Obituaries

August 8, 1931- February 5, 2020
   Etta Jean Joines Gibbs, 88, passed away February 5, 2020, in Bay City, Texas. 
  She was born August 8, 1931, in Francitas, Texas, to W.R. Joines and Ada Luella Martin Joines. 
  Etta Jean and her husband Harrell Denson Gibbs, joined the First Baptist Church in Bay City on May 31, 1953, and she faithfully attended Sunday school and worship services as long as her health allowed. 
  She worked in the church nursery for many years and later enjoyed her ladies’ Sunday class and singing in the Jubilaries. 
   Etta Jean learned to crochet when she was a teenager and used that talent to minister to others. 
   She made 22,000 pairs of slippers for M.D. Anderson cancer patients and thousands more for children for the First Baptist Church stocking ministry. 
   She worked in the Bay City ISD Food Service for 31 years and worked at six of the seven schools. 

November 28, 1939- February 1, 2020
   On Saturday, February 1, 2020, Jerriel L. Evans, Sr., loving husband and father, passed away at the age of 80. 
   Jerriel Layne Evans, Sr. was born on November 28, 1939 in Flint, Texas, to parents, Fred and Treva Evans. 
   Jerriel graduated from Woodsboro High School in 1957, and married the love of his life, Maybell (Hobbins) Evans in that same year. 
   They began their life together with a move to San Antonio, Texas, where J.L. attended classes at San Antonio Community College and accepted a position with Amoco Oil Company as a Sales Manager.
   After 10 years, J.L. moved his young family to Bay City, Texas to pursue his dream of starting his own business. 
   That business was Evans Oil Company, which distributed oil and gas products to counties along the Texas Gulf Coast. 

 
February 29, 1924 – January 21, 2020 
   Lilly Elise Richers Carr, 95, of Bay City departed this earthly life on January 21, 2020 and is continuing on her eternal journey with our Lord Jesus Christ and all of her family and friends who have predeceased her. 
   A lifelong resident of Bay City, she was a leap year baby born February 29, 1924, to the late Louis William Richer Sr. and Julia Letzerich Richers.
  With her passing from this life, another member of the Greatest Generation is gone from our presence.  
  After graduating from BCHS in 1941, Lilly married Joe Lawhon who was a P-47 pilot in the Pacific Theater of Operations.  
  Joe was lost on his first combat mission when his squadron attempted to fly through a hurricane.  
   Unbeknown to Joe, Lilly was pregnant at the time with his son Joseph B. Lawhon.  Joe never had the opportunity to know his father.  

Dec. 22, 1955 – Dec. 9, 2019 
   Jerry (Pie Man) Swindall passed away on December 9th at the age of 63.
   He was preceded in death by his parents, Marie Swindall and E.A. Swindall, and by his brothers, John W. Swindall, Jody Swindall and Ronny Swindall. 
   He is survived by: his brother, Benny Swindall and wife, Annette; his sister, Joyce Jacobs and husband Jerry; seven nieces and nephews; and many great nieces and nephews. 
   A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at First Baptist Church Matagorda, 932 Lewis St, Matagorda, Texas.
   Afterward, those who would like to participate can join us at the beach to spread his ashes. 

 
  Billie, most recently of Austin, Texas went to her final and perfect home on December 24, 2019, quietly and peacefully in her home while her children Pam Hoffman, Veda Scheppan, June Crisswell, Ben Quinn, and Laurie Bram along with other family sang songs of the Savior who welcomed her.
   Although Billie relocated to Austin after the death of her (second) late husband she lived all of her adult life in Wharton, Jackson, and Matagorda counties: she loved moving from house to house but especially loved rearranging furniture.
    Lots of stubbed toes occurred while trying to navigate through a dark house in the middle of the night for a restroom break and running into furniture that hadn’t been there the night before.
   One time her (first) late husband came home from work to find he didn’t live there anymore: she had moved all of their belongings to a different home while he was at work!

Harley Stewart Savage

Haskell Haywood Cooke

December 19, 1921- September 16, 2019

Chris Wayne “C.W.” Simon
April 8,1964- August 8, 2019  
   Chris Wayne “C.W.” Simon, 55, of Bay City passed away August 8, 2019. 
   He was born April 8,1964 in Houston, Texas, to the late Mitchel Wayne Simon and 
   Rebecca Burrows Simon.
A match made in Heaven began many years before Kimberly and Chris actually started dating in March 2007. 
   The deal was sealed on March 19, 2011 when “Miss Kimberly” said “I do.” 
   “Miss Kimberly,” as Chris so fondly referred to her on Air, became his soul mate, his everything. 
   Sharing a love like none other, he was her protector right down to his last breath.
   In 1982 Chris graduated from Jack Yates School of Communications Magnet Program in Houston, Texas.  Eventually he made Matagorda County his home where his radio career began as the Legendary “C.W.”  
   He worked for x-97 and KMKS Hot County 102.5, becoming a part of the Texas music family for almost 30 years.