Los Fresnos, TX: Karen Brenda Cruz, 54, of Los Fresnos, TX passed away Thursday, January 10, 2008 at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen. Karen is preceded in death by her mother, Ella Mae Simms and father, George Wilton Higginbotham. She is survived by her children, George Richard (Yxcelda) Cruz of Garland, TX; Carmen Stephanie Cruz and Sandra Dawn (Gilbert Lee III) Cortez both of Plano, TX; and Jeremy Cruz of Dallas, TX; stepfather, Gerald Simms of St. Augustine, FL; 3 granddaughters, Claudia Alejandra, Miranda Renee, and Marina Dawn; 2 grandsons, Ryan Adam and Sean Rey; 3 brothers, George Alvin (Eliza) Higginbotham and David (Susan) Higginbotham both of Port Isabel, Tx; Mark Higginbotham of St. Augustine, FL; 3 sisters, Ella Mae "Cookie" Warrell of Port Isabel, TX; Gale Daniel and Elizabeth Stone both of St. Augustine, FL. Visitation will be held today Sunday, January 13, 2008 from 3:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with a Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito. A Chapel Service will be held on Monday, January 14, 2008 at 1:00 P.M. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito. Interment will follow to Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito. Pallbearers will be George Richard Cruz, Carmen Stephanie Cruz, Sandra Dawn Cortez, Jeremy Cruz, George Michael Warrell, and George Alvin Higginbotham. Words of comfort may be sent to the family of Karen Brenda Cruz to www.thomaegarza.com Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, TX 78586 (956) 399-1331.