Mario Santos, Jr.

"Go to sleep Dad, get on your horse and ride." Mario Santos Jr. passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 26, 2014 surrounded by his family and close friends after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mario Santos Sr. and Rosemary Moore Santos, his sister Jenny Rose and his mother-in-law Olga V. Osterberg. Mario is survived by his wife of 56 years Sylvia, his children Judy (Juan) Campos, Maria Eugenia "Gigi" (Victor) Perez, Mario (Rosa Isela) Santos III and Delfino P. Santos. His grandchildren Rene (Anabel) Perez, Sylvia Diana Perez, Elizabeth Marie "Betty" (Victor) Ortiz, Mario Santos IV, Rosemary Santos, Linda Santos, Judith Santos, and Juan Amado (Elisha) Campos. His great-grandchildren Rene Jr., Ryan and Riley Perez, Katelynn, Amberly , and Aiden Sean Ortiz, and Aliana and Ava Campos. Mario is also survived by his sister Dolores S. Trevino and his brother Patrick W. (Loretta) Santos, his brothers- in- law George (Lois) Garcia, Ed Garcia and numerous relatives including his cousins Mona Moore Hachar, Rosemary Lopez and Joe (Norma) Moore and his aunt Aurora H. Moore. Born and raised in Laredo, Mario graduated from Martin High School in 1959 and Texas A&I University in Kingsville in 1963. He began his duty as a civil servant as a juvenile probation officer and followed as an adult probation officer. Mario served three terms as Webb County Sheriff from 1977 to 1988. As Sheriff, Mario established the current Webb County Jail and the Webb County Detention Center. While serving his term as Webb County Sheriff, he graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Later in his life, Mario became a business owner and traveled to many countries including Mexico, South and Central America, Africa, and Taiwan. At one point in time, he was a realtor, custom broker and ran several amusement centers in South Texas. Throughout his life, Mario had a passion for horses. He especially enjoyed breeding his horses as well as watching them race. He had many achievements in life and left his imprint on Webb County. He was a man of great vision --- always thinking of what could be. His life and memories live on through his loved ones and through all those lives he touched. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Winder Vasquez, Dr. Humberto Varela, and the nurses and staff of the ICU units at Doctor's Hospital of Laredo, and the Laredo Specialty Hospital for their unconditional attention and service they provided for Mario. Mario's family would also like to give a special thanks to close friends Cornelio Flores and Joey Meyers, and cousin Conrado Hein for keeping Mario in their lives and for always taking the time to visit him during his time of illness. Lastly, thank you to all the friends, family, and people that knew Mario and took the time to keep him and the family in their prayers. The family will receive condolences the evening of Friday the 31st of January 2014 in the main chapel at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapel, 1410 Jacaman Rd., from 5 to 9 in the evening. A Memorial Service will be held at 7 in the evening in the chapel, with Rev. Deacon Joe Longoria officiating. All services will conclude in the chapel. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made in his memory to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation; www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/tribute. You may extend your condolences online at www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com Arrangements are under the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels, 1410 Jacaman Rd., Laredo, Texas 78041, (956)722-8850.