Ruth Lippe,99, of Miles went to be with her Lord and Savior on Nov. 7, 2024.

Viewing will be from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at Robert Massie Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 15, 2024 at Robert Massie Riverside Chapel with pastor, Peter T. Heyn, officiating. Burial will follow in Miles Cemetery under the direction of Robert Massie Funeral Home.

She was born on Aug. 1, 1925, to parents Alfred and Louise Kiesling. She spent her younger years on a farm in Eola, Texas. She lost her mother at a very early age and had to take on responsibilities of cooking, cleaning and other household chores. Because of that she was a hard worker all of her life. In fact, her family called her the energizer bunny as she didn't like to be idle. She graduated from Eola High School.

She married Henry A. Lippe on July 25, 1945. They spent their entire life farming in the Miles community. Ruth did many things to help Henry including milking the cows up until she turned 91. She helped with a number of other farm chores, raising animals and gardening as they raised their family. She was not afraid of snakes or varmints and was known to kill them with her walking stick.

Ruth also took care of many young children in her home for many years. Later she served as a cook at Trinity Lutheran School and then at the Miles Senior Citizen Center. She was known for her coffee cake, best rice dish, homemade bread and rolls and so much more. She made beautiful quilts and made sure all the children and grandchildren received one of her handmade quilts. She taught Sunday School for many years and influenced many lives with her love for Jesus. She welcomed many people into her home who needed help.

Preceding her in death were her parents Alfred and Louise Kiesling, husband Henry, sons Phil Henry and Alfred, daughter Emma, brothers Wilfred, Leon, Karl and Ernst, sister Katherine and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is survived by daughter, Lydia Kelm and husband Kenneth, sons Paul Lippe and wife Linda, Werner Lippe, Henry Fred Lippe and wife Tammy; 12 grandchildren and their spouses, 19 great-grandchildren and spouses; and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

The Pallbearers are Freddie Lippe, Lynn Kiesling, Junior Loest, David Fuessel, Mike Lippe and David Spieker. The Honorary Pallbearers are David Lippe, Max Kiesling and Dennis Falk.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to caregivers, especially Elva Fisher with Visiting Angels and so many others who have shown kindness, love and devotion to our mother, Ruth Lippe.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Living Water Lutheran Church, Hospice of San Angelo, Visiting Angels, Lutheran Hour Ministries or a charity of your choice.

Blanca Alicia Yanez, 66, of Big Lake passed away on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

Viewing will be from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at Robert Massie Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at Iglesia Torre Fuerte in Big Lake.

Blanca Yanez was born on September 8, 1958 in Balcones, Coahuila, Mexico to her parents Jesus and Maria Zapata. She married José Yanez on February 9, 1978 in Mexico. Moved to Big Lake in 1980. Blanca was a homemaker and later worked in home health from 1995 to 2011. She loved being Amá to her grandchildren. Blanca was always willing to help others and loved talking to everyone. One of her favorite things to do was go cruising with her husband on Sunday afternoons to get a strawberry milkshake.

She is preceded in death by her parents; and 2 brothers, Gonzalo Zapata and Efrain Zapata.

Blanca is survived by her husband José G. Yanez, Sr. of Big Lake; three children, José Guadalupe Yanez, Jr. and wife Darby of Big Lake, Miriam Alvarado and husband Santos of San Angelo, and Gladys Yanez of Big Lake; a brother, Hervey Zapata and wife Carmen of Del Rio; a sister, Alma Zapata of Santa Maria, Coahuila, Mexico; four grandchildren and bonus grandson, Delaney "Nene" Yanez, Daniel "Bebe" Yanez, Devin "Devensito" Yanez and Josiah "Siahita" Perez, Joseph "Jojo" Garcia, Jr. and a granddog, Daisy.

Special thanks to the staff at Shannon Medical Center for the care they gave Blanca.

Surrounded by family, Anna Jenay Ross, of San Angelo, TX, passed away on November 8, 2024 at the age of 20. She was born January 12, 2004 in San Angelo, TX, to Kendra Bohannon.

She was later adopted by her mother, Sheneque Ross.

