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Rena Rovella Huckaby Chambers 93, of Burnet, formerly from Evant, died on March 1, 2007, in Scott and White Hospital in Temple due to complications after falling and fracturing her pelvis. A memorial service was held at the Burnet Primitive Baptist Church on March 8, with Brother Mark Richards and Brother Royce Cockrell officiating. Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lampasas, Texas.
She was born on Dec. 20, 1913 the daughter of Henry Lafeyette Huckaby and Isadora Coreen Carter in North Bennet, Texas near Goldthwaite. She had three brothers, Charles (Fadie), Jesse, and Edward Vernon, and four sisters, Myrtle Barkley, Belle Blackwell, Ella, and Estilla Huckaby.
She lived in Blanket during her teenage years and moved to many different locations around the state because her family followed the crops. She lived with her sister Belle near Three Rivers, Texas for several years where she worked in a meat market owned by her brother-in law.
When her brother in-law died she and her sister moved back to Evant where they both met the love of their lives. She met Elijah Jackson Chambers on a blind date set up by Doc Blackwell. She married at the age of 32 in a double wedding ceremony on Oct. 19, 1946, with her sister Belle and Doc.
She worked her entire life, raising her children and running her ranch 10 miles south of Evant. She was a very loving and devoted mother and housewife. For many years she was a member of the Caradan Primitive Baptist Church and raised her family in the church.
After her husband died on Jan. 7, 1984, she continued to run the ranch in Evant for 10 years. She moved to Gatesville and lived near her sons for 12 years. At this time, she joined the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church near Izora. On October 21, 2006, she moved to Burnet to live in Country Oaks Assisted Living to be near her daughter and she joined the Burnet Primitive Baptist Church.
During her retirement years, she worked with all her grandchildren on 4-H projects of clothing and sewing. She went to every stock show, 4-H contest, and school function that her grandchildren were in and that she could work into her busy schedule. She said for years she kept the road hot between Burnet and Gatesville, trying to not miss out on anything.
She was a very devoted member of the Primitive Baptist Church and in her retirement years, she spent many hours in front of the TV listening to preachers of other faiths and following them in her Bible. She loved listening to gospel music. Rena loved her church, her family, loved to play dominos and other games, and she loved to travel and shop. She kept her bags packed all the time so if someone called and wanted her to go somewhere, she could be ready to go quickly. She had many life long friends that would call her on the phone and spend hours visiting and asking her advice. She was such a special friend, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be loved and forever remembered for being the wonderful person she was.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1984; her parents; all her sisters, and two brothers.
She is survived by her sons, Jackson Edward Chambers and wife Bonnie of Albuquerque, N.M.; Elisha Weldon Chambers and wife Charolett of Gatesville; and Elijah Eldon Chambers of Brownwood; daughter Virginia Dare Halfmann and husband Bobby Halfmann of Burnet; brother, Edward Vernon Huckaby of Missouri City; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were her grandsons, Coy Chambers, Adam Chambers, Cole Chambers, Travis Halfmann, Kyle Jurney and a friend Ryan Sartor.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Burnet Primitive Baptist Church, P. O. Box 1258 Burnet, Texas 78611.
Edgar Funeral Home
Mrs. Gardner
Susie Dee (Wilson) Gardner died on March 9, 2007, at a Kerrville care facility. Funeral services were held March 12 at Grimes Funeral Chapel, in Kerrville with Dr. George Harris officiating.
She was born in Hamilton on July 13, 1915, the daughter of Eddie and Mattie Wilson. She lived in the Hamilton area until after her graduation from Hamilton High School.
She was married to Bradley L. Gardner, on June 9, 1934, in Stephenville. He preceded her in death on Sept .9, 2006. She was a homemaker until she and several of her friends decided to go to college in 1952. They commuted to Tarleton State College for two years, then transferred to Howard Payne University, where Mrs. Gardner received her Bachelor of science degree in elementary education in 1957. She later returned to school and received a Master of Science in Education degree from Southwest Texas State College in 1962.
Mrs. Gardner was offered a teaching position at Tivy Elementary, in Kerrville, and taught there until her retirement in 1977.
She and her husband enjoyed traveling in their travel trailer, square dancing, and managing their rental property. She was also an accomplished seamstress and quilter, and shared many of her quilts with her family. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Delta Kappa Gamma, and American Association of University Women.
Survivors include a son, Gary (Jouett) Gardner, of Lake Jackson; a daughter, Carmin (Doug) Graham, of Kerrville; seven grandchildren, Gary (Kathy) Gardner, Jr. of Friendswood, Colleen (Oliver) Hicks, of Lake Jackson, John Gardner, of Galveston, Brad Gardner and Jack Gardner, of San Marcos, Susan (James) Lamb, of Beeville, and Catherine (Steve) McBrayer, of Victoria; ten great-grandchildren, Shelby, Hayden and Lara, of Friendswood, Evan and Jill, of Galveston, Brian, John and Peyton, of Beeville and Haley and Chase, of Victoria; a sister, Clara Smith, of Hamilton, three sisters in-law, Zula Hunter, of Glen Rose, Maggie Gardner, of Hamilton and Mary Lois Gardner, of Marion, Iowa, numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by a sister, Novella Trimble in 1966.
Pallbearers were Gary Gardner, Jr. John Evan Gardner, Brad Gardner, Jack Gardner, James Lamb, and Steve McBrayer
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Les Sherman Memorial Scholarship Fund, administered through the First Baptist Church of Kerrville, or the Hill Country Youth Ranch, P.O. Box 67, Ingram, Texas 78025.
Grimes Funeral Home