Chiquita Ray Mitchell Tolbert

Chiquita Ray Tolbert, 93, passed away on January 11, 2011. She was born March 31, 1917, in Fairview, Oklahoma, to the late Mayme and Bert Mitchell. She was a Catholic and a member of Holy Family Catholic Church.

She and her husband, Jesse Tolbert, opened the Dairy Treet in Victoria in 1955 and were owners until Jesse's death in 1995. They spent most of their retirement years traveling, being "rock-hounds," and making jewelry. She enjoyed fishing, swimming, hunting, sewing, playing the piano, and being our beloved "Grandma T" to her family and friends. One of her greatest joys was praying the rosary with her "Wednesday Night Prayer Group" for 20 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and brother, Bobby D. Mitchell.

She is survived by her son, Richard B. Tolbert, and daughters, Peggy Howard (husband Bill Howard) and Nancy Tolbert Denison. Her grandchildren are Richard A. Tolbert of Edmond, Okla., Matt Tolbert (wife Ginger) of Austin, Angela Hughes (husband Joe) of Sunrise Beach, Jay Howard (wife Annette), Christy Uresti (husband Patrick), Jess Howard (wife Dana), and Lisa Lively (husband Matt), all of Victoria, and Brad Denison of Kerrville. She also has 22 great-grandchildren: Christian, Avery and Austin Tolbert; Toby and Thomas Tolbert; Stephanie, Kaitlyn, Travis, and Steven Hughes; Marian, Sam, John and Clare Howard; Jack, Grayson, William, and Vivian Howard; Jessica and Gennavieve Uresti; Mason, Andrew, and Luke Lively.

She was a member of the Victoria Gem and Mineral Society, Catholic Daughters, Court of St. Ann # 369, Texas Restaurant Association, and Mid-Coast Sportsman Association.

The family wishes to extend their deepest appreciation to her devoted caregivers Diane Olvera and Monica Garcia, as well as the assistance of Neecy Hall.

A rosary will be recited on Friday, January 14, 2011, at 7 p.m., at Colonial Funeral Home.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Family Catholic Church on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, at 10 a.m., the Rev. Bryan Heyer officiating.

Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Yoakum.

Pallbearers will be grandsons and grandsons-in-law.

Honorary pallbearers are Mike Hathaway, Bill and Margot Reichert, Maryjean Seiler, Diane Olvera, Monica Garcia, Maricela Hernandez and all past members of her Wednesday Night Rosary Group.

Memorials may be made to Nazareth Academy, Our Lady of Victory School, St. Joseph High School, or Hospice of South Texas.

Arrangements under the direction of Colonial Funeral Home, Victoria, Texas, 361/578-3535.