Anna attended school in San Angelo. Anna had an adventurous soul and was cared for by many. She had a love for volleyball and animals. Anna had a new pet, every week, it seemed like. Her greatest achievement was giving birth to her beautiful children: Emery, Ezra, and Evrest.

She is survived by her three children, Emery, Ezra, and Evrest. Her mother, Sheneque Ross and a host of family and friends.

“Anna, you will be greatly missed and you can rest now, my girl.” - Love, Mama

A memorial will be planned at a later date.

Sandra Jane Caudle, 77, of San Angelo, Texas went to be with the Lord peacefully at home on November 6, 2024.

She was born and raised in Del Rio, Texas on October 4, 1947 to James and Mary Frances Stewart. She graduated from Del Rio High School in 1966. While in Del Rio she met Mack Caudle and they married June 14, 1969. Mack was a game warden, and they made several moves to Eldorado, Midland and finally to San Angelo.

Sandy was the Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of San Angelo for 20 years. Once she retired, she started a new career as a real estate agent with Dierschke & Dierschke until a stroke forced her into full retirement in 2020.

She was a beloved wife, mother, "Gram", aunt, and friend. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Jan. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Mack Caudle, of San Angelo, daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Billy Patterson of Schertz, TX, son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Michelle of San Angelo, and grandchildren Rhett Patterson, Briana, Colby, Dylan, and Joie Caudle, and several nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held at a later date. The Caudle Family would like to give many thanks to Hospice and Comfort Keepers. A special thanks to mom's caretakers, Debra Wood and Dolly Ortegon, who took care of, not only mom, but our entire family.

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beautiful Marti Jolene Vidovich. Marti was called to Heaven on October 25, 2024, at the age of 35.

Marti is survived by her beloved husband Andrew P. Viodovich, II, her children Makenzie Yaddow Vidovich, 14, Grayson D. Schlotter, 9, and Andrew P. Vidovich, III, 4, and family dog Ollie Boy. Marti was born to mother, Brenda M. MacNabb and father Edward R. Gentry, and raised by Jay R. Bates and Alan R. MacNabb.

Martis blended family includes Gentry, Bates, and MacNabb and for everyone who knows Marti, it took a village (and then some) to raise her. The village that Marti leaves behind encompasses so many of you, along with the Gandy, Schlotter, Lavin, Goins, and Moyer families.

As we honor Marti today, we ask that you remember all of the joy and love she brought to our lives. Remember Marti, with all of her vibrance, her smile, her contagious laugh, and her ability to make anyone and everyone feel like the most special person in the world.

Remember Marti, a beautiful unique soul who brought so many of us together.

Marti was committed to her family and to her faith and cherished making memories for her children. She had a true gift for spontaneity and made every activity exciting, like going on adventures, having family cooking nights and decorating their home together over the holidays. She strived to always ensure that each member of her beloved family woke up feeling safe and secure, with smiles on their faces and love in their hearts.

Marti overcame so much in her life and channeled all of those experiences and life lessons into helping others as a youth counselor, selflessly supporting those who had been where she once was. She gave back in every way she could, sharing so much love and compassion with the world and with those who needed her most.

Marti means so much to so many of us, she was truly a remarkable woman. She is one in a million and we are so lucky and blessed that she is and will always be a part of us. Despite all of the challenges she faced she always emerged with an impossibly annoying yet heart melting zest and love for life. We can all aspire to match her resilience, and in honor of Marti we have chosen the word Resilient as a way to remember her.

That is our word for you, Marti: Resilient.

Psalm 23

Bertha Mae Ham, 100, passed peacefully in her sleep into the presence of the Lord on November 4, 2024.

Bertha was born on January 31, 1924, in Arden, Texas to Albert and May Vinson. She was the seventh of eight children and served as the glue to hold her family together in spite of their wide range of differences. Family reunions and fish fries were always the most anticipated events each year. She is now enjoying the most glorious family reunion ever imagined.

Always a child of the country, she considered her children greatly impoverished due to their failure to experience scampering down to Spring Creek on a hot summer day to take a dip, riding your favorite horse to a country school, gathering eggs on a cool morning and picking cotton by hand with your big brother as boss man.

