1927
Belton
2012
Belton Bourne
January 14, 1927 — June 30, 2012
Harlingen:
Belton "Sonny" Bourne was born in Santa Rosa, Texas on January 14, 1927 to Belton O'Neal Bourne and Lois Watley Bourne. Sonny went to be with his Savior Sunday afternoon, July 1, 2012. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Combes.
Sonny started school in Santa Rosa and grew up on his father's farms in Sebastian, Texas and Columbia, Mississippi, where he graduated from Columbia High School in 1944.
During WWII, Sonny served as a gunner aboard the Heavy Cruiser USS Louisville. The ship and much of its brave crew survived hits from Japanese Kamikaze aircraft in the Battle of Okinawa and rode out Typhoon Cobra at sea off the coast of Saipan. At the end of the war, he remained aboard the ship until its final cruise to Philadelphia, PA, where the USS Louisville was decommissioned.
Sonny started farming in Willacy and Cameron counties in early 1950. In 1958, he married Lois Cramer and they made their home in Sebastian for many years before moving to Harlingen in 1991. He loved his farm and rock home that his father built with limestone he had railed to the Valley from Wimberley, Texas in the early 1930's. Surrounded by beautiful trees, Sonny loved to visit the home and surrounding land several times a week to feed the area's strays he considered his pets. Sonny was always recognized by his welcoming smile and gentle spirit.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 41 years, Lois Bourne; his parents, Belton and Lois Bourne; and his brother, Sam Bourne.
Sonny is survived by two sons, Joe Belton Bourne of League City and Herman (Judell) Cramer of Seguin; three daughters, Helen (Jack) Scogin of Lyford, Patsy (Dennis) Boykin of Combes, and Janice (John) Kirby of Combes; One sister, Betty Jo Finley of Baton Rouge, LA, niece Joey McKone of Coronado, CA, and nephew Forest Finley of Baton Rouge, LA. He had eight grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning at the Combes Cemetery with Rev. Herman Cramer presiding and Rev. Steve Wiest assisting. Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons Bo Boykin, Sterling Boykin, Lance Boykin, Cody Scogin, Glen Wilde, and Darin Griffiths.
The family would like to extend their love and gratitude to Dr. Thomas Huff for his many years of care and concern, and also to Sonny's devoted caregivers Celia Medina, Mary Perez, Alma Ybarra, and Elvina Cavazos.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home. Memorials made to the charity of your choice are appreciated.
Belton "Sonny" Bourne was born in Santa Rosa, Texas on January 14, 1927 to Belton O'Neal Bourne and Lois Watley Bourne. Sonny went to be with his Savior Sunday afternoon, July 1, 2012. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Combes.
Sonny started school in Santa Rosa and grew up on his father's farms in Sebastian, Texas and Columbia, Mississippi, where he graduated from Columbia High School in 1944.
During WWII, Sonny served as a gunner aboard the Heavy Cruiser USS Louisville. The ship and much of its brave crew survived hits from Japanese Kamikaze aircraft in the Battle of Okinawa and rode out Typhoon Cobra at sea off the coast of Saipan. At the end of the war, he remained aboard the ship until its final cruise to Philadelphia, PA, where the USS Louisville was decommissioned.
Sonny started farming in Willacy and Cameron counties in early 1950. In 1958, he married Lois Cramer and they made their home in Sebastian for many years before moving to Harlingen in 1991. He loved his farm and rock home that his father built with limestone he had railed to the Valley from Wimberley, Texas in the early 1930's. Surrounded by beautiful trees, Sonny loved to visit the home and surrounding land several times a week to feed the area's strays he considered his pets. Sonny was always recognized by his welcoming smile and gentle spirit.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 41 years, Lois Bourne; his parents, Belton and Lois Bourne; and his brother, Sam Bourne.
Sonny is survived by two sons, Joe Belton Bourne of League City and Herman (Judell) Cramer of Seguin; three daughters, Helen (Jack) Scogin of Lyford, Patsy (Dennis) Boykin of Combes, and Janice (John) Kirby of Combes; One sister, Betty Jo Finley of Baton Rouge, LA, niece Joey McKone of Coronado, CA, and nephew Forest Finley of Baton Rouge, LA. He had eight grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning at the Combes Cemetery with Rev. Herman Cramer presiding and Rev. Steve Wiest assisting. Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons Bo Boykin, Sterling Boykin, Lance Boykin, Cody Scogin, Glen Wilde, and Darin Griffiths.
The family would like to extend their love and gratitude to Dr. Thomas Huff for his many years of care and concern, and also to Sonny's devoted caregivers Celia Medina, Mary Perez, Alma Ybarra, and Elvina Cavazos.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home. Memorials made to the charity of your choice are appreciated.
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