Cooke
 Memorial services for Kevin Adams Cooke, 40, of Rockdale were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Rockdale with Rev. John Warren of St. John’s and Rev. Cheryl Broome of Hyde Park United Methodist Church officiating.
 Mr. Cooke died Thursday, Oct. 2, in Rockdale. He was a lifelong Rockdale resident.
 He was born May 14, 1968, in Rockdale to John William “Bill” Cooke and Peggy (Adams) Cooke. He worked as an importer/wholesaler of Mexican Indian arts and crafts for 13 years.
 He married Noelia Cigarroa on July 31, 1993, in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
 Mr. Cooke was a lifelong member of St. John’s United Methodist Church.
 Mr. Cooke was a 1986 graduate of Rockdale High School and a 1992 graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications.
He was a Class 3A state tennis champion, teaming with his brother Ken to win the doubles crown. He played two years of college tennis at Temple Junior College.
 He is survived by his wife, Noelia Cooke of Rockdale; two sons, Kevin Esten Cooke and Agustin Adams Cooke, both of Rockdale; his parents, Bill and Peggy Cooke of Rockdale; a sister, Kathy Lu Cooke Martin and husband Bill of Rockdale; two brothers, Kyle William Cooke of Houston and Ken Esten Cooke and wife Christine of Rockdale; two nieces, Katie Grace Cooke-Garza and Kennedy Cooke-Garza; two nephews, Esten Andres Cooke and William Celestino Cooke; and a host of friends through Texas, the nation and in Mexico.
 In lieu of flowers, the family desires memorials be made to St. John’s UMC, P.O. Box 168, Rockdale, TX 76567; St. Paul Lutheran School, P.O. Box 369, Thorndale, TX 76577; or to an account set up at Citizens National Bank for Kevin and Agustin’s education.

Shelander
Services for Bernice Doss Shelander, 90, of Rockdale were held Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home with Rev. Calvin Springer officiating. Burial was in Oak Lawn Cemetery.
Mrs. Shelander died Wednesday, Oct. 1, in Tyler.
She was born Jan. 4, 1918, in Milam County to Charlie H. and Roxie Ann (Springer) Rogers.
Mrs. Shelander was a Rockdale resident since 1984 and previously lived in Black Jack.
She was a doctor’s assistant to Dr. O’Neal.
Mrs. Shelander was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Minerva and she enjoyed sewing, cooking, gardening, flowers and yardwork.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Carlton Doss, on Feb. 2, 1966; her second husband, Jesse J. Shelander, on Dec. 8, 1995; a grandson, Bradley Landrum, on Aug. 19, 1969; three sisters, Alpha Morton, Barbara Edney and Charlene Wilhite; and a brother, Alfred Rogers.
Survivors are a son, Thomas Doss and wife Aileen of Rockdale; two daughters, Millie Caywood and husband Ronnie of Rockdale, Lottie Summers and husband Don of Whitehouse; a sister, Doris Crim of Forest Grove; seven grandchildren, Pam Ross and husband Walt of Rockdale, Kim Filla and husband Joey of LaGrange, Trina Beard and husband Randy of Troupe, Danette Fatheree and husband John of Hutto, Tina Finch and husband Cody of Somerville, Cristi Flencher and husband Cory of Brenham and Jeovany Navarro of Rockdale; and eight great-grandchildren, Madison and Brodie Filla, Shawn Beard, Kayla Wadlington, Zachary Fatheree, Isaac, Olivia and Gabriella Finch.
Pallbearers were Ronald Davenport, Travis Crim, John Wayne Morton, Gerald Morton, Buddy Morton and Charles Edney.

Stigler
Services for Debby Stigler, 55, of Rockdale were held Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home with Minister Buddy Shipp of the Church of Christ officiating. Burial was in I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Mrs. Stigler died Saturday, Oct. 4, at Manor Oaks Nursing Center.
A lifelong Rockdale resident, she was born Sept. 7, 1953, in Cameron to William and Helen (Arledge) Jones.
She married James Stigler on March 12, 1971, at Murray Street Church of Christ in Rockdale.
Mrs. Stigler was a 1972 graduate of Rockdale High School and worked for seven years in the office of a Bryan H-E-B grocery store.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents and a brother-in-law, Raymond Skrhak.
Survivors are her husband, James Stigler of Rockdale; son, Jeremy Stigler and Angel Drummond, of Rockdale; a daughter, Abbey Rubio and husband Jay of Rockdale; her parents, William “Buck” and Helen Jones of Rockdale; a sister, Brenda Skrhak of Rockdale; two grandchildren, Jagger and Maddox Rubio; and four step-grandchildren, Calli Pipkin, Kayla Salazar, Tori Drummond and Brent Drummond.
Pallbearers were Terry Arledge, Timmy Arledge, Jeffrey Clark, Joe Clark, Michael Skrhak and Mark Skrhak.