Mother grew up a child of the Greatest Generation. Shortly after graduating from Rankin High School, she followed her brothers to war by traveling to California and helping with the assembling of B-24’s at the Continental Aircraft Company plant.

Beautiful to the very end, Mother had style and grace, which distinguished her whenever she walked into a room. She loved to dance, winning a jitterbug competition in her earlier years.

Bertha’s first husband, Howard, also had one foot in the country and the other in the city. Together, they raised their two children, although with two very different child-rearing philosophies. That explains something. Mother became an accomplished and prolific painter, whose paintings grace the walls of many family members’ homes. At the same time, she rounded up cattle at their Reagan County ranch and cooked deer meat brought home from a hunt.

An avid shopper and renowned cook, Christmastime at Grandmother’s created rich, indelible memories. Mother’s recipes are still family favorites.

Following the loss of Howard to cancer in 1988, Bertha married RC Ham. RC was a wonderful person who helped to enlarge Mother’s capacity to enjoy life to the fullest. RC’s family became her own.

Following the loss of RC in 2005, Bertha moved from Odessa to San Angelo. In 2019, she married Howard Ellig, a friend from Odessa that she had known since 1958. Through Howard, Mother experienced the most beautiful and selfless love imaginable. Howard cared for Mother as long as his health permitted, and he never left her side.

It is said that the blessings in life are measured by the friends that you have. Mother was blessed beyond measure. Her long, rich life was diminished only by the loss of so many dear, dear friends.

Bertha was preceded in death by her seven siblings, James Vinson, Verna Speck, Dwain Vinson, Martha McDonald, Finus Vinson, Morty Vinson and Robert Vinson, her first husband, Howard Millican and her second husband, RC Ham.

Bertha is survived by her husband, Howard Ellig, her children, Beverly Hicks and Paul Millican (wife, Jo) and grandchildren, Jeremy Scott (Angela), Maleigh Canon (Steve), Jennifer White (Jason), Joy Miletic (Zvonimir), Jessica Coats (David), Jill Heintschell (Bryan). She is also survived by 17 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren, with another one due any day now.

Pallbearers are Jeremy Scott, Jason White, Steve Cannon, Hudson White, Jonah White, and Andrew Miletic. A visitation will be held at Johnson Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 8th. A graveside service will be held at Paint Creek Cemetery, Coke County, Texas at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday November 9th, which will be followed by a lunch celebration at Pecan Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bertha’s memory to a church or charity of your choice.

Zelma Jean Wojtek, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, passed away at Sagecrest Care Center on November 2, 2024, in San Angelo, Texas, at the age of 97.

Jean was born on September 21, 1927, in Bronte, Texas to Jess and Cordie Liles. Jean was raised in Bronte and graduated from Bronte High School. She met her husband, Frank Charles Wojtek, Jr., when he returned from service in the South Pacific during World War II. They were married on December 3, 1949, and established a home in Robert Lee. She was an active member of the Robert Lee Baptist Church, and she made sure that we were well dressed and attentive in the pew each Sunday. She and Frank ran the Texas Theater in Bronte from 1949 until the late 70s, when it closed. It was a family affair, as Frank ran the projectors, Jean sold tickets at the box office, and sons Larry and Jerry sold concessions. She also worked at West Texas Utilities in Bronte, Robert Lee, and San Angelo from 1947 through 1967. In 1969, Jean enrolled in Angelo State University, and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in August 1972, and a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree in 1974. She began her teaching career at Day Elementary School in San Angelo in 1972 and retired in 1992. Jean loved teaching, and adored her kids, and they adored her. She would often receive letters of appreciation from her former students, including one who later became an astronaut. After retirement, Jean and Frank moved to San Angelo, and enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, until Frank’s death in 1997. In later years, she traveled with friends throughout the world, and loved to tell us stories about her travels, including the time in which she became separated from her friends in London, yet was able to find their hotel with the help of a London cabbie. Jean also remained physically active during retirement. When she was 80 years old, she accompanied her son Larry, and his wife Kelly, on a hike on Smith Spring Trail in the Guadalupe Mountains, which was 2.3 miles long with an elevation of 600 feet, without any problems. She was a member of Sierra Vista United Methodist Church in San Angelo.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, her sister, Evona Ritchie, and her brother, Horace Liles.

