Robert E. Lee High School Baytown, Texas Class of 1956

      YVONNE (VON) CATHEY died on August 16, 2006.  She was born On March 30, 1938 in

      Bell County, Texas.  She had been married a couple of times, but during the last years of

      her life, she preferred her maiden name.  She had two daughters, Sabrina and Melanie and

      three grandchildren. Submitted by Nancy Swenson Lane  2/14/07

            JOE HUGGINS, 64, passed away Friday, August 9, 2002.  He was Chairman of the Board of the

      Distributing Company.  Joe was involved in many organizations and committees. He was an Eagle

      Scout and continued to support the Boy Scouts of America. He was a lifetime director of the

      Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; Past Member of the Board of Directors of the 100 Club of

      Houston.; Past Chairman of the National Beer Wholesalers Association; Past President of the

      Beer Alliance of Texas; Member of the Houston Power Squadron and of the Houston Yacht Club. 

      He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Betty Jo Huggins and Barbara Huggins

      O'Day. He is survived by his sons Wade Clay Huggins and Joe Huggins, Jr. His sister, Suzanne

      Huggins Sharratt; his grandchildren: Jacob Michael Huggins, Peter James Huggins, Tyler Huggins,

      Benjamin Huggins, Wade Huggins, Jr. and Mary Margaret Huggins and by his fiance, Laveta

      Christian. Memorials may be sent to the Boy Scouts of America or The American Diabetes

      Association. 

            EMIL FREDERICK BOWERMAN, 61, of Cardenas Village Republic of Panama and Temple, TX

      passed away on Saturday, January 16, 1999, due to complications of heart surgery.  He was born on

      July 9, 1938 , in Baytown to Dr. Ernest W. and Margaret Jenkins Bowerman.  Captain Bowerman

      was a long time resident of the Republic of Panama having lived and worked there as a Panama

      Canal pilot since 1973. He was a 1960 graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy in

      Kings Point, New York and received his unlimited Master's license in 1967.  He worked as a Port

      Captain for Exxon International in New York City from 1967 to 1973, when he joined the Panama

      Canal Company as a pilot, a position he held to the present.  He was a long-time member of the

      International Organization of Masters Mates and Pilots and served the Panama Canal Pilots

      Association as a regional representative to the organizations. While in Panama, Captain Bowerman

      was active in the Panama Canal Pilots Association, served as district commissioner for the Gold

      Coast District BSA, was a member of BPOE Elks USA Cristobal PN lodge No. 1542, The

      American Legion Post #3 Panama Canal, a Master Mason and member of Washington Lodge No.33

      F and A.M., a member of Salaam Temple and Abou Saad Temple. The Marine Square Club, and

      also a member of Elizabeth Craftsmen Club Inc. Bowerman was a recipient of The Gold Coast

      Community Public Service Award, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy's Silver

      Mariner Award. He had been planning to retire and had been a part time resident of Temple, TX

      since 1992.   Submitted by Archie Colburn.

      CALVIN LEE MUCKLEROY passed away Thursday, December 1, 2005 at home surrounded by his

      loving family. He was born December 6, 1936 in Engleside, TX

      LARRY JOE ENDERLI, 68, of Baytown, was born December 19, 1937 in Goose Creek and passed

      away Monday, May 8, 2006 in a local hospital.  He was a member of the Mont Belview United

      Methodist Church. Funeral services were Thursday, May 11, 2006 at Navarre Funeral Home with

      Rev. Ken Goodall officiating. Burial was at the Cedarcrest Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were

      Gary Welch, Matt Novosad, Louis Duncan, Larry Cryer, and Russell Metcalf.  Honorary

      pallbearers were Charles Tieman, Frank Kotria, Dan Pastorini, Dennis Lizard, Bubba Gregory,

      Gene Lenamond, Lee Gill, and Joe Braun. He was proceeded in death by his mother, Louise

      Enderli and son, Scott Enderli and is survived by his wife, Glenda Enderli of Baytown, son and

      daughter-in-law, Joey and Mona Enderli of Baytown, daughters, Carol Ann Enderli of Baytown,

      Kelli Lee Enderli of Austin, and Connie Jo Enderli of Houston, father, Edgar H. Enderli of Baytown,

      brother and sister-in-law, Johnnie and Gail Enderli of Baytown, brothers -in-law and sisters-in-law

      Wanda and Carl Morris of Baytown and Johnnie and Vickie Barrow of Beach City, grandchildren,

      Lori Jo, Jennifer, and Brandi, and great grandchildren, Jay and Justin.

