SFC Steve Matthews, United States Army, Ret.

Steve Ervin Matthews, was born in Lindsay, California, and passed away September 21, 2012, at the age of 59, in McAlester, Oklahoma.

Steve proudly served his country in the United States Army for 21 years, retiring in 1991, with the rank of Sergeant First Class.


He went to work for civil service at Fort Shafer, Hawaii.  Later, he moved to McAlester were he was an ammunitions specialist at the McAlester Army Ammunitions Plant at the time of his passing.

He had a combined total federal service of 42 years.

On October 5, an inurnment service, with full military honors, was held at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter, to welcome the arriving family and friends.

An Army Chaplain led the family in the Lord's Prayer, and offered a final prayer.  The Army bugler, standing amidst the live oak trees on the hillside above, played taps, as the rising sun shined brightly in the east.

The Army rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The detail marched to the committal shelter where they carefully unfolded the folded American flag that rested next to the cremains.  That flag was refolded into the traditional triangle and ceremoniously passed to an Army Staff Sergeant.  He presented the flag to Steve's daughter, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for his honorable and faithful service.

The cremains were buried in a special plot nearby, as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above, in honor of SFC Steve Matthews.

Left to cherish his memory are two daughters and their husbands, four grandchildren, a brother and a host of other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the McAlester News-Capital for biographical information and photo, and to Ceej Foy for additional photographs.

SSGT Stanley Hobbs, Sr., United States Army, Retired

Stanley Hobbs was born April 13, 1953 in Middlebury, Vermont and passed away September 21, 2012, at the age of 59, in Killeen, Texas.

Stanley proudly served his country in the United States Army for twenty years, retiring with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

On September 27, an inurnment service, with full military honors, was held at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen.  As the family arrived for the service, they were welcomed by more than a dozen Patriot Guard Riders, holding aloft American flags, surrounding the committal shelter.

The family minister read from the book of Isaiah, Chapter 43, verses 1-3:

"But now saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not:  for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name;  thou art mine.  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;  and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:  when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;  neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.

He concluded the service by leading the family and friends in The Lord's Prayer.

The United States Army Honor Guard executed full military honors, beginning with the playing of Taps by the Army Bugler.

The detail of five rifles, standing on the hillside above, fired three volleys of fire representing Duty, Honor and Country.

The detail marched to the committal shelter and carefully unfolded the folded flag that rested next to the cremains.  They refolded it into a tight triangle and ceremoniously passed it to an Army Staff Sergeant, who presented it to Stanley's dearly beloved wife, Janet, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for his honorable and faithful service.

The family proceeded to the columbarium wall, where Stanley's son placed the urn into a niche of the wall, which was, then,  sealed for all of eternity.

At the top of the hill above, the American flag flew at half-staff in honor of SSGT Stanley Hobbs, Sr.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, a daughter, his son, Jr., four grandchildren, his mother, Margaret, five brothers, one sister and a host of other dear family and friends.

With thanks to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information and photograph.

Gail Allen Remy, United States Navy Veteran

 Gail Remy was born December 24, 1939 in Norman, Oklahoma and passed away at his home in Georgetown, Texas on September 25, 2012, at the age of 72.

Gail proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1962, obtaining the rank of Non-Commissioned Officer.

On January 18, 2003 he married Evelyn Remy in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He served on the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Club of Texas, a car club of devotees of Lincoln automobiles.  He was the owner of Globe Metal Engravers.

Funeral services were held on October 1 at the Ramsey Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends.

After the service, the family traveled to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  There they were welcomed by fifty American flags blowing  in the westerly wind, and by Patriot Guard Riders of the CENTEX Region. 

Six of the Riders moved the flag draped casket from the hearse to the committal shelter.  The Riders then formed a line of American flags along the front of the shelter.

The United States Navy bugler played taps.  The flag that covered the casket was folded into a tight triangle, and presented to Gail's dear wife, by a Master Chief Petty Officer, on behalf of the President of the United States and the Chief of Naval Operations as a symbol of appreciation for Gail's service to this Country and a grateful Navy.

Gail's son stood next to the coffin, and spoke tearfully of his father.

Gail Remy was then laid to rest on the grassy plain of the cemetery, as the American flag flew at half-staff in his honor at the top of the hill.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, four sons, a daughter, seven grandchildren and a host of other dear family and friends.




 
 

With thanks to Ramsey Funeral Home for biographical information and photo.

CWO2 Stephen Doughty, United States Army Veteran

Stephen Doughty was born on November 26, 1946 in Rhinebeck, New York and passed away August 4, 2012, at the age of 65, at a hospital in the Temple, Texas area.

Stephen proudly served his country in the United States Army in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot.  His many military decorations include the Army Air Medal and multiple awards of the Army Commendation Medal.

At the time of his death, Stephen was homeless, and alone. There were no known living relatives on the occasion of his passing, so an interment service was planned to be held with the Patriot Guard Riders acting as his family.

That service was held on September 4 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were scores of Riders who lined the road in front of the committal shelter. 

Six of the Riders transferred the flag draped coffin from the hearse to the shelter.  The Riders then  gathered in the committal shelter for the interment service.

A member of the Riders, who is a chaplain, said a few words for Stephen and led the congregants in final prayers. 




