The following Unit 225 members died during 2018.

Richard Bryant, Silver Life Master, passed away this past weekend (11/9). Richard played regularly in Longview, monthly Unit games, and area tournaments. On Mondays in Longview and at Unit games, his regular partner was Tom Spradlin and he played with Mike Graham at LDBC's monthly Saturday game. Prior to moving to Henderson, TX, Richard was director of a bridge club in Michigan. He will be missed by all that knew him.

Chester Neel passed away on Tues., 9/21, at the age of 75. 

(Note: The following was received from Jean Roach, Partnership Chair at The Bridge Studio at Cedar Creek.)

Chester Neel passed away on Tues., 9/21, in a Tyler hospital at the age of 75.  He had serious health problems that he bravely faced, including hospitalizations, but he always came back to playing bridge as much as he could.  He loved duplicate and Bonnie Magee was his regular partner for games on Wednesday & Friday at Gun Barrel City.  As partnership person for our club, Chester was my favorite player to call.  It happened more than once…Chester and a novice coming in first.  Chester was always a gentleman at the table!

Bonnie’s regular partner was not able to play on Mon, 9/20, so she asked Chester to play.  They came in first.  Later that evening, his wife Suzanne took him to the hospital and Chester died the next afternoon at 2:30.  Bonnie says there are 3 kinds of bridge: Standard American, Two Over One and Chester bridge.



 Bobby May, aged 82, was a long time bridge player at Longview DBC. Bobby, born in Gilmer on March 13, 1936, retired from Texas Eastman Company after a long career. He died on Aug. 7, 2018.

Nancy Louise Peterson Strain

29 August 1926 - 13 July 2018

     Nancy retired as a gift manufacturer representative from her own corporation on 5th Avenue in New York City.  She was a strong, independent woman, with a feisty, but playful sense of humor.  She loved attending church, caring for cats, solving crossword puzzles, and the camaraderie at the bridge studio.  Nancy loved playing bridge so much she built a new home for the Dottie Pirkle’s DBC in downtown Athens, TX  in January 2007.  She always looked forward to her Monday’s and Thursday’s at the bridge club  and never came without something for everyone to snack on. She will be missed by all her friends. (For the complete obituary, click here.)