Kohutek
CAMERON—Memorial services for Fay Kohutek, 83, of College Station, formerly of Cameron, were held Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron with Rev. James T. Wheeless officiating.
Mrs. Kohutek died Wednesday, Oct. 1, in a College Station nursing facility.
She was born Aug. 30, 1925, in Buckholts to John and Anna (Stoerner) Rummel.
She was raised in the Vogelsang community of Milam County.
Mrs. Kohutek was the owner and operator of Fay’s Beauty Shop in Cameron for over 40 years.
She married Edwin Lee Kohutek on Jan. 14, 1950, and he preceded her in death in 2003.
Mrs. Kohutek was a member of United Church of Christ in Ben Arnold.
She was also preceded in death by six brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include two sons, Ed Kohutek and wife Crystal of Houston, Jimmy Kohutek of College Station; and two daughters, Kathryn Nachlinger and husband James of Bryan, Debbie Williams and husband Scott of New Braunfels; also, 11 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Matl
CAMERON—Funeral services for Mary Ludmilla Matl, 90, of Cameron were held Tuesday, Oct. 7, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cyclone with Rev. Walter Matus officiating. Burial followed in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.
Rosary was recited Monday, Oct. 6, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron.
Ms. Matl died Friday, Oct. 3, in a Cameron nursing facility.
She was born April 28, 1918, in Bell County to Thomas and Johanna Matl.
Ms. Matl was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by six siblings.
Survivors include a brother, John Lewis Matl of Rockdale, and a sister, Ann Paruzinski of Belton; also, numerous nieces and nephews.

Ripkoski
CAMERON—Funeral services for Herman William “Rip” Ripkoski, 91, of Cameron will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008, at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Cameron with Rev. Juan Carlos Lopez officiating. Entombment will be in St. Monica’s Mausoleum.
Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron.
Mr. Ripkoski died Sunday, Oct. 5, in Austin.
He was born Sept. 21, 1917, in New Waverly to Tony and Valora Lucille (Gregory) Ripkoski.
Mr. Ripkoski was an army veteran of World War II.
He married Bennie Lee Hurry on Oct. 16, 1942.
Mr. Ripkoski was a member of St. Monica’s Catholic Church, the Disabled American Veterans and the Knights of Columbus.
He had worked as a farmer and had worked for Cameron Seed & Feed, then owned his own upholstery shop for many years.
Survivors are his wife, Bennie Lee Ripkoski of Cameron; a daughter, Anna Ripkoski Herms of Taylor; two brothers, Frank Ripkoski of Conroe and Thomas Ripkoski of Freeport; a sister, Frances Garcia of Houston; two grandchildren, Rev. Michael Herms and wife Dawn, Debra Trevino and husband Ted; and three great-grandchildren, Beau Owen, Zachary Trevino and Sarah Treveino.

Hester
LEXINGTON—Services for Sophie Hester, 92, of Giddings, formerly of Lexington, were held Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Lexington with Rev. Emilian Foltyn officiating. Interment followed in Lexington Cemetery.
Mrs. Hester died Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Country Careplex in Giddings.
She was born May 15, 1916, in St. Hedwig to Peter Lyro and Rosalie Couperlik Lyro.
She married Terrell Hester on March 10, 1962, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Freeport.
Mrs. Hester was a housewife and member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Lexington.
She was preceded in death by her husband on March 31, 1995 and a son, Terrell Earl Hester, in August 2000.
Survivors are caregivers Dorothy and Frank Simcik of Lexington; a grandson, Lance Wegwert of Bryan; a great-grandson, Michael Wegwert of Bryan; and a sister, Mary Skloss of San Antonio.
Pallbearers were James Schroeder, Frank Simcik, Jimmy Hosrich and Terry Holland.

Swift
WACO—Funeral services for Stanley Hill Swift Jr., 74, of Waco were held Saturday, Oct. 4, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with Rev. Chuck Treadwell and Rev. Brad St. Romain officiating. Burial followed at Oakwood Cemetery.
Mr. Swift died Wednesday, Oct. 1, surrounded by his family.
He was born June 7, 1934, in Cameron to Stanley Hill Swift Sr. and Frances Brown Dossett Swift.
During World War II, his family lived in Boston, New York City, Seattle and then Waco.
He attended Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Yoe High School in Cameron.
After attending The University of Texas, he graduated with a B.A. from Baylor.
He married Cynthia Miller on July 16, 1955.
Mr. Swift began his family and career in Houston and soon returned to Waco, where he owned and operated Swift Outdoor Advertising for many years.
He was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, many civic organizations and outdoor advertising associations.
Mr. Swift enjoyed his time on Lake Waco with friends and family and he was an avid basketball and football fan.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors are his wife, Cynthia Miller Swift; a son, Stanley Hill Swift III and wife Mary; a daughter, Elizabeth Swift Copeland and husband Morgan; a sister, Sarah Harrison Voyles and husband Richard of Waco; five granddaughters, Elizabeth Sentell Swift, Sarah Dossett Swift, Nell Elizabeth, Kate Morgan and Carson Carlyle Colgin Copeland, all of Houston; and three nieces, Frances Dossett Harrison of Waco, Harriet Harrison Leavell of Houston and Carter Harrison Jackson of Allen; also, numerous other family members.
Pallbearers were Blake Browder, Jack Burgess, Sammy Citrano, Phil Cooper, Charles Evans, Dudley Haas, Jim Haller, Jim Holley, Monte Hulse and James Wood.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School, 517, Columbus Ave., Waco, TX 76701.

Obituaries are printed in The Rockdale Reporter as a free public service. The information is provided by the funeral home. More detailed obituaries may be printed for a fee. Call 512-446-5838 for more information.