      SAM MINTER, 67, of Baytown, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, August 14, 2005.  He was born

     October 1, 1937 in Baytown.  He was a salesman for the Armour Meats Packing Company. He then

     worked for Hilco Truck Covering Manufacturing as the Operations Manager until his retirement in

     2002.  He was a member of St. Marks United Methodist Church, where he was responsible for video

     taping the church services.  He loved to travel, his adventures with his church group lead him to the

     Holy Land, as well as many European countries. He was also an avid fisherman and hunter. He was

     preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Juanita Minter and mother of his children, Jo Ann.

     He is survived by his children, Ann Morrison and husband, Keith, Betty St. Andre, Victoria

     Morrison, Elijah Morrison, sister, Gloria Gay Sandell and husband, Jerry. Also, by his brother,

     Robert Minter and wife, Margaret and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral Services were

     August 19 at St. Marks United Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Mike Proctor. Burial was

     at the Memory Gardens Cemetery.

       ROBERT K DIPPEL,  66, was born on September 17, 1938, to Elizabeth Schmid and Melvin

      Charles Dippel in Brenham, Texas.  Bob was preceded in death by his parents and an infant

      daughter, Joan Elaine.  He moved to Baytown from Brenham at the age of eight years and grew up

      in the Wooster subdivision.  He attended Baytown schools and played the trumpet at Robert E Lee

      High School where he was known for playing the trumpet solo, Dull Razor Blues.  He played foot-

      ball with the Baytown Colts from 1956 to 1959. Bob attended Lee College and worked at several

      area chemical plants including S & W Chemical, Goodyear, Marbon Chemical and finally Gulf Oil

      (Chevron), where he retired in 1992 after 27 years as an Operations Supervisor where he was given

      the nickname, "dip-say".  He enjoyed his last twelve years in retirement traveling and fishing at his

      vacation home on Sam Rayburn Lake.  Bob was a fine family man and was proud of his four

      children, thirteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

         Bob is survived by his loving wife, Joan of 48 years. He is also survived by his son, Criss Dippel

      and his wife, Susan of Baytown; daughter Jana Kotaska and her husband, Ed of Cedar Rapids, Iowa;

      son, Jim Dippel and his wife Julie of League City, and son, Jon Dippel and his wife, Kristine of

      Lufkin. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church where he served as an acolyte and acolyte

      director for 13 years, assisting the Rev P Walter Henckell.  He will be remembered for his fun

      loving personality and his zest for life. Pall bearers were Bill Clift, Larry Fruge, Raymond

      Henderson, Don Collins, Billy Rhodes, Beverly Woodall, Audrey Parrish, Ernie Jones, Darrell

      Wear, and John Pat Staples. Honorary pall bearers were Leonard Smith, Johnny Moore and his

      grandsons. Burial was at the Cedarcrest Cemetery February 9, 2005.

      CAROLE WILKS OPRYSHEK, a longtime leader in Baytown's business community died

      March 16, 2006 at home after a long illness. She was 68. She was the first baby born in Baytown in

      1938 (Jan 2) to T.W. and Elsie Pearce Wilks. Carole was valedictorian of the Robert E Lee High

      School class of 1957. (Carole was actually in the class of 1956 but was unable to complete her

      senior year and graduated the next year.) She always considered herself to be in the class of 1956.

      In 1970, Carole took over her parents' Baytown real estate business in Baytown. She became one

      of the most successful Realtors in the area, consistently having sales in the millions annually and

      receiving many national listing and selling awards. She was known by many as the "Dean of Real

      Estate". She received the Baytown Sun's annual Readers Choice award for favorite real estate agent.

      Besides her successful business career, Opryshek was known for her dedication to the community.

