Obituaries

Helen Marie (Barto) Jurica

A Mass of Christian Burial for Helen Marie (Barto) Jurica, 74, of Caldwell was set for 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 15, 2020 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Caldwell with Fr. Melvin Dornak officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation was from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, February 14, 2020 at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell, with the family present from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Mrs. Jurica passed from this world on February 12, 2020 in Bryan, Texas.

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Jack Howard

Jack Digby Howard was born on September 12, 1928, on a cotton farm in Ennis, Texas. He is the son of Tom Howard and Fay Fallen Howard. Jack’s father, Tom Howard, was a star running back for the Ennis Lions football team in the mid-1920’s. His grandfather, Logan Fallen was the first of the Fallen Family to settle in Ennis Texas.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Nancy Hart Howard; daughter Catlyn (Cathy Lynn) Fendler and son-in-law Dr. Fred J. Fendler of Larkspur, California; son David Wayne Howard of Denison, Texas, and son John Mark Howard of Denison, Texas.

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Gregory Navarro

Gregory Navarro, 84, passed away in Dallas, Texas on Thursday, February 6, 2020.

Gregory was born in Palmer, Texas on March 12, 1935 to Ruperto and Reyes (Hernandez) Navarro. He grew up in Palmer and Ennis and graduated from St. John High School in 1953. On March 2, 1961 Gregory married the love of his life Eudelia Cantu and they made their home in Ennis. Gregory served in the United States Army from 1957-1959 and again in 1961-1962 in Cuba.

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Robert Jeffery Jordan, Jr.

Jeff Jordan passed away on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Ennis, Texas.

Jeff was born in Fort Worth, Texas on August 11, 1968 to Pamela and Robert Jordan. Jeff grew up in Fort Worth and attended high school at Carter Riverside. Jeff started working at Winn-Dixie grocery store at age 16 for 18 years and continued his career with H-E-B in Ennis after Winn-Dixie left Texas until his passing at age 51.

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Joanne 'Jody' Groom

Joanne “Jody” Groom, 83, died peacefully after church on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Kemp Care Center in Kemp, Texas. She was also known as Jo and Texas Red.

She is survived by a son, Mark Warde, 63, of Ennis, and daughter, Karen Williams, 61, of Terrell, and a sister, LaVerne Morton, of Eustace. She was preceded in death by eight of her 10 siblings; Lewis Neighbors, Pat Neighbors, Dorothy Thane, Alice Hamilton, Morris Boyd Butch Neighbors, Jerry Neighbors, Christine Lewis and Linda Brown and Joanne’s parents, John Henry and Inez Neighbors.

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Raymond B. Nekuza

Raymond B. Nekuza, 89, passed away in Ennis, Texas on Friday, February 7, 2020.

Raymond was born in Ennis, Texas on October 22, 1930 to Anton and Annie (Kudrna) Nekuza. He grew up in Ennis and graduated from St. John High School in 1948. On April 25, 1953 Raymond married the love of his life Georgia Ann Prachyl and they made their home in Ennis. Raymond served proudly in the United States Air Force from 1948 until 1953.

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Baby Amiyah Holbert

Baby Amiyah Holbert passed away on Feb. 4, 2020.

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Mark Anthony Strunc

Mark Anthony Strunc, born December 2, 1957, in Ennis, Texas, passed away January 24, 2020, in Plano, Texas, at the age of 62. Mark graduated from St. John High school in 1976. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington, earning a degree in Accounting. For over 20 years, he worked for Trinity Industries. Mark was a warm, funny and friendly person that gave generously to charity and was a lifelong Catholic. He loved the outdoors, especially hiking and deer hunting.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank & Marie Strunc and his stepmother, JoAnn Strunc.