Victor Reyes

VICTOR REYES

November 1, 1931-January 29, 2021

Our father Victor Reyes was called by God almighty to join him in heaven on Friday January 29, 2021 at the age of 89.  Our father will be mourned by the numerous family and untold number of friends that knew him.  Indeed, our father leaves a gaping hole in all who loved him; he will be greatly missed.

Our father was an incredible man who was self-taught in many disciplines.  At an early age, like his savior Jesus Christ, he was beckoned to the art of carpentry.  Through his experience in construction he also learned about electrical rigging and plumbing which he employed in the countless of homes he built; he was so handy at just about anything that breaks and needs repair including but not limited to repair of motor vehicles, electrical tools, lawn mowers; in short, anything.  Our father was a force of nature and rarely if ever was at a standstill.  Although constantly embarking on projects around the house, he would never begin his day without prayer and reverence to God.

Our father was a devout man who lived his life by the mandates of our lord Jesus Christ.  His religious convictions were born from his unyielding belief that the afterlife would bring him face to face with his creator and that his life before God would be measured by his deeds.  He never compromised on his beliefs and practices as instilled by his church.  His dedication to God and church was evident as he was a constant presence at his beloved church of San Vicente de Paul.  His lifelong love for God provided him the strength for introspection in his search for a partner in life that would share in his convictions and beliefs in God; in response to his prayers for a partner in life, God gave him Maria Luisa Galvan.

Our father met Maria Luisa Galvan in the summer of 1951 in the state of Minnesota.  A romance that grew to profound love via letters was fully consummated when they married on January 25, 1953 in the Rio Grande Valley.  The vows that they willingly accepted on that day were the start of a 68 year journey that was marked with enormous joy and happiness, especially in receiving the twelve (12) children that were born to their marriage, eleven (11) of which survive.  In 1962 Victor and Maria Luisa lost baby Olga Lydia; never one to question God’s will he accepted it and professed of his angel in heaven that awaited him when it was his time.  On occasion he would recall the day of her passing and how he had felt the passing of her soul even while away at work.  The burial site of Olga Lydia is marked by a headstone that he would construct with his own hands.

After attending church every Sunday as a teenager, our father would participate in his lifelong passion for baseball.  At an early age, our father along with his parents first came to live in Laredo from the Laguna Ranch (now Rio Bravo, Texas).  Our father along with his parents settled in south Laredo now known as Santo Nino neighborhood.  Because of his passion for baseball, he along with new friends from the neighborhood uprooted an empty lot (now Santo Nino Elementary school) and converted it into a makeshift baseball field were many games were played.  Eventually, the site became so popular that it became a congregating place for many attracting vendors and aficionados of the sport.  As the years went by his love for the sport never waned as Laredo boasted of professional teams; he was an avid fan.  He would tell his boys stories of games he had attended with the Apaches of Laredo in the late 40’s and of course his beloved Tecolotes of Los Dos Laredo through present day.  He had the great fortune to have had the opportunity to attend major league games in different stadiums including Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Metropolitan Stadium and the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Petco Park Stadium in San Diego California, State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona, and the Astrodome and Minuet Maid Park in Houston, Texas.  Although he was passionate about baseball, we would be remiss if no mention is made that he was also a rabid fan of the Dallas Cowboys.

Left to cherish our father’s memory is the love of his life Maria Luisa Reyes and his eleven (11) children who adored him as follows:  Victor (++Francisca) Reyes Jr., Maria Luisa (Raul) Villarreal, Rosalinda Reyes, Esther Reyes, Sylvia (Ramiro) Pena, Andres (Cynthia) Reyes, Roberto (Alicia) Reyes, Daniel (Maria Luisa) Reyes, Gabriel (Maria Luisa) Reyes, Guillermo (Sandra) Reyes, and Sonia (++Enrique III) Lara.  Grandchildren Victor Reyes III, Gerardo Reyes, Selena Reyes, Veronica Vidal, Melissa Villarreal, Raul Villarreal, Jr., Jessica Alvarado, Ramiro Pena Jr., Briana Gloria Reyes, Andres Reyes II, Steven Anthony Reyes, Daniel Damian Reyes, Jonali Reyes, Iven Reyes, Liza Michelle Reyes, Samantha Ruiz, Elaine Reyes, Victoria Perez, Olga Klarissa Reyes, Annhi Reyes, Guillermo Reyes Jr., Stephanie Rae Lara, and Enrique Lara IV.  Our father is also survived by twenty one (21) great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.  Our father is further survived by his sister Clementina Ramos from San Juan, Texas and Blas Romeo Reyes from Atlanta, Georgia.  Our father was predeceased in death by his father Guillermo Reyes, his mother Maria De La Luz Reyes, and his beloved brother Jose Guadalupe Reyes.

The family was blessed with an angel amongst us that dedicated her life to the care of our parents Victor and Maria Luisa.  Our sister Rosalinda, our family matriarch, is revered by all and we are eternally grateful to her.

The family would also like to extend their most heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Arturo Garza-Gongora for the many years of serviced to our parents.  Being a doctor is more than rendering medical attention.  A true physician is one who really comes to know the patient, that patients familial history, the content of that patients character, the woes and joys of such patient; one who with all of the content of that patient’s makeup can render comfort at a time like this.  Doctor Arturo Garza-Gongora truly embodies the spirit of what a doctor should be in its’ purist form.

The family would also like to thank the many nurses that tended to our father in his final hours.  We may not know all your names but your efforts and attention to our beloved father is sincerely appreciated.

The family will be receiving condolences on Thursday evening, February 4 2021 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 719 Loring at Cortez; where a Vigil for the Deceased and Rosary will commence at 7 p.m.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday morning, February 5, 2021 at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels for a chapel service at 9:00 a.m.

Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at the family plot in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Victor Reyes III, Gerardo Reyes, Raul Villarreal, Jr., Ramiro Pena, Jr., Andres Reyes II, Damian Daniel Reyes, Iven Reyes, Enrique Lara IV, and Guillermo Reyes Jr.

You may express your condolences, share your favorite memories, and sign the guestbook online at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 719 Loring at Cortez, Laredo, Texas 78040; (956)722-0001.