ZAPATA, TX---Jorge Montes, Jr., Ninety- two years ago on August 28, 1931 a son was born to Jorge Montes and Josefa Vela Montes. He was their firstborn child, so he was named after his father, Jorge Montes, Jr. The family grew to have five children, Jorge's four siblings are Mauro (Ofelia), Yolanda, Guillermina, and Roberto Oscar.

Being the oldest child of the family, it became necessary for him to leave school at an early age and work to help support the family. His early training was with the family animals. He developed a liking for horses and taught himself to race horses and tend to them very well. One of his greatest moments and most memorable was the time that he tended to the horse belonging to Leandro Villarreal of the Tequileros fame. He also won many races and proudly earned enough money to buy his first gun.

As he grew older, he enlisted in the US Army and got married.

Edna Morales and Jorge Montes, Jr. were married on June 10th, 1953, in the old town church, just before the town was re-located to the new site. As time goes on, so do the years of our lives. After 10 years of marriage, Edna and Jorge's family grew to 8 adding: Amparo, Jorge III, Arnoldo Manuel, Baldemar, Ricardo, and Ileana. Many celebrations happened through the years, birthdays, baptisms, confirmations, first days of this that and the other, graduations, marriages, divorces, New Years, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and yes even deaths. Our family has seen it all. Jorge had a strong faith in the Catholic Church and was a devoted child of the Virgen Mary of Guadalupe.

Jorge, Jr. is preceded in death by his parents, Jorge Montes and Josefa Vela Montes, his parents-in- law, Manuel Morales and Emma Gutierrez Morales, two sisters-in-law, Mauro's first spouse, Guadalupe Pena Montes, and Roberto's spouse, Genoveva Gonzalez Montes, a brother-in-law, Yolanda's spouse, J. O. Woodrow, two sisters, Guillermina, and Yolanda.

Mom and Dad started their marriage by traveling. We have a picture of where they are strolling down the streets of San Francisco, California. That photo was taken soon after their wedding.

Dad was in the service in California during the Korean Conflict, and they lived there for a few months after their wedding. Mom was 16 years old, and Dad was 21 years old.

They traveled back to Texas after Dad completed his service in the US Army as a guard for Korean POW'S at Alcatraz Island. He attained the rank of Corporal and was Honorably discharged.

Soon after their return from California, Dad worked with Ross Watkins Construction Company for 35 years. He was an architect, engineer, carpenter, cement worker, mathematician and construction supervisor and job superintendent, todo sin titulo ni educacion, but he did it, a self made man. He was lead foreman in the construction of the original bridges on I10, Hwy 90, and I35 in Texas from Laredo to San Antonio. Towns like Georgetown, Seguin, Asherton, McCamy, Schulenburg, Flatonia, Wiemer, Luling, Del Rio and other such projects all over the state of Texas. Traveling from Texas town to Texas town, we followed wherever Dad's work took us.

A lot of the bridges that Dad built were actually over small creeks or flowing rivers and lakes. We would spend many weekends enjoying outings and picnics under those bridges.

After His retirement, he came home to Zapata to live and work. He kept very busy in general construction work or working on special projects for some companies in the area. He also did construction work as a county employee.

At the same time and after his second retirement, Dad still worked around the yard, building wooden projects for the house, pouring concrete sidewalks around the house, mixing it from scratch, on his hands and knees, stating that he wanted to cover the yard in concrete so that when he gets old, he won't have to cut weeds! He was wheelchair bound for the last 20 years of his life.

As a hobby, he tended to a room sized cage full of doves and small parakeets and love birds. He enjoyed spending time outdoors with his birds and the plants in his garden. He also liked to buy scratch tickets, scratching them for winnings he used for more scratch tickets. Weekdays at 10am were one of Dad's favorite times. He enjoyed watching "The Price is Right"

We are very proud of both our parents and everything they have done for us, all that they have accomplished and taught us, and still continue to teach us. From meager beginnings to a fulfilled and satisfying life with 22 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren, 20 great, great, grandchildren, 6 children, Amparo Montes (Joel) Gutierrez, Jorge Montes III, Arnoldo Manuel Montes (Gloria Chapa), Baldemar Montes (†Elia Nora Guzman), Ricardo Montes (Vilma Vela), Ileana Montes, and still more family on the way!!! Five generations of relatives that forms this loving family that began 70 years ago!!! Also numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and bonus grandchildren who lovingly called him Guelo Choche.

Also, preceding Jorge, Jr. in death are: one daughter-in-law, †Elia Nora Guzman Montes, Baldemar's spouse, 3 grandsons, †Arnoldo Manuel Montes, Jr., †Alan Manuel Montes, †Miguel Andres Martinez, and great-great-grandson, †Arturo Ramirez III.

Love you, Apa. De parte de tu esposa, hijos, nietos, viznietos, y tataranietos, que Dios, Jesucristo, la virgen Maria de Guadalupe, y San Jose, te reciban con los brazos estrechos y te precenten ante Dios nuestro Padre Celestial.

Damos gracias por los 92 años de vida terrenal que Dios te presto para darnos unas memorias bellisimas a tu lado. Nos despedimos con mucho cariño y nunca olvidaremos lo que cada uno llevamos en nuestro corazon de ti.

We love you Dad, Apa, Guelo, Viejo. Te llevas nuestro cariño

Visitation hours were held on Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a vigil at 7:00 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

On Friday, April 5, 2024 we will open at 8:00 a.m. and the funeral procession departed at 9:30 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery, including full Military Honors by the Zapata County Color Guard.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 N. US HWY 83 Zapata, Texas.