Enrique Eliezar Garza's Obituary
Enrique Eliezar Garza passed away peacefully surrounded by the ones he laughed with, lived for and loved on December 30, 2016. “Thinkso” as he was known to his friends was born on May 21, 1930 in Rio Grande City, Texas to Manuela (+) and Enrique B (+) Garza. He spent most of his life in Rio Grande City, Texas. He graduated from Rio Grande City High School and joined the Army during the Korean Conflict. During his time in the Army, Enrique gained a reputation as a boxer with prowess in the ring. After an honorable discharge, Enrique returned to his beloved Rio Grande and was employed as a teacher & coach in the RGCCISD school district. It was there that he met and married the love of his life, Maria Celia Garza (+). Together they raised five children: Celina (Javier) Pedraza, State District Judge Ana Lisa Garza (Oscar Saenz), Enrique Garza, Eleazar Eden (Diana) Garza and State District Judge Eli Elmo (Jennifer) Garza.
While he worked as a coach, his students begrudgingly came to respect his unconventional methods of punishment, which included a paddling for everyone who made a grade under 70. Many a student remembers the days corporal punishment was the order of the day at school, a day which included the loud announcement of each student’s grade and the subsequent line up for the “paddle”.
Enrique's life was an adventure. He got chased by wild bulls, bucked off by wild horses and kicked by angry cows. He searched for and caught many a rattlesnake, yet never got bit. He doctored his own cattle, repaired his own windmills, and truly believed in doing his own ranch work-his way. He loved his cattle and most of them had special names. He went to his ranches many times per day, as to him, his cows were more like pets than livestock.
Enrique taught his children many things. Of principal importance to him was the value of an education, hard work and the love of the land that God so graciously blessed him with. He led by example and not words. After the sudden death of his beautiful wife, he was the rock for his family and the glue that kept them all together. Steady hands, standing tall and unwavering in his faith, he was an example to his children & grandchildren. He was a paragon of strength, wisdom and above all, Love. His memory and teaching will stay with his children & grandchildren for all the rest of their days.
He will be sorely missed by his family and all those who loved him. He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Maria Celia Garza (+), his parents, Enrique B. & Manuela Garza(+), his sisters, Maria Enriqueta Villarreal(+), Emma Perez(+) and Viola Olivarez(+).
He is survived by his children listed above, his grandchildren, Jesus M. “Jesse” (Sara) Alvarez, Jr., Esteban (Lucy) Pedraza, Jose Miguel “Mike” Alvarez, Cassandra R. Guerra, Jacqueline Rodriguez, Alejandra Garza, Cody Garza, Ayssa Garza, Emiliano Garza and Isabella Garza, his great grandchildren, Sarah and Sofia Pedraza and his sisters, Maria Angelina Lopez & Raquel Carrera, various nieces, nephews, and grand nieces.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Julia Uribe, Minnie Cantu, Dr. Gauri Kanhere, Dr. Jose Vasquez, Dr. Antonio Falcon and all the staff at Starr County Memorial Hospital and Renaissance Hospital.
Although he will be sorely missed, his family is comforted by the fact that their cowboy had much faith in God, that he has found greener pastures in a place where the sun always shines, the cool breeze caresses your face and there is no drought. He now lives in a place of peace, surrounded by the love of God, his loving wife and the family that eagerly awaited his arrival.
Services will be held at Hernandez Funeral Home in Rio Grande City, Texas. Visitation will be on Saturday December 31, 2016 from 1:00-9:00 p.m.. Saturday’s Rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m.. Additional viewing will be on Sunday, January 1, 2017 from 1:00-9:00 p.m.. A second rosary will be held on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Mass will be at the Immaculate Conception Church on Monday, January 2, 2017, at 10:00 a.m.. Burial will follow at the family cemetery at Santo Domingo Cemetery on 8 miles North Highway 755, Rio Grande City, Texas.
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