Inez Childress Menefee Schluens, 89, of San Antonio, passed away Friday, March 26, 2010. Mrs. Schluens was born Quata Inez Childress to Earnest and Annie Childress on February 15, 1921 in Franklin, Texas. After graduating from Franklin High School, she took a job as a secretary in Houston. After World War 2, she married Ralph Menefee Jr. of Tenaha. They lived in Tenaha, where she had three children: Margaret Ann (Molly), Richard Timothy (Tim), and Thomas Stanton (Tom). In 1960, they moved to Angleton, Texas, residing for 6 months with her sister and her family- Polly, Frank and William DeBerry. After 6 months, she opened the Dairyland Drive-In in Alvin, Texas and moved her family to Alvin. She owned and operated the Dairyland with her husband and children for 23 years. In 1983, she sold the restaurant and moved with her husband to Nacogdoches, Texas. Her husband Ralph died in June 1983, and one year later, she took a job at Mize Department Store, where she sold women's dresses. She married Pete Schluens of Texas City in 1986 and they continued to reside in Nacogdoches. Three years later, Pete died, but she remained in the home until 2006, when she moved in with her daughter Molly Holland and Molly's family in San Antonio. She spent the remainder of her years in the Holland residence, and left this Earth surrounded by her loving family.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, Monday, March 29, 2010 at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, March 29, 2010 at Watson & Sons Chapel with Bro. Ed McRae officiating. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.

Pallbearers will be Mike Stiernberg, Bill Awalt, Bill Rademacher. Jacob Jisha, Terry Miglicco, Bill Jones, Tim Lackey, William DeBerry, and Mark Fair. Honorary pallbearers will be Doug Stiernberg, Carlton Labbit, Frank Harrison, David Crews, Mike Bay, and Richard "Dickie" Jones.

She is survived by:

Daughter, Molly Holland & husband Bret of San Antonio

Son, Tom Menefee & wife Tina of Baltimore, Maryland

Daughter-in-Law, Cathy Menefee of Alvin

Granddaughters:
Brooke Holland Jisha
Courtney Menefee
Caroline Menefee
Mary Holland
Laura Menefee
Hanna Menefee

Sisters
Polly DeBerry of Conroe
Louise Skaines of Hunstville

Preceded in death by
Husband, Ralph Menefee
Husband, John L. "Pete" Schluens
Sons, Richard Timothy "Tim" Menefee