      In 2000, The Baytown Sun named her Citizen of the Year. At the time of her death, Carole was a

      director of the Baytown Chamber of Commerce, as well as a past president.  The chamber named

      her its first Volunteer of the Year in 1999. Among her many contributions to municipal affairs,

      Carole was a current member of the city's Long Range Planning Commission.  She also served on

      the Steering Committee for the city's 2020 Comprehensive Plan Update. She served as a member

      and president of the Goose Creek School Board. She was honored as Volunteer of the Year by the

      YMCA in 1997. She was involved as chairman and committee member of many organizations. She

      was preceded in death by her parents, T.W. and Elsie Pearce Wilks; her son, Keith Alan Opryshek,

      and her grandsons, David Barclay Opryshek and William Scott Opryshek. She is survived by

      daughter, Karla Opryshek Cernosek of Baytown; son Karl David Opryshek and daughter-in-law,

      Deborah Young Opryshek of Baytown; brother David Monroe Wilks of Belton; sister Diane Wilks

      Gillette and brother-in-law, John Alexander Gillette of South Shore Harbor; grandson, Steven Karl

      Opryshek of Baytown; special care takers and friends Mary and Charles Colwell; and numerous

      cousins and close friends. The funeral service was held on Monday, March 20 at Memorial Baptist

      Church. The internment was at Earthman Memory Gardens Mausoleum. Pallbearers were Richard

      Peebles, Reginald Brewer, Jerry Stafford, Everett Williams, Leon Brown, Kenneth McNulty, Buddy

      Milner and Thomas McLaughlin. Honorary pallbearers are Chuck Whitley and Terry Wagstaff.

     * Before her death, Carole was very active in the 1956 Reunion Planning Committee. She

      sponsored the band, "The Coast Liners" for the Dinner/Dance at The San Luis Resort.

      DONALD ALTON WALKER, 66, of Highlands went home to be with the Lord Tuesday,

      January 20, 2004.Donald is survived by his loving wife of 44 years; Janette Walker of Highlands,

      2 daughters: Terry Wright and husband, Todd of Baytown, Andrea Brown and husband Kenneth

      of Clear Lake, 6 grandchildren, sisters, Betty Debes of Beaumont, Maxine Sherron of Houston,

      Glenda Harvey of Baytown, brothers; Douglas Sherron of San Antonio, Jackie Sherron of LA,

      many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  Celebration of life was Friday, January 23,

      2004 at Highlands Church of Christ.  Burial was at White Cemetery.  Visitation was Thursday,

      January 22, 2004 at Sterling White Chapel.

            JAMES (JIMBO) HAGGARD, 68, of Huntsville, died April 19, 2006.  He received a law degree

      from The University of Houston Law Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1966. He  

      practice for many years with Childs and Fortenbach, Beck & Guyton and was general counsel and

      vice president to American Pole Structures Corp. from 1973 until his death. He practiced in

      Huntsville as a sole practioner and with the firms of Bennet, Keeling and Haggard.  Smither, Martin

      Haggard & Henderson; and Davis, Durham & Haggard.  He served in the U.S. Air Force.  He is

      survived by his wife of 16 years, Irene Little Haggard, son Richard Matthew Haggard of Texas City;

      brother Joel H. Haggard of Fredericksburg; and one grandchild.

     JAMES COLEMAN, 68, services were Saturday, May 13, 2006 at Chandler Memorial Funeral Home

     Chapel, Tyler with Chaplain, Keith Hague officiating.  Burial was in Chandler Memorial Cemetery. 

     Mr. Coleman died May 8, 2006 in a Tyler hospital. He was born November 16, 1937 in Chandler

     to the late Ray and Esther Coleman. He retired as an electrical engineer and worked at Tinker Air

     Force Base with more than 25 years of service.  He was a Baptist.  Survivors include his wife,

     Martha Coleman; sons, Randy Coleman, Ocean Springs, MS, Billy Coleman, Fort Smith, AR, and

     Curtis Coleman, Vicksburg, MS; brother, Ray Coleman, Jr.; seven grandchildren. The pall bearers

     were Donnie Miller, Ronnie William, Jeff Walton, D.J. Lawson, Keith Hague and Jayson Coleman.

