Gerardo “Jerry” Garza, 60, of Lumberton, Texas, passed away Sunday, April 12, 2015, in his home. He was born on March 18, 1955, in Bay City, Texas, to Maria Vasquez Garza and Francisco Garza.
Jerry was an avid sports fan. His love of sports began with the Bay City Black Cats and the Dallas Cowboys in his teens. As he grew older, he began following the children of his friends and family through Little Dribblers, Pop Warner, Little League, and school. Ultimately coaching both of his own children in league play and becoming their biggest fan. The only things he loved more than the Dallas Cowboys were the Lord and his family. He always went to Mass on Sunday, but you could determine what time the Cowboys were playing by which Mass he attended. Jerry was a devoted father, who never missed a game, performance, program, or special event in the lives of his two boys until he fell ill. He went to his eternal rest in his sleep in the arms of his wife after a three year fight with cancer.
Jerry was a long time employee of Classic Chevrolet in Beaumont, where he was affectionately known as “Trouble” because he liked to give everyone a hard time. Jerry was also a member of Infant Jesus Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. His family will be forever grateful for the love and support of both his work family and his church family.
Jerry is survived by Joan, his wife and best friend of twenty-seven years; sons, Jeremy Garza and Joel Garza, whom he adored; brother, Alfred Garza and his wife, Diane, of Florida; sister, Terry Gallegos and her husband, Buddy, of Bay City; Ellie Thomsen and her husband, Tom, of Oregon; Elda Garcia of Houston; Sylvia Ochoa and her husband, Fino, of Corpus Christi; sister-in-law, Bea Garza of Houston; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Francisco Garza, Jr.
A Rosary for Mr. Garza will be recited at 6:30 p.m., with a gathering of his family and friends to follow, Thursday, April 16, 2015, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 17, 2015, at Infant Jesus Catholic Church, 243 South LHS Drive, Lumberton, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
