectionately as Poppy by his grandkids.

Simon was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Carlene Griffith, and his brother Junior DeSoto. Survivors include his wife Diana Lynn Taylor DeSoto; children Natalie Friesenhahn (Darren) and Paul Ryan Remlinger (Bethany); grandchildren Dawson Friesenhahn, Grant Friesenhahn, Julianne Friesenhahn, Aaron Remlinger and Norah Remlinger; and nephew Ron Proffer (Terressa).

Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM Thursday, January 16, 2025 at Calvary Baptist Church. Funeral service will be at 2:00 PM with Pastors Lane Par-Due and Del Toler officiating. Pallbearers will be Paul Ryan Remlinger, Darren Friesenhahn, Grant Friesenhahn, Robert Taylor, Robert Kyle Taylor, and Tim Lankau.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America at https://myasthenia.givevirtuous.org/donate/donation-form .

Taylor Bros. Funeral Home
 

Viola Duran

VICTORIA — Born July 14, 1937, in Palacios, TX, Viola O. Duran left to be with our Lord and Savior on November 18, 2024.

She was blessed with a long, prosperous life, surrounded by her loving family, not limited to her 20 grandkids, 53 great-grandkids, and

16 great-great-grandkids.

She was preceded in death by her spouse, Robert B. Duran, parents Victor and Patricia Ottino, siblings John M. Ottino, Richard V. Ottino, Mary Louise Ramirez, Henry Ottino, and her grandchildren, Lawrence Pena, Joann Guerrero, and

Tino Duran Alvarado.

She is survived by daughters Cindy (Luis) Perales, Sylvia (Ramon) Guererro Jr., Victoria (Larry) Pena, and Roberta (Joe) Rodriguez, all of whom reside in Palacios and her son, Javier Ottino Duran of Victoria, TX.

Viola was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, a member of the Catholic Daughters, and a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She also worked as a CNA/Med Aide at Palacios Nursing Home for 20 years where she cared for many patients.

We are grateful for the many years of life she was blessed with, for her unconditional love and most of all, the many memories.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.

Pallbearers: TJ Alvarado, Raymond Guerrero III, Justin Duran, Joe Rodriguez Jr., Javier Duran Jr., J.R. Perez. Honorary Pallbearer: The late Laurence Pena.

Services will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church as follows:

1004 Magnusson Ave, Palacios, TX 77465, Monday, November 25, 2024, 9:00 am – Visitation, 10:30 am – Rosary, 11:00 am - Mass

Under the care of Angel Lucy’s Funeral Home.

Palacios Beacon, November 27, 2024 & Victoria Advocate, November 24, 2024