KOGT Radio 1600 AM - Orange, Texas

Obituaries

Zack G. Brooks, 49, of Bridge City, Texas died Thursday, July 2, 2009 at Christus St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur. Zack was born June 2, 1960 in Port Arthur, Texas to Thomas T. Brooks, Sr. and Betty Shoalmire Brooks. He was a lifelong area resident and graduated from Bridge City High School. He worked in construction as a contract laborer for many years. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the Second Baptist Church in Bridge City with Brother Bobby Hoffpauir and Brother Bob Boone officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park under the direction of Levingston Funeral Home in Groves. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, July 4, 2009 from 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m. at the church. Survivors include his parents, Tom and Betty Brooks of Mauriceville, formerly of Bridge City; sister, Sheila Keeler and husband, Mike of Buna; brother, Tommy Brooks and wife, Lisa of Mauriceville; five nieces and nephews; and a host of family and friends. Special thanks to Dr. Kimberly Pitts, Oak Grove Nursing Home, and all those who treated Zack through his lifelong battle with spina bifida. Friends wishing may send memorial contributions to Second Baptist Church or charity of their choice.

Anthony DeWayne Mazzola, Sr., 49, of Greenville, Texas and a former longtime resident of Orange, passed away Monday, June 29, 2009 at the Baylor All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth. A memorial service to remember Anthony’s life will be at 3:00 P.M. Sunday July 5, 2009 in the Chapel of Dorman Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Father Delphyn Meeks, pastor of St. Maurice Catholic Church in Mauriceville. A gathering of family and friends will be from 1:00 P.M. on Sunday until service time. Interment will follow services in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens near Bridge City. Born on April 6, 1960 in Orange, Texas to Alfred Louis Mazzola and Anjo (Wright) Mazzola, he was a longtime resident of Orange, had lived in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area for the last twenty years most recently in Greenville, was a pipefitter in the construction industry and he was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Anthony was an independent man who enjoyed working on his ranch, spending time with his horses and he also enjoyed spending time with his family. Anthony is preceded in death by his father and his brother, Robert Mazzola. Those who are grieving his death yet cherishing his memory are his wife Carol Mazzola of Greenville, Texas; his mother, Anjo Mazzola of Oragne; his sons, Anthony DeWayne “A.J.” Mazzola, Jr. of Bridge City and Tristyn Mazzola of Savoy, Texas; his step-daughters, Terri Smallwood of McKinney, Texas, Bobbie Beane and her husband Jeffrey of Caddo Mills, Texas and Tracy Bedar of Greenville; his sister, Anna Mathews and her husband Edward of Orange; his brothers, Bubba Mazzola of Orangefield, Russell Mazzola of Orange and Mark Mazzola and his wife Vickie of Houston; his grandchildren, Kaela Eason, Hayden Smallwood, Gavyn Beane and McKenzy Beane. Anthony is also survived by numerous extended family. This family wishes to extend a special thanks to Harold Ponder of Sherman, Texas a dear friend of Anthony’s who helped in many ways. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 755 South 11th Street, Suite 212, Beaumont, Texas 77701 or www.cancer.org.

James Franklin “Frank” Lestage, 76, of West Orange, died Sunday, June 28, 2009. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange, with Reverend Joseph P. Daleo, pastor, serving as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Orange. Visitation will be 6:00 -9:00 p.m. Tuesday and 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Wednesday at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Born in St. Maurice, Louisiana on October 29, 1932, Mr. Lestage was the son of Nora (Gongre) and Joseph Gilmer Lestage, Sr. and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a mechanic and had worked for over 21 years for Troy Dodson Contruction in Beaumont; was a member of the Operating Engineers Union and St. Mary Catholic Church. Mr. Lestage was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Joseph Gilmer Lestage, Jr. and sisters, Opal Knight and Eula Moore. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lois Lestage; sons, James Lestage, Jr. and his wife, Pamela, Anthony Lestage, Jimmy Lestage, and his wife, Michele; daughters, Jo Ann Stansbury and her husband, Michael and Debbie Moody and her husband, Russell. Also surviving are his brothers, Weymon Lestage and his wife, Beatrice, Nathan Lestage and his wife, Lynette; 23 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. Serving as pallbearers will be Jeff Moody, Patrick Moody, Lance Tucker, Russell Moody, Jr., Austin Lestage, Andrew Lestage, Jimmy Lestage, Jr. and Harper Gillis. Honorary Pallbearers will be Devon Lestage, Brandon Moody, Charles Moody, Anthony Lestage, Jr., Aaron Lestage, Kenneth Wiggins, Jr., Weymon Lestage and Nathan Lestage.

