Ernest Edward Beran, 92, of Caldwell, Texas, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at CHI St. Joseph’s Bryan, Texas.
A public visitation will be held at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Caldwell, Texas, on Friday, February 17, 2023, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a recitation of the Holy Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in memory of Ernest on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Caldwell, Texas, with Father Melvin Dornak officiating. The Rite of Committal will be at 2:00 p.m. in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Bryan, Texas, with military honors.
Ernest was born on December 18, 1930, the ninth child of eleven children, born to Joe and Elizabeth (Pivonka) Beran in Burleson County, Texas.
Siblings that preceded him in death are: sisters, Mary DeMarco and husband, Gus, Bettie Marek and husband, Robert, Annie Beran, Liddie Charanza and husband, Anton, Josephine Felcman and husband, Frank, Hattie Provazek and husband, Joe; brothers, Alfons Beran and wife, Frances, Joseph Beran and wife, Bernadette; brothers-in-law, Ernest L. Ofczarzak and James Vavra; his parents, Joe and Elizabeth Beran.
Siblings who survive Ernest are sisters, Vlasta Ofczarzak and Janie Vavra.
Ernest met and married the love of his life, Georgia Josephine Holubec. They married on May 15, 1954. They enjoyed 66 years of marriage until her death in November of 2020.
Together they recited the Holy Rosary in Czech mul-tiple times a day until her passing; he continued faithfully praying it five times a day.
To their union four children were born. Son, Edward and wife, Bernadette; daughter, Georgia Ann and husband, Michael Perry; daughter, Carolyn and husband, Anthony Motloch; son, Stephen and wife, Susan.
Survivors are his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren, Jennifer Beran Castañon and husband, Mark, Deborah Beran, Marianne Beran Terrell and husband, Kenny, Dominic Beran and wife, Natalie, Evan Beran, Gregory Perry and wife, Jennifer, Nathan Perry, Everard Perry and wife, Elizabeth, Katie Beran, and Kellie Beran. Greatgrandchildren, Benjamin and Ethan Castañon, Pearl, Dottie, and Oliver Beran, Cecilia, Luke, and Joseph Perry, Elijah and Ephram Perry.
Ernest worked for Alcoa Rockdale Works until his retirement in 1992. In addition to holding that full time job, he raised cattle and farmed. He raised cotton, corn, and milo.
He had strong work ethics instilled from his early life and continued those throughout his adult life. Ernest and Georgia worked side by side ranching, farming and rearing their children.
The trip of their lifetime came after he retired from Alcoa. They were able to travel to the Czech Republic, a treasured trip with everlasting memories.
Both Ernest and Georgia were members of the Burleson County Czech Heritage Society and made efforts to carry on that heritage, leaving a legacy to their family.
Some of Ernest and Georgia’s best times were shared going to Church Picnics around Central Texas and dancing at various polka dances.
He enjoyed the Vrazels, Al Grebnick from Nebraska, Joe Patek from Shiner, and The Central Texas Sounds. He listened faithfully to Alfred Vrazels’ Polka program on KMIL and to Larry Sodek’s Polka program from La Grange. Many disappointed timescamewhenthe reception went out or the program went off the air where he lived. Ernest was not keen on new age technology; however, a smile could be brought to his face whenever a grandchild stopped by and was able to find his beloved polkas on their smartphone.
Ernest was a seasoned gardener. He and Georgia did not cut back after their brood grew up and left home. He always planted plenty and shared with family and friends. Georgia worked at canning and freezing the bounty as well.
Grafting and growing Pecan trees was a passion of his. He had numerous varieties and was quite skilled at grafting Pecan and other fruit trees. Ernest grafted trees for friends and folks in neighboring counties and even grafted trees in Harris County. He was very knowledgeable and enjoyed teaching and consulting with new or established producers alike.
He loved listening to trains that passed by his place. Ernest shared stories as a young boy of walking the tracks to Deanville to pick up flour and sugar for the family. That was somewhere around a three mile walk one way.
He enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially coon hunting as a young man and passed that on to his children and grandchildren. Some of his best days in later years were spent having cookouts with his grandchildren in a wooded area of his property, sharing stories of his coon hunts and memories of his favorite hounds. Some of his best dogs were Redbone and Blue Tick Breeds.
Ernest was a veteran of the Korean War; but never spoke of the horrors he witnessed until very late in life. He was always thankful that he was blessed to return to America and was saddened for the ones that lost their lives.
The family would like to extend special thanks to the clergy, family and friends of Ernest’s who came by to visit him at his home and then while he was in the different facilities. Your kindness made a difference in his day and gave him comfort. Thank you to the doctors and nurses at CHI St. Joseph Hospital, Bryan, for the care they provided for Ernest during his hospitalization.
Thank you to all the caring staff at Copperas Hollow Nursing Facility and Rehab during his stay there. To Hospice Brazos Valley, thank you for the compassion and care given Ernest during his illness and last days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Altar Society, KJT, Knights of Columbus and Hospice Brazos Valley.
Express condolences at PhillipsandLuckey.com.
PHILLIPS & LUCKEY FUNERAL HOME 404 W. Buck St. Caldwell, Tx 77836 979-567-3232