She is survived by two sons, Larry and wife Kelly Hollway Wojtek, and Jerry and wife Lisa Nichols. Jean has three grandchildren, Chad Hollway and wife Carol, Brooke Wilcox and husband Jon, and Brittney Caputo and husband Thomas. She also has 5 great grandchildren, Cole, Jonas, Noelle, Finnegan and Caitlyn.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Sagecrest Care Center for taking such good and loving care of our Mother.

A graveside service for Jean will be held at 1:00 pm, Monday, November 11, at Bronte Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home. For those wishing to make a memorial donation honoring Jean’s life, the family suggests contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be made at shafferpioneer.com.

Celia Ann Creek, age 78, woke up in the loving arms of Jesus on Monday morning, November 4th, 2024. Visitation will be held before the service from 9 am to 11 am on Thursday, November 7th, 2024, at Big Lake Methodist Church with the Funeral Service to begin at 1:00 pm; Pastor Mark Smith will officiate services. Burial immediately following at Glen Rest Cemetery.

Celia was born August 9,1946 to Floyd & Leoma Harwood, in Plainview, Texas. On November 9,1964 she married Bob Creek and they had two children, Lonny Creek (Stacy) of Big Lake, and Tammy Underwood (Brian) of Lubbock. Bob & C’Ann lived almost 20 years in Olton before moving to Big Lake where she spent the last 42 years. Celia loved being a member of the Big Lake Methodist Church and enjoyed her friends at the Reagan County Care Center. The bingo table in heaven is celebrating this week for sure. Our mom was preceded in death by her parents and husband, as well as brothers Ronnie, Derrell, and Don Gene Harwood. She is survived by her children and sisters Sue Davis, Edna Pyle, and Kay Turner. She also leaves behind grandchildren Morgan (John) Hogan, Allison Herrell, Kassidy, Kynzie, Kyndal Underwood, Jake, Taylor, and Hannah Lyon. The apples of her eye were great grandchildren Carter and Graham Hogan, and Owen Herrell. C’Ann was also survived by a loving set of in-laws, who she considered blood brothers and sisters. They include Ladell Harwood, Gayla Harwood, Mary Eppard, Rose Willoughby, Stella Creek, and Jeff Creek. 

Our mom had many nicknames in her lifetime, but they increased in number these past two years after moving to the Reagan County Care Center. Her favorites were mom and Grandma, but also included Aunt C’Ann, Aunt Gum, Auntie, Annie, Cel, CC, and CeCelia. Mom spent hundreds of hours behind a gigantic video recorder, capturing the life and times of granddaughters Morgan and Alli. Grandma was a constant fixture during the most formidable years of their lives, taking pretend Dairy Queen orders, tickling backs, giving baking lessons, and capturing renditions of “Chasing that Neon Rainbow” in front of the oven door, with Alf the hand puppet offering much needed support. I will always believe this was her highest calling in life, and the time we saw her shine the most. Later in life she inherited more grandchildren to love and enjoyed teaching them games and old tricks from her childhood. She had plenty of love to go around. Mom was really good at preserving family genealogy and taking lots of pictures. She traced our roots and created albums and family trees. Family was her passion, and we know that today the angels are singing as she reunites with all who went before her. What a beautiful reunion. 

Thank you will never be enough, but it’s what we have to offer the administration and staff at Reagan County Care Center and Reagan Memorial Hospital. You loved our mom and grandma so well and always treated her with kindness and dignity. Her life was much better with each of you in it. Special thanks also to Hospice of San Angelo, especially hospice companion Patty Taylor, who was a beautiful friend and advocate these past 4 months. Mom loved plants and flowers, but if you want to donate in her memory, please give to Big Lake Methodist Church.

Pallbearers are Leland and Johnie Creek, Keith and Michael Pyle, Gary, Gregg, Gerald and Glen Davis, and Johnny Lockeby.

