BRUCATO
Philip S. Brucato, age 77, of Era, Texas, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2011. S u r - v i v o r s i n c l u d e his loving wife, R u t h a n n B r u c a t o ; his loving sister, Santa Trombino; brother- in-law, George Wittman; countless nieces, nephews, and other cherished family members and dear friends. Phil was born in Clifton, New Jersey and moved to Splendora, Texas in 1970. He retired January 28, 2011 and moved into his new home in Era, Texas, on January 29. Two days later, the Blizzard of 2011 arrived! What a welcome! Forty eight hours of sustained 50 mph winds; snow and a wind chill of minus 14 degrees! And stock to tend to during this time!! As time passed, Phil began to embrace retirement and the luxury of time. Always a Type A plus personality, he now found time to enjoy life’s wonders. He loved sitting on the back porch in the evening and watching the birds at the feeders. He loved the magnifi cent sunsets we experience here. Phil took great pride in winning over our semiferal cats. They loved him and would allow him, not anyone else, to pet them and pick them up. He loved working with the livestock and watching their antics. He planted fruit trees and worked in a small garden and came to know and love the serenity of our location in Era. He had found True Peace. He was so very happy with this stage of his life. His time in Era was short but all who knew him saw him change. I thank God he had the opportunity to embrace life’s simplest pleasures. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Rest in Peace, my husband. Survivors include his loving wife, Ruthann Brucato; his loving sister, Santa Trombino; brother- in-law, George Wittman; countless nieces, nephews, and other cherished family members and dear friends. Visitation was held Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 5:00-9:00 p.m. at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, Cleveland, Texas. Graveside services held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at Houston National Cemetery, Houston, Texas.

CLARKE
Bertha Adeline Clarke, age 83, of Porter, Texas, passed away in Porter, Texas, Monday, December 19, 2011. She was born May 12, 1928 in Elgin, Illinois to parents Roy and Evelyn Singleton who preceded her in death along with her loving husband, Joseph L Clarke Sr.; and her son, Joseph L. Clarke Jr. Survivors include her daughter, Bertha Anne Cook and husband, George Cook; brothers, John, Charles and Gordon; sister, Shirley, Thelma, Barbara, Wilma and Virginia; grandchildren, Evelyn Fussell and husband, Carl, Joseph Clarke and Brandi, Pamela Cook, and Linda Cook; great-grandchildren, Charles, Felicia, Ashley and husband, Allen, Audie, Kathryna, Jonathan, Christine, Jake, Stephanie, Melisa, David and Jeff; Five great- greatgrandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and other loving family members and faithful friends. Visitation was held Wednesday, December 21, 2011, 5:00- 9:00 p.m. at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, Cleveland, Texas. Graveside services were held Thursday, December 22, 2011, 1:00 p.m. at Tennessee Colony, Tennessee Colony,Texas. Pallbearers include Carl Fussell, Charles Fussell, Johnathan Fussell, Audie Marshall, Joseph Clarke, and Allen Taylor.

LEWIS
Verna Jean Lewis, age 69 of Splendora, Texas, passed away Friday, December 16, 2011 at Memorial Herman Northeast in Humble, Texas. She was born April 28, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky to parents Raymond and Flossie Edgell who preceded her in death along with her husband, Robert “Pete” Lewis; and her brothers, Beau Edgell and Roy Edgell. Verna was blessed; her greatest accomplishments in life were her family; her sons, Robert Edgell and wife, Patricia, Paul Edgell and wife, Tonya, J.C. Burroughs and wife, Tina; her daughters, Debbie Caldwell and husband, Jerry, Jerri Burroughs, Janet Jackson; grandchildren, Jennifer, Dustin, Cory, Josh, Timothy, Nicholas, Katie, Brittany, Jeane, Ashley, Kenny, Cody, Dakota, Jesse, and Crystal; great-grandchildren, McKenie, Scott, Kyia, Landon, Corbin, and Laykin; she also leaves behind to cherish her memory; her brothers, Charles Edgell and wife, Barbara, James Haycroft and wife, Barbie, Ray Edgell and wife, Shirley; sisters, Sandy Grube and Sharon Norton; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other cherished family members and countless friends. The family will received friends for visitation Sunday, December 18, 2011, 5:00-9:00 p.m. at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, Cleveland, Texas. Ray Bailey will preside over funeral services were held 2:00 p.m., Monday, December 19, 2011 at Pace-Stancil Chapel, Cleveland, Texas with interment at Concord Cemetery, Rye, Texas. Pallbearers include Danny Doolittle, Gabe Duncan, Cody Spear, Jimmy Granger, Dakota Burroughs, Jimmy Porter, and Jason Porter; honorary pallbearers include Leon Porter and Shorty Porter.

