By Marlene J. Bohr
A 5-year-old Corpus Christi girl lost her life in a one-vehicle accident June 25, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Matthew Bryant. The accident occurred at 8 a.m. on Interstate 30.
Morris County Justice of the Peace Barbara Meadows pronounced Irene Monsera Villa dead at the scene at 9 a.m., according to the accident report. Her body was taken to Harrison Funeral Home in Naples.
Also injured in the crash was the driver, Angela Gabriela Villa, 23, of Corpus Christi, who was airlifted to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler where she was listed in critical condition with head trauma, according to Trooper Bryant.
Injured and transported by Champion Emergency Medical Services ambulance to Titus Regional Medical Center were Luis Alberto Villa, 20, of Corpus Christi, and Luis Alberto Villa Jr., 3, according to Trooper Bryant.
Trooper Bryant said everyone in the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe was wearing a seatbelt.
“The vehicle was traveling east on Interstate 30 when it left the roadway at the 179-mile marker and traveled into the center median,” Trooper Bryant said. “The vehicle then crossed back onto Interstate 30, when Mrs. Villa overcorrected and caused the vehicle to overturn and come to rest in the center median facing northwest.”
The accident is still under investigation.

James Wesley “Jim” Reeder leads the horse for this carriage in his early days in the funeral home business in Hughes Springs. By Marlene J. Bohr An 18-year-old young man arriving in Hughes Springs nearly 100 years ago began a family business that is still flourishing under the care of family members. The young man, James Wesley “Jim” Reeder, began the business that is now Reeder-Davis Funeral Home. Reeder-Davis Funeral Home is celebrating 100 years in the family funeral business, with a centennial celebration on July 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. at their business at 1213 Highway 250 South in Hughes Springs. Mr. Reeder arrived in Hughes Springs on a train from Lassiter, and began work for the T.B. Keasler Mercantile Company, sweeping floors or any other job that was necessary. His goal was to one day own a store of his own. In 1908, Mr. Reeder crossed the street and began work for Sam Eubanks in his mercantile store where he was later accepted as a partner. Eubanks & Reeder was known as an early Wal-Mart venture, selling everything including caskets. Mr. Reeder also sold funeral insurance. The business was later known as Reeder-Watson when E.C. Watson bought Mr. Eubanks’ share. The business began conducting funerals. There was no embalming at that time, and visitation was conducted in homes. After losing two sons to a flu epidemic, Mr. Reeder studied and became a minister of the gospel. At one time history reveals he pastored seven churches at the same time, preaching at various hours. His favorites were South Union Baptist Church and Cason Baptist Church. He was the Sunday school superintendent at First Baptist Church in Hughes Springs for many years. Mr. Reeder earned his funeral director’s license in 1938. Mr. Reeder’s daughter, Leita, married Charles Davis, who attended mortuary school in Dallas and earned his embalmer’s license in 1947. The business, now devoted primarily to funerals, was known as Reeder-Watson-Davis. Mr. Reeder began selling a $300 funeral burial policy at that time. Mr. Davis, the second-generation leader in the family business, built the funeral home facility now in use on Highway 250. They also established Woodlawn Cemetery adjacent to the location. After Mr. Reeder’s death in 1967, Mr. and Mrs. Davis moved into the family home. The funeral business was then called Reeder-Davis. Mrs. Davis was the first licensed funeral director in the state of Texas, having passed the test for her license during World War II. During the second-generation tenure of the funeral home, Mr. Davis worked long hours between embalming, funeral directing, and the insurance company. In the early days, he ran the city’s ambulance service. The Davis’ daughter, Betsy Schindler, was a journalist in Austin and had no intention of joining the family business. “While I was always proud of my parents and grandfather, the long hours and the difficult work made the business unappealing at the time,” Mrs. Schindler said. “In 1976 when my father was selected for membership in the National Selected Morticians, he was told he would be required to go to conventions. Since my parents were the only licensees in our business, both couldn’t leave for an entire week. Dad asked me to go with him and I refused. The guilt set in and I agreed to use a week of vacation time and meet him in Chicago. [MORE]

By Marlene J. Bohr
The Fourth of July holiday will be celebrated Friday with barbecues, festivals, a boat parade, fireworks, and patriotic activities to remember the signing of the Declaration of Independence 232 years ago.
Hughes Springs
Hughes Springs residents will celebrate the sixth Hometown Fourth of July and Barbecue Cook-Off Thursday and Friday in Spring Park. Competition reigns with barbecue brisket with all the trimmings, and devising the most patriotic campsite. Serving begins at 11 a.m.
Other activities include a bubble gum blowing contest, pony rides, a jumper house, booths, watermelon seed spitting contest, and other games.
A No-Motor Parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday that will feature walkers, bikes, trikes, scooters, wagons, horses, or any battery-powered vehicle. Red, white and blue holiday decorations are part of this parade. No gas motors will be allowed.
Lone Star
The annual Lone Star Lake Barge and Boat Parade will begin at 3 p.m. on Friday from the Lone Star City Park area. Boats will be decorated with patriotic themes of red, white, and blue. For further information, call 903-656-3289.

By Ben Terry
It is a sure sign that the 2008 High School Football season is right around the corner whenever Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine hits the shelves. Most of the magazines are gobbled up the same day they are put out, as hungry Texas football fans flock to stores to see what the guru of Texas football has to say about this coming season.
First year Head Coach Barry Bowman takes the reigns of the Daingerfield Tigers who are predicted to win District 17AA. The Daingerfield Tigers were also ranked 20th in the State Farm/Texas Football 2A Top 25 and fourth in the Coaches’ Poll. The Tigers have five offensive starters and six defensive starters returning from a 9-3 season and were a Division 1 Area Finalist.
The Tigers have some big holes to fill on offense with the loss of Jarred Hill, Johnie Hurndon, and Malcolm Walker.
Key players to watch for Daingerfield are linebackers Julius Hurndon, Carl Moore, and Josh Evans. Other players to watch are offensive lineman Zarkevian Williams, noseguard Zavian Gilstrap, quarterback Tyler Boyd and defensive backs Joe Lafayette and Bobby Attaway.
Other prospects for the Tigers are: center Jacob Hall, wide receiver Juron Smith, defensive lineman Chris Robertson, defensive back Garrett Hughes, wide receiver Chris Jones, running back Joe Reel, and punter/kicker Brian Johnson.
Coach Chris Edwards and his Hughes Springs Mustangs are picked to place third in District 17AA.
Returning are three offensive and three defensive starters from a 9-3 Division 2 Area Finalist team. Their key loses from last year are Jarrod McKinney, Lane Teel, Judson Morgan, and Tanner Stokes. Players to watch for Hughes Springs are: running back/linebacker Jabarri Wesley, quarterback/defensive back Cody Jones, offensive tackle Devorick Terry, defensive end Aaron Roach and offensive lineman Chris Skaggs. Other prospects for the Mustangs are: linebackers Brandon Lindsey and Nolan Stricklin, offensive lineman Joseph Fitzgerald, tight end James Dufner, running back Corey Fox, and offensive lineman Jonathon Stone.
The Daingerfield and Hughes Springs squads have been playing 7 on 7, as well as hitting the weights. The first day of practice is Aug. 4, but even before they hit the field the Dave Campbell Texas Football predictions have people talking.