Joaquin Z. Salgado, Jr.

    Funeral services for Joaquin Z. Salgado, Jr., well known prominent community leader in Carrizo Springs, will be held on Friday, February 5, 2010 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Carrizo  Springs at 11:00 a.m. Joaquin was born April 11, 1936 to Joaquin Salgado, Sr. and Marta (Zuvia) Salgado in Asherton, but had lived most of his life in Carrizo Springs. Joaquin’s parents died while he was very young and for much of his life, he was reared by his uncle and aunt, Manuel and Maria Zuvia. On June 27, 1957 he married Francisca Guerrero in Carrizo Springs where they continued to live and to rear their family. Joaquin devoted much of his life to public service, some 26 years serving on the City Council of Carrizo Springs, then serving as Mayor, and then spent 15 years as Dimmit County Commissioner of Precinct Number 2 before his retirement. He was also a member of the local National Guard Unit when it was called to active duty in the early 1960’s and received an honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant. Joaquin died the previous Sunday night, January 31, 2010 following an extended illness. He was 73 years of age.
    Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Francisca G. Salgado of Carrizo Springs; five daughters, Veronica Espinoza of Borger, Texas, Patricia Salgado of Eagle Pass, Lisa  Jaime of Carrizo Springs, Marta Leija of El Indio, and Ester Salgado Rodriguez of San Antonio; three sons, Jose Luis Salgado of Carrizo Springs, Joaquin Salgado, III of Dillworth, Minnesota, and Juan Manuel Salgado of Brownsville; and one brother, William Salgado of Fayetteville, North Carolina; 14 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and numerous other relatives.
    Fr. Jerzy Krzywda was the celebrant for the Requiem Mass and burial with full military honors was in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Carrizo Springs under the direction of the Leonard Funeral Home, a member of the International Order of the Golden Rule.
    Serving as pallbearers were: Joaquin Salgado, III, Juan Manuel Salgado, Juan Anonio Espinoza, Jr., Joaquin Salgado, IV, Michael Anthony Salgado, Jose Luis Salgado, II, Omar Javier Salgado, and Conrado Zuvia. Honorary pallbears include Jose Luis Salgado and Richard Anthony Jaime.

Ernesto Carranza

    Ernesto O. Carranza, 61, resident of Clute, Texas, passed away on Friday, January 22, 2010, in Houston, Texas.
    Ernesto was born October 10, 1948, in Big Wells, Texas, to Hermelio and Cleotilde Carranza. He has lived in the Clute area for at least 15 years. Ernesto was an Army Airborne Vietnam Veteran and a member of the local VFW in Clute. He worked as a Major for TDCJ for 13 years, and worked as an operator and security for Dow Chemical for 22 years before retiring in 2005.
    He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, and loved having family gatherings, particularly for crawfish boil parties and New Year’s Eve Menudo parties. He enjoyed camping and traveling and doing arts and crafts. One of Ernesto’s hobbies was the remodeling of his home. He was a member of St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in Clute.
    He is survived by his wife, soulmate and best friend of 25 years, Angelita V. Carranza; by daughters, Erlinda Arredondo, Elda Carranza, Ernestina Carranza and Jessica Guerro; by sons, Eric L. Martinez and Richard B. Martinez; mother, Cleotilde Ochoa Carranza; by brothers, Emilio Carranza and Ariseto Carranza; by sisters, Amanda Flores, Arminda Rodriguez and Maria Gonzales; and by 20 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Ernesto was preceded in death by his father, Hermelio, and brothers, Alejandro and Ramiro Carranza.
    Funeral services were held on Thursday, January 28, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in Clute with Father Lyons officiating.
    Final arrangements entrusted to the Turner family at Freeport-Lakewood Funeral Homes. 979-297-6464. Online condolences may be made at www. freeportlakewoodfuneral homes.com.