NICHOLSON
Charles “Nick” Nicholson, age 80, of Carthage, Texas, passed away in Marshall, Texas, Saturday, December 17, 2011. He was born April 15, 1931 in Liberty, Texas to Mother, Annie Nicholson and Father, Joe Nicholson who preceded him in death along with his loving Wife, Ruby Isaacks Nicholson; Daughter, Norma Charlene Nicholson Janowsky; and Brother, Dan N i c h o l - son. S u r - v i v o r s i n c l u d e his Step- D a u g h - ters, Waynette Dubois and husband, Jimmy of Angleton, Texas, Mary Murphy and husband, Charles of Rosharon, Texas; Step-Sons, Richard Wells and wife, Rona of Pearland, Texas, Sidney Wells and wife, Rhonda of Cleveland, Texas, Royce Wells and wife, Ruby of Shepherd, Texas, Leslie Wells Jr. of Highlands, Texas; Sister, Annie Jo Mayeux of Houston, Texas; Brothers, Sidney Nicholson, Morris Nicholson and wife, Beverly; Sister-in-Law, Margie Nicholson; Grandchildren, Sheila Flynn and husband, Mike, of Shepherd, Texas, Connie Baker and husband, Dusty of Lovelady, Texas, Angelia Vandver- Wright and husband, Dewayne Wright of Shepherd, Texas; numerous Great-Grandchildren and Great-Great-Grandchildren; Nephews and Nieces, Dr. James S. Nicholson, Jr. and wife, Linda of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Danny Nicholson and wife, Ellen of Waynona, Missouri, Steve Nicholson, of Crosby, Texas, Mark Nicholson and wife, Julie of Dallas, Texas, Lynda Snider and husband, Tony, Dr. Pat Nicholson Bailey and husband, Frank of Mountain Home, Arkansas. Charles Norman Nicholson was a member of Masonic Lodge #748 in Conroe, Texas. Visitation was held Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 5:00-9:00 p.m. at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, Cleveland, Texas. Bro. Preston Baker presided over graveside services being held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2011, Wells Cemetery, Shepherd, Texas. Pallbearers include Michael Flynn Jr., Dusty Baker, Dwayne Wright, Trey Baker, Sidney Wells, and Royce Wells; honorary pallbearers included Leslie Well Jr., Greg Flynn, Michael Flynn III, Steven Flynn, Lee Wells III, Heath Wells, Bret Wells, Charles Murphy, Charles Murphy Jr., Michael Murphy, David Wells, Roy Wells and Steve Nicholson In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to American Cancer Society, Gulf Coast Region, P.O. Box 570127, Houston, Texas 77257-0127.

WELLS
Vearda Wells, age 88, of Houston, Texas, passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at Memorial Herman Hospital, Houston, Texas. She was born December 31, 1922 in Nacogd o c h e s , Texas to p a r e n t s , John Hend e r s o n Smith and Dora Melissie Norris Smith who preceded her in death. Mrs. Wells was a homemaker with her greatest accomplishments being her family. She adored them whole heartedly. She is forever rejoined with her loving husband, Roscoe Shirley Wells. She will be remembered lovingly by her sons, John Wells and wife, Janice of Rye, Texas, Roscoe Wells Jr. and wife, Rita of Rye, Texas; and her daughter, Shirley Ann Wells of Houston, Texas; her greatest joy was hearing the laughter of her grandchildren, John Wells Jr., Gerald Wells, and Savanah Wells; her great-grandchildren, Gerald Jr., Trey, Alissa, Carolyn, Kayla, Faith, and Heather, and her great-great-grandchildren, Zaley, Braiden, and Ethan; numerous nieces, nephews and other cherished family members and faithful friends throughout the years. Visitation was held Thursday, December 22, 2011, 5:00-9:00 p.m. at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, Cleveland, Texas. Bro. Clyde Somers presided over funeral services being held Friday, December 23, 2011, 1:00 p.m. at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, Cleveland, Texas. Pallbearers included John Wells Jr., James Boatman, Gerald Wells, Troy Boatman, Gerald Wells Jr., Thomas Carrell, and Trey Wells.