Anita Beth Hinds, 47, of Orange, died Friday June 26 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Funeral Services will be Tuesday June 30th at 10:00 am at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Reverend Barry Bradley will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday June 29th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Anita was born in Orange on July 13, 1961. She was a graduate of West Orange High School. Her family was the most important thing in her life. Anita and her two daughters had a very special relationship; she spoke with both of them daily. Other passions in Anita’s life were traveling with her family especially to the Cayman Islands. Anita loved being outdoors especially gardening and watching her birds. Anita will be remembered for her kindness, humbleness, and also as a great listener. For the last 8 years Anita worked along side her husband Richard and other family members at American Fence. Anita was responsible for the daily administrative functions for the company. Anita is survived by her husband Richard Hinds of Orange, two daughters Amber Hinds Williams and her husband Ryan of Orange, Erin Hinds Dwight and her husband Jonathan of Dallas. Parents Morris and Bertha Thomas of West Orange, Sisters Susan Gilbeaux and husband Ricky of Orange, Becky Brister of Orange and Jodie Gunter and husband Jimmy Of Wyoming. Brothers David Thomas and wife Brenda and Tugie Thomas and wife Kim of Orange. Others left to cherish Anita’s memory are her Father and Mother in Law Ethan and Ann Hinds of Orange, Brother in Law's David Hinds and wife Pam, and Doyle Hinds and wife Janis all of Orange; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Albert W. “Slug” Sadler, Jr., 62, of Orangefield, passed away Thursday, June 25, 2009 at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston . A service to remember Albert’s life will be at 10:00 A.M. Monday, June 29, 2009 in the Chapel of Dorman Funeral Home in Orange with Brother John Fortenberry, officiating. Graveside Services with Military Honors will be on Monday at 1:00 P.M. at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches. A gathering of family and friends for a time of reflection will be from 5:00 P.M. until 9:00 P. M. Sunday at the funeral home. Born on January 27, 1947 in Jacksonville, Texas to Albert W. Sadler, Sr. and Elsie Mae (McKnight) Sadler, he was a resident of the Orange area for 30 years, he worked as a pipefitter in the construction industry, he was of the Baptist faith and he served his country as a veteran of the United States Army with the First Armored Calvary Division during the Vietnam War. Albert was a simple man who enjoyed peace and quiet, he enjoyed spending time with his family, he enjoyed singing and playing the guitar as well as karaoke and he often gave of himself to work within benefits to help raise assistance for people in need in the area. Albert is preceded in death by his father and numerous extended family. Those mourning his passing yet cherishing his memory are his mother, Elsie Mae “Pinky” Sadler of Groves; his sons, Carl Sadler, Sr. and his wife Kim Westberry of Devil’s Pocket and Darrell Sadler and his wife Stephanie of Groves; his sisters, Vicky Bowlin and Becky Morse and her husband Ed all of Groves; his brother, Larry Sadler and his wife Donna of Orangefield; his grandchildren, Carl Sadler, Jr., Kayleigh Sadler, Cheyanne Sadler, Tori Westberry and Brittaney Westberry. Albert is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Pallbearers for the service will be Steve Morse, Andy Sadler, Toby Morse, Aaron Morse, Mike Brightwell and Sonny Sadler.

Sandra Jean Menard, 66, of Orange, passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2009 at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at the North Orange Baptist Church in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Scott McIntosh, pastor of the church. Interment will follow in the Dorman Cemetery in the McLewis community on Tulane Road in Orange. A gathering of family and friends will be from 10:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. on Monday and will resume at 8:00 A.M. until service time on Tuesday at the church. Born on January 8, 1943 in Orange, Texas to Ralph Kenneth Wilkerson and Doris Irene (Hubbard) Wilkerson, she was a lifelong resident of the Orange area and a homemaker. Sandra was a member of the North Orange Baptist Church, she enjoyed camping, fishing, the gardening of flowers and vegetables and she enjoyed meeting her friends each morning to drink coffee at Gary’s and McDonalds in Orange. Sandra was a member of the Orange County Retired Senior Citizens, she was known for being cheerful, full of life and always laughing. She entered crazy contests and won many of them, she loved to dress up for Halloween, she was dearly close to her grandchildren and she also possessed the gift of writing special poetry. Sandra is preceded in death by her mother and numerous extended family members. Those mourning her passing yet cherishing her memory are her father, Ralph Kenneth Wilkerson of Orange; her daughter, Ruth Fouts of Orange; her sons, Mark Fouts of Orange and John Fouts and his wife Donna of Twin Falls, Idaho; her brothers, Stacy Adams Wilkerson and his wife Stephanie of Orange; her grandchildren, Sarah Jean Wilkerson and her fiancé Zac Graham, Merideth Lee Menard, whom Sandra adopted and raised, Victoria Toozer and Mykel Dumas; her great grandchildren, Lily Toozer, Keira Menichelli, Dante’ Dumas and Dominic Dumas Sandra is also survived by her nephew, Justin Huff and many extended family. For those desiring memorial contributions, donations may be made to Orange Christian Services, 2518 West Park Avenue, Orange, Texas 77630.