Ethelyn A Armentrout Colwell

Ethelyn A. Colwell, 88, passed away on Saturday, February 2, 2013 in Hebbronville, Texas. She was born on October 16, 1924 in Christine, Texas. Ethelyn along with her late husband, Robert S. Colwell, started a cattle trucking business. In 1956 they moved to Hebbronville, Texas and began their watermelon career. After purchasing El Gato Ranch on FM 3073 in Jim Hogg County, they began farming watermelons and started their own shipping business. The watermelon brokerage business started the season in Tampico, Mexico and would end on the Kansas border in late September. They shipped watermelons to Hawaii, England and Safeway’s Stores all over the United States and Canada.

In 1960 they started cattle ranching. They ranched over 30,000 acres between Webb County, Zapata County and Jim Hogg County, Texas. After retiring from the shipping and growing watermelons in 1986, Ethelyn, alongside her lifetime companion, accomplished many things in life including establishing the Horseshoe Ranch Incorporated, which she was still managing at the time of her death.

Ethelyn is preceded in death by her husband, Robert S. Colwell; son-in-law, Robert E. DeSpain; parents, Alfred and Ila Armentrout and brother, Bud Armentrout. She is survived by her two daughters, Robbie Lynn Colwell DeSpain of Jourdanton, Texas and Sally Colwell (William) Griesenbeck of Bastrop, Texas; three granddaughters, Dawn DeSpain, Mitzi DeSpain (Ruben) Lopez and Missy Griesenbeck (Troy) Schuelke; two grandsons, Robert Samuel (Laura) DeSpain and Billy Jack (Tanya) Griesenbeck and thirteen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her extended family, Sonia Trevino, Juanita Vasquez, Gregorio Perez and Frances Trevino.

Pallbearers: BJ Griesenbeck, Royce Lee, Roger Armentrout, Gregorio Perez, Bobby Lopez and Tommy Dickens.

Honorary Pallbearers: Perry Wied, Rafael Guerra, Alejandro Ramirez, Mike Inocencio and Basilio “Chilo” Galvan.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Jim Hogg/Hebbronville Volunteer Fire Department.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at the Funeraria Del Angel Howard Williams in Hebbronville, Texas.

Funeral Service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at the Saint James Episcopal Church in Hebbronville.

Burial will follow at the Greenhill Cemetery in Jim Hogg County.