Texas “Tex” Joe Benson, 66, passed away March 16, 2010 with family by his side.

“Tex” was born in Refugio, Texas on December 8, 1943 to Joe and Mary Susie Benson. He was a lifelong resident of Refugio. “Tex” was a familiar face who worked along side the Refugio County Sheriff’s Department.

Survivors include a son, Billy Bailey of Refugio, Texas: seven sisters; Mary Elizabeth Sizemore of Hannahan, SC, Patricia Jane Young of Athens, Alabama, Catherine Mercer of Fulton, Texas, Marian Jones of Rockport, Texas, Martha Barboza, Evelyn Mitchell and Caroline Vanderford of Aransas County, Texas; and four grandchildren.

Services will be private. Funeral Services entrusted to Resthaven Funeral Home, Sinton.

Reba Smiddy, a homemaker, passed away March 13, 2010. She was 76.

Survivors include her husband Lloyd Smiddy of Rockport, Texas: two sons; Lyn Green and Robert Smiddy, both of Amarillo, Texas: three daughters; Pam Thompson of Corpus Christi, Texas, Tyre Logan of Wichita Falls, Texas and Tami Melbrook of Mississippi: one brother, Harold Rutledge of Poteet, Texas: one sister, LaVerne Frye of Lubbock, Texas; 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vista Care Hospice of Corpus Christi or The American Cancer Society.

Norman R. Roach (N.R.), born September 28, 1918, in Lufkin, Texas, to Dewitt & Tinney McCoy Roach, passed away March 7, 2010 at the age of 91 after a long battle with cancer.

Norman went to school in Moffett, TX. and graduated from Moffett High School. Norman worked many jobs including being a Milkman before he worked for Fluor Corporation and for B&W Corporation as an ironworker building bridges, grain elevators, and power stations. He worked for Gunner A. Olsen Corp. out of New York City building radio towers for the government and built nuclear power plants. He moved his family to Odem, TX. in 1953, and this became home. He traveled to the eastern United States, Turkey, Trinidad, & Iceland building the radio towers. He built radar radio towers which were instrumental in the sending of the "Monkey" and John Glenn to the moon in 1962. He supervised the repairs to the radio tower on top of the Empire State building in New York City. He supervised the building of numerous power plants and grain elevators in South Texas. He was self taught to read blue prints and was thought to be one of the best.

Norman was with the Iron Workers Local Union #66 out of San Antonio and was recognized in November, 2009 as being a member of that local for 65 years. Norman was with the Masons and went on to become a Shriner. He was recognized in 2009 as being a Master Mason for over 60 years at the Masonic Lodge in Sinton, TX. He is an Endowed Member of the Al Amin Shriner's Temple in Corpus Christi, TX.

Norman was preceded in death by his parents, Dewitt and Tinney Roach, a sister, Margaret Linzy Nerren, brother, James Larry Roach, wife, Grace Eilene Hendrickson Roach, and 3 sons, Jimmy Ray Roach, Marshall Dewitt Roach, and Larry Rex Roach.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Kathryn Sims Roach of Harper, TX., daughters Barbara (Travis) Lytle of Corpus Christi, TX, Donna (Gary) Alexander of Kingsville, TX, son Bobby Roach of Odem, TX,. Step-son Robert (Mona) Funderberg of Calallen, TX,. Grandchildren, Wayne (Elaine) Lytle of Corpus Christi, TX., Lynnette (Gene) Felder of Calallen, TX., Shane (Kelly) Alexander of Cedar Park, TX., Craig (Jennifer) Alexander of Kingsville, TX., Bobby Ray Roach of Rosedale, West Virginia, Todd (Kelly) Patterson of Cedar Park, TX., and Brandon (Robin) Wheeler of Devine, TX. Step Grandchildren, Capt. Troy (Hope) Funderberg, Ret. of Enterprise, Alabama, Sally Jane (Minor) Norman, P.H.D. of Madison, Mississippi. 13 Great-Grandchildren and 6 Step Great-Grandchildren. Also, brother Winston Coy (Francis) Roach of Breckenridge, TX, Nephew Jon (Jan) Linzy of Lufkin, Tx. and numerous other nieces and nephews. In 1991, Norman and Kathryn moved to the Harper, TX area. He will be missed by his friends in the Harper area who he hunted and hung out with. When he moved to the Harper area he found his "buddies" and treasured the time they spent together.

Jorden Anthony Gonzales, infant son of Pete Anthony and Christina Ann Gonzales, passed away February 18, 2010.

Survivors include his parents; two brothers: Brandon Gonzales and Logan Perez; two sisters; Ambria DeHuelbes and Anastasia Leek, all of Sinton, TX; maternal grandfather, Gabriel Gonzales of Sinton, TX; maternal grandmother, Lupita and Albert Garcia of Georgia; paternal grandmother, Lupe Gonzales of Sinton, TX; maternal great-grandmothers Blaza Gonzales and Josefa Gonzales; paternal great-grandparents; Felipe and Oralia Castillo; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Preceding in death is his great-grandfather, George Z. Gonzales; great-aunt, Graciela Castillo; three cousins: Johnathon (JR) Rodriguez, Nathaniel Gonzales and Luke Gonzales.