Kathy Joan Troy (Holder), 70, of San Angelo, passed away on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. She was born on September 26, 1954, in Waco, Texas to Fred and Virginia Holder. She and her siblings, Beverly, Peggy, Gail, David, Cindy, and Paul would travel throughout their childhoods while Fred served in the Air Force. Kathy graduated from Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, Kansas in 1972. She moved to San Angelo after graduation to live with her cousins, Diane & Sandra, and started working. The rest of her family joined her in 1973 when Fred retired from the Air Force. Kathy worked for multiple San Angelo companies, RG Barry's and GTE before retiring from Blue Cross Blue Shield as a claims specialist.

Kathy married Steven Troy in June of 1980 and had two children, Connor and Briana Troy. She stayed incredibly active in the multiple sports and extracurricular activities her children were involved in – particularly when she became a board member for the 29th Street Complex, helping run the girls' fastpitch leagues, concessions, and fields. She was also involved in the Spring Festival at Holy Angels Catholic Church and contributed many humorous items to the arts and crafts. She also helped chair the arts and crafts room, and roped her children into helping tag, label, and price items. She volunteered with the festival until her health began to decline.

Kathy was a fiercely honest, funny, and wickedly sharp lady. She was known not only for her incredible laugh but her love of books. She was such a ferocious reader that she had to construct a library in the home she shared with her sister, Peggy, occupying the ENTIRE front room. While constantly trying to find ways to squeeze more books onto the shelves. She also loved her music and she had quite a collection of cassettes, CDs and vinyl albums that she did not want to give up no matter what anyone said.

She could also trounce nearly anyone she faced in Trivial Pursuit and defeated her own children constantly in Jeopardy. Even after battling illnesses, she still maintained her humor, her laugh, and her love for her family. And the Texas Rangers and Texas Longhorns. She was an everlasting, and often heartbroken fan of the Rangers and was blessed to live to see them win their first World Series in 2023. She proudly wore her championship hat, or had it within arms reach for the remainder of her life.

Funeral services for Kathy will be held on November 8th, 2024 at 11am at Johnson’s Funeral Home at 435 W. Beauregard Ave., San Angelo, TX.

In lieu of flowers, Kathy and her children ask that you make a donation in her name to her two favorite charities: St. Jude’s Hospital or Toys For Tots. The family would also like to thank Cedar Manor Nursing Home and Concho Hearts Hospice for providing her with such wonderful and loving care in her final years and months.

Kathy was preceded in death by her father, Fred Holder and her brother-in- law Michael Mckenzie. She is survived by Her children and their spouses, Connor Troy and Rebecka Brasso, Briana Troy and Mark Maston. Her grandchildren, Henry Troy and Lincoln Maston. Mother, Virginia, her siblings Beverly, Peggy, Gail, David and his wife Mary, Cindy her husband Gene, and Paul and his wife Ladonna. As well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

It is with great sadness that the family of Alta "Lee" Simmons Rose announces her passing on October 29, 2024 in San Angelo, Texas. She will be greatly missed by those that were blessed to have known her especially her nieces, Ouida Hawkins Hahn and Cindy Hawkins Loveday.

Lee was born on December 10, 1927 in Glen Cove, Texas to Ely "Doc" Simmons and Minnie Bullock Simmons. She married the love of her life, Arthur "Art" Rose on April 21, 1948 in Alameda, California. Their only daughter Cheryl was born in 1954. Together they flew every summer in their Cessna Aircraft to visit family in Texas. Her career as an assistant executive for Bell Telephone Company in San Francisco, California spanned 34 years. After their retirement she and Art traveled extensively in the United States in their motorhome. Lee especially loved taking care of the people in her life and her cats (that found her). 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Art Rose; her daughter, Cheryl Rose- Edwards; and her sister, Louise Hawkins. Lee is survived by Ouida and Elwin Hahn; Cindy Loveday; Ed and Zee Mills; and many nieces and nephews that she shared with Art. 

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a memorial donation to Calvary Lutheran Church in San Angelo, Texas or an animal adoption agency of your choice.