Concepcion S. Bernal

    Funeral services for Concepcion S. Bernal of Asherton were held on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Asherton at 10:00 a.m.  Mrs. Bernal was born August 15, 1925 to Jesus T. and Elvira (Trevino) Sosa in Moore, Texas but had lived most of her life in Asherton.  On March 15, 1938, she married Vidal Bernal in Artesia Wells and he preceded her in death October 16, 1996.  Mrs. Bernal died the previous Sunday evening at the Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas following an extended illness.  She was 84 years of age.
    Survivors include six daughters, Delia Ruiz, Minerva Banda, Alicia Sanchez, Gloria Herrera, and Elma Gutierrez, all of Asherton, and Rosa Bustamante of San Antonio; one step-daughter, Lily Arrevalos of Cotulla; two sons, Oscar Bernal and Alex Bernal, both of Asherton; 36 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren as well as numerous other relatives.  In addition to her parents and her husband, she was also preceded in death by one son, Ernesto Bernal; by two sisters, Isabel Hernandez and Ramona Rivera; by four brothers, Pedro Sosa, Miguel Sosa, Gregorio Sosa, and Jesus Sosa, Jr.; by four grandchildren, Ramiro Bernal, Marty Bernal, Elda Bustamante, and Demencio Sanchez, Jr.; and by one great grandson, Mando Diaz.
    Fr. Salvador Pedroza was the celebrant for the Requiem Mass and burial was in Guadalupe Cemetery in Asherton under the direction of the Leonard Funeral Home, a member of the International Order of the Golden rule.
    Serving as pallbearers were her grandsons Jaime Bernal, Luis Tapia, Michael Banda, Danny Sanchez, Jay Herrera, Randy Herrera, Jose Gutierrez, Jr., and Howard Freeman.  Honorary pallbearers included her granddaughters Elvira Bernal and Priscilla Bernal.

Robert Perez

    Funeral services for Robert Perez of Big Wells will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at the First Baptist Church in Big Wells at 11:00 a.m.  Robert was born on September 1, 1988 to Louis Perez, Sr. and Juanita Ruiz.  He had lived in the local area all of his life where he had worked in the oil field industry as a roustabout.  Robert died early the previous Sunday morning, January 31, 2010, from injuries that he sustained in a motor vehicle accident.  He was 21 years of age.
    Survivors include two daughters, Jazmine Paige Perez and Georgia Esquivel, both of Georgia; his father, Louis Perez, Sr. of Big Wells; his mother, Juanita Surita and step-father, Mario A. Surita, Sr. of Big Wells; four brothers, Louis Perez, Jr., Michael A. Perez, Mario A. Surita, Jr., and Agustin A. Surita all of Big Wells; his grandmother, Juanita R. Ruiz of Big Wells; his grandfather, Jerry J. Perez, Sr. of Big Wells; and his grandmother, Belia B. Perez of Big Wells; and numerous other relatives.  He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Catarino Ruiz, Sr.
    Rev. Donnie McCarter, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Big Wells, will officiate at the funeral services and burial will be in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Big Wells under the direction of the Leonard Funeral Home, a member of the International  Order of the Golden Rule.
    Serving as pallbearers were Louis Perez, Jr., Michael A. Perez, Mario A. Surita, Jr., Agustin A. Surita, Edward Cerna, Johnny Aguirre, Tony Ruiz, Esequiel Escobedo, and Luis Mario Esquivel.

Jesus (Jesse) Ortiz

    Jesus (Jesse) Ortiz of Eagle Pass died on Friday, January 29, 2010 at the Ft. Duncan Regional Medical Center in Eagle Pass following an extended illness.  Jesse was born September 10, 1941 to Basilio and Josefa (Perez) Ortiz of Michigan.  He had lived much of his life in Illinois and California before coming to Carrizo Springs where he lived for many years.  He had been living in Eagle Pass for the past seven years.  During his active life, Jesse had worked primarily as a crane operator in the construction industry.  He was 68 years of age.
    Survivors include his mother, Josefa P. Ortiz of Carrizo Springs; two daughters, Ruby G. Waldron of Nucla, Colorado and Diana M. Ortiz of Eagle Pass; two sisters, Teresa Ortiz of Carrizo Springs and Maria Cantu of Schertz; one brother, Jose Ortiz of Chicago, Illinois; one grandson, Michael Paluch of Virginia; and numerous other relatives.
    In keeping with his wishes, Jesse was cremated and private family burial services will be held.  Arrangements were under the direction of the Leonard Funeral Home, a member of the International Order of the Golden Rule.