Edna Mae Hamner, 85, of Hallettsville, passed away Oct. 2, 2011. She was born on April 16, 1926 in Sheridan. She was the sixth child of nine that A. W. and Harriet Botard would have. They all worked together through her school years enduring some tough times, but always as a very close knit family. The strong family love for each other formed in her childhood would always be a source of comfort throughout her life.

After her school years, Edna met and married Donald Grunewald. They had one daughter together, Donna Faye. They were young when they married and in time went their separate ways.

She later met and eventually married Findley Hamner. They were happy and worked very hard together at rice farming, along with starting a trucking business with Findley's brother. They had three sons Vernon, Charles, and Findley, Jr. The boys were all young when they decided to move to Houston and get in the trucking business full time. Edna was a good mother and always made sure that the children were prepared, dressed well, and on time all of their school years. She was quite a stickler for cleanliness and made sure that all family members kept the house the way she wanted.

While married to Findley, Edna enjoyed not only her housewife activities, but also had a health club membership, bowled in a league, sold Mary Kay, loved to shop, fish, sing, and travel. She was always a sharp dresser and had her hair, makeup, and nails done all the time. She also enjoyed getting out of Houston on the weekends, spending time at the country places with her family.

Edna and Findley were divorced after the children were grown, so she sold her house and moved back to her home, Sheridan. She stayed out at her lake house for a while, then built a house in town with a lot of help from her family. She stayed at the house enjoying family, friends, fishing, gardening, and going to the Bingo hall.

Edna decided to make her last move to Stevens where she would stay for the remainder of her life. She had many friends there, a place to play Bingo more often, and always seemed happy.

The family will always be grateful for the way she was cared for and treated at Stevens. It was always evident that she was happy with her decision to be there, and did not want to be anywhere else, and as usual, it was her way.

She will always be loved and greatly missed.

Edna is survived by: 2 sons, Vernon Ray Hamner & wife Donna, and Turner Findley Hamner Jr. & wife Melissa, both of Houston; daughter Donna Faye Grunewald Mitchell of Sheridan; 2 brothers, Oscar Lewis Botard and Lee Emmott Botard; 2 sisters, Ruth B. Kane and Dorothy Marie Janak; 6 grandchildren; and 4 great grandchildren.

Edna was preceded in death by: her son Charles Bradley Hamner; her parents; 3 brothers, Allen William Botard, Vernon Edward Botard, and Roy Alford Botard; and sister Eva Lilly Whitley.

Funeral Service: 10 am, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at Kubena Funeral Home. Visitation: 3 pm, Wednesday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Officiate: Rev. Terry Horton. Pallbearers: Roy Botard, Ed Janak, Mike Lauer, Farrell Hill, Tommy Hamner, and Louis Botard. Burial: Cheetham Cemetery, Sheridan, Texas.

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