Military honors were rendered by the United States Army Honor Guard.  Taps was played, while the Riders stood at attention and saluted.

The American flag that covered the casket was carefully folded into a tight triangle and passed to Army Lt. Serna, who presented the flag to the Patriot Guard Riders Ride Captain, as a token of appreciation of a grateful nation and the United States Army for Stephen's faithful and dedicated service to his country.

CWO2 Stephen Doughty was then laid to rest on the sloping plain of the cemetery as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above in his honor.



A sister of Stephen, who lives in Virginia, was subsequently located and contacted.  The folded flag was encased in a glass fronted flag box, sent to Patriot Guard Riders in Virginia, and presented to Stephen's sister, at her home, on October 13.

With thanks to Marianne Lijewski, Killeen Daily Herald, Jim McGinley and Ceej Foy for photographs.

Link to news report.

http://kdhnews.com/news/article_2166c460-f70f-11e1-891a-001a4bcf6878.html

SFC Donald Ament, United States Army, Ret.

Donald Ament was born on March 9, 1929 in Johnstown, PA and passed away in Temple, Texas on September 12, 2012, at the age of 83.

Don proudly served his country in the United States Army, enlisting at the age of 15.  He served for more than twenty years, and retired with the rank of Sergeant First Class.  His service included World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam.  He was not one to talk of his medals.  When asked, he would say, "oh I had numerous medals, awards and yada, yada, yada."

Don was the past Post Commander of VFW 3892 Harker Heights and Past District 14 Commander of the Texas Veterans  of Foreign Wars. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter S W Labombard 29.

Don was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Don and his dearly beloved wife,  Mary Francis Ruth,  raised four children together.  She passed away November 22, 2009 at the age of 81.  She is buried at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.

A funeral service was held on September 17 at the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen, Texas.  Present were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance of the funeral home.

After the service, the Riders led the funeral procession to nearby Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.  After the flag draped casket was moved from the hearse to the committal shelter, the Riders formed a line of American flags around the shelter during the final prayers and military honors.

As the cemetery bell tower rang twelve bells, for 12 noon, the Chaplain of the VFW addressed the gathered family and friends and told them of having worked with Don at the VFW.  He read from the bible, James Chapter 2, verses 14-16.  He led the family in The Lord's Prayer and read the VFW committal prayer.

Full military honors were rendered by the Army Honor Guard.  A detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Army bugler played taps.

The flag that covered the casket was folded into a tight triangle, three expended cartridges tucked into its folds, and presented to Don's son on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Don's honorable and faithful service.

SFC Donald Ament was laid to rest, next to his loving wife, on the sloping hillside of the cemetery, as the American flag flew at half-staff in his honor at the top of the hill.

Left to cherish his memory are his son, three daughters, nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and numerous other dear family and friends.

God Bless America

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,

Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free.

 Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, 

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God Bless America,

Land that I love

Stand beside her, and guide her

Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains to the prairies,

To the oceans white with foam.

God bless America, 

My home sweet home.

Irving Berlin

With thanks to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information and photograph.

Anna E. Mills, Women's Army Corps, WWII Veteran

Anna (Majewski) Mills  was born December 24, 1918 at South River, New Jersey and passed away September 7, 2012 at Killeen, Texas at the age of 93.

Anna, the eldest of 12 children, was raised and educated in South River.  Upon graduation she attended The Girl's Vocational School of South River, majoring in cooking, sewing and home nursing.  She later worked as a Parachute Flare Assembler and as a Cigar Making Machine Operator.


In 1943 she joined the Women's Army Corps of the United States Army.  She served honorably during WWII as an Airplane Electrical Mechanic.

Anna married Clyde Mills on December 27, 1948.  Upon his retirement from the United States Army they settled with their family in Killeen.  Clyde passed away on October 23, 1966.

On September 14, an inurnment service was held at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, just south of Killeen.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags around the gathered family and friends during the service.

As a light rain fell, the Minister told of Anna's love of laughter and of cooking.  He told of her Polish heritage and of how she enjoyed making cabbage rolls with her daughter-in-law.


 He read from the book of John, chapter 14.

1.  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2.  In my Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you. 

3.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  

4.  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

He then led the family in final prayers.

The Army Honor Guard rendered military honors.  The bugler played taps, as all stood at attention.  The American flag that had rested next to the urn was unfolded and carefully refolded into the traditional triangle, and presented to Anna's daughter, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for her honorable and faithful service.

The daughter carried the urn to the columbarium wall, where she placed it into a niche of the wall, and it was sealed for all of time.

Left to cherish Anna's memory are her daughter, two sons, four grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

The family has graciously requested that in lieu of flowers, monetary donations be made to The Patriot Guard Riders of Texas in memory of Anna Mills, to be delivered to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, 1615 South Fort Hood Road, Killeen, Texas 76542.

When I Must Leave You

When I must leave you

For a little while-

Please do not grieve

And shed wild tears

And hug your sorrow to you

Through the years,

But start out bravely

With a gallant smile;

Feed not your loneliness

On empty days,

But fill each waking hour

In useful ways,

Reach out your hand

In comfort and in cheer

And I in turn will comfort you

And hold you near;

And never, never

Be afraid to die,

For I am waiting for you in the sky!

Helen Steiner Rice

With thanks to Crawford-Bowers for biographical information and photograph.