      JERRY DON SMITH, 57,of Baytown funeral services were held Tuesday, July 11, 1995 at

      Navarre Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Steve James officiating.  Masonic rites will follow the

      chapel service.  Smith, died on Saturday, July 8, at a Galveston hospital. Smith was born on

      March 23, 1938, in Houston and had been a lifelong resident of Baytown. He was also a member of

      Memorial Baptist Church and the Goose Creek Masonic Lodge 1192 where he was a 33rd degree

      Mason.  He was a native of Baytown and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1956, where

      he was an outstanding basketball athlete.  He was named All-State his senior year and was selected

      to play in the East/West All Star game. He was awarded a four-year scholarship to the University

      of Texas in the fall of 1956 where he was named honorable mention in the Southwest Conference.

      He was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity and graduated with bachelor degrees in industrial

      relations and personnel management in 1960. He was married to Dolores Burnett for 37 years.  He

      served as president of the Kiwanis Club, lieutenant governor of Kiwanis and president of the Goose

      Creek Consolidated School Board, where he served for six years.  He was also the founder of

      Heritage Interiors Carpet One in Baytown, where he worked with his wife and son.  He was pre-

      ceded in death by his parents, John C. and Estelle Smith and brother, John C. Smith, Jr.  He is

      survived by his wife, Dolores Smith of Baytown; his children, David Smith and Julie Smith;

      daughter-in-law, Laura Smith; grandchildren, Kristen and Kelsey Smith; sister-in-law, Norma and

      brother-in-law Sonny Baughman of Baytown; mother -in-law, Maxine Burnett of Baytown. Burial was

      held at San Jacinto Memorial Park.

      JEROME A. KLEYPAS, 63, of Houston, passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2001.Mr. Kleypas was

      born in West Phalia, Texas on September 30, 1937.  He was a member of Notre Dame Catholic

      Church and was Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus #7036. He was a veteran of

      the U.S. Army and graduated from Robert E Lee High School in Baytown, TX. He also attended

      The University of Houston. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Olga Kleypas

      and is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Artie Sue Kleypas; daughters, Jennifer Lyn

      Courtney and husband, Doug, Stephanie Dianna Hines and husband, Wesley; grandchildren;

      Bryan Douglas, Thomas Russell, Rachel Lyn Courtney, and Dalton Wesley Hines; three

      sisters, one brother and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.  Visitation

      was held Friday, January 5, 2001 at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home with Vigil and Rosary

      service. The Funeral Services were held Saturday, January 6, 2001 with Rev. Nicolas Pasadilla

      officiating.  Interment services followed in Memorial Oaks Cemetery. In lieu of flowers,

      contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 20448, Houston, TX

      77225 or The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 297153, Houston,

      TX 77297.

      ALBERT NICHOLS, 64, of Baytown, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2002. He was preceded in

      death by his father, Hubert Nichols.  Al is survived by his mother, Edna Nichols; wife, Patricia;

      daughters, Penny and Deanna; son, Michael; three stepchildren, David Herbeck, Cara Herbeck and

      Holly Perry; brother, Nick Nichols and sister, Huberta Nichols.  A Memorial Service was held

      Saturday, May 18 at Earthman Funeral Home in Baytown.

           KENNETH "MIKE" HOLMES, 67, of Baytown, passed away Tuesday, August 15, 2006, in a

     Houston hospital.  He was born September 19, 1938, in West Plains, Missouri, to Ralph D. and

     Lucile (Ford) Holmes.  Mike was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and President of the

     Home Owners Association at the lake.  He was a member of KJT and 3rd degree member of the

     Knights of Columbus.  His hobbies included woodworking, genealogy, being at the deer lease and

     playing in the woods with the boys.  He was known to be full of facts that didn't matter (AKA Cliff

     Claven). Mike was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law and uncle and a

     treasured friend to many. We will remember him for his strong faith, unbelievable love, and strength,

     but mostly, for his unwavering guidance he gave us to become strong adults. Preceded in death by his

     parents and his son, Kevin Lynn Holmes, he is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Jeannette

     Holmes; sons, Kenneth Michael Holmes, Jr. and his wife, Kathy; Ralph Paul Holmes and his wife,

     Elisa; Kyle Joseph Holmes and his wife, Christine; Shawn Patrick Holmes and his wife, Deanne;

     daughter Kimberly Arden Holmes; grandchildren, Candice, Kenneth III, Rebecca, Rachel, Sydney,

     Michael, Scott and Katie Holmes and numerous brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews. Honoring the

     family as pallbearers were, Seke Novosad, Jr., Terry Englert, Charlie Bitterly, Robert Petrosky,

     Rodney Tindol, Dennis Novosad, Matthew Novosad and Mark Novosad.  Honorary Pallbearers are

     Stephen Novosad, Gary Englert and Howard Gudgell, Robbie Regian and John Elam.

   Larry Shanks, president of Baytown Boat Company and a founder of Ross Sterling Booster Club died

   February 16, 1976 in a Baytown hospital. He was 38 years old. Services were held at Earthman Chapel

   with his brother, the Rev. Jack Shanks of Memphis, Tenn, officiating. He was buried in the Cedar Crest

   under the direction of Earthman Funeral Home. Larry was born in Bryson and lived in Baytown 33

   years. He was a former All-District tackle for the Robert E Lee Ganders. He graduated in the class of

   1956. He received a football scholarship to Sam Houston State University and graduated with a degree

   in Business Administration. His college days were interrupted and during this time, he taught at a

   Channelview elementary school on an emergency certificate. After he graduated from SHSU, he

   was a manager of Delhomme Marine in Seabrook and trailer sales in Kansas City before joining

   Baytown Boat Company. He was married to Carol Flukinger. He was a member of St. Paul's

   United Methodist Church.

    John Duncan Rosser, 37 died May 4, 1975 in a Pasadena hospital. The services were held at Earthman 

    Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. J.J. Krammer and the Rev. H.H. Rosser officiated. He was a native

    of the Baytown area and an electronic technician with Lockheed Corp. He was survived by his wife,

    Melinda Rosser, a daughter, Linda Suzanne Rosser and a son, John D. Rosser, Jr. all of Baytown. He

    was also survived by his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Montgomery of Houston and father John H. Rosser of

    Highlands.

    Philip Wayne Cox, 38, former Baytonian living in Brazoria, was killed near his home Saturday,

    January 19, 1976. He was clearing timber with a tractor when the accident occurred.  Services

    were held at the Brazoria Presbyterian Church, where he was a member and burial was in Brazoria.

    Philip lived most of his life in Baytown and was a graduate of the class of 1956 of Robert E Lee

    High School. He graduated from Texas A & M in May of 1960 and moved to Brazoria. He was a

    member of the First Presbyterian Church in Brazoria. He was a supervisor with Dow Chemical in

    Freeport. Survivors include his wife, Wanda Cox of Brazoria, two sons, Sam and Tim Cox of Baytown.

    Also, he had three step-children, Randy, Scott, and Debbie of Brazoria and his parents, Mr. and Mrs.

    Sam H. Cox of Kerrville.

     Celia Anne Gray Branning, 65, died June 19, 2003 in Tyler, Texas. The services were held at the

     Brookside Baptist Church with the Rev. Jerry Truett officiating under the direction of Eubank Funeral

     Home in Canton, Texas. Celia was born September 9, 1937 in Tyler to Herschel Leon and Lucille

     Blasingam Gray.  She grew up in Baytown and later lived various places including Germany and

     Montana. She lived in Canton for the last 23 years of her life except for the two years in Montana.

     She was a school teacher in Germany and Texas. After she retired from education, she became a

     massage therapist.  She was a member of Brookside Baptist Church where she sang in the choir. She

     was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Louis Hunsucker, and two children. Survivors include

     daughter, Christy Jacobs of Belgade, Montana, her father, Herschel Leon Gray of Canton, sister,

     Doloreska A Dinehart, of Canton and three grandchildren and two nieces. If desired, memorials may

     be made in Celia's name to the American Cancer Society.

     Carol Hill Ayers died January 26, 1998 at her home in Rusk, Texas. The graveside services were

     at the Salem Cemetery under direction of Wallace Thompson Funeral Home in Rusk with Brother

     Henry Ellis officiating. Carol was born December 21, 1937 in Tallahatta Springs, Alabama.  She was

     a resident of Rusk for eight years. She was formerly of Baytown, Texas. She was a member of

     Kingdom Hall Jehovah's Witness in Rusk and was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband,

     Billy Joe Ayers, son, Clifford Ayers, brothers, Louis "Bubba" Cartwright and Ira Don Cartwright of

     Highlands. She also had a sister, Annette Alexander of Old River and several nieces and nephews.