Maria Luisa Garza Uribe, also known as "Bebita" by her family, was called home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on May 18, 2024, in Zapata, Texas, surrounded by her loving family after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. She was 80 years old.

Maria Luisa, born on August 25, 1943, in Rio Grande City, Texas, to Lazaro Garza and Guadalupe Olivarez de Garza, led a life filled with love, faith, and dedication. On June 12, 1971, she embarked on a new chapter of her life, uniting in marriage with the love of her life, Omar David Uribe, at Immaculate Conception Church in Rio Grande City, Texas. Their love story was blessed with the arrival of their firstborn, Maria Cristina, in March 1974. Their joy multiplied on their 5th wedding anniversary as they welcomed their second daughter, Maria Teresa, into their loving home.

Maria Luisa's commitment to education was unwavering. She dedicated three years to Pan American University before earning her degree in Education from Texas A&I in Laredo. Her passion for teaching shone through her 30-year career as an elementary school teacher for Zapata County ISD and Rio Grande City CISD. Her teaching style, rooted in love and a genuine thirst for knowledge, left an indelible mark on her students; many remember her as an exceptional teacher and beacon of love, safety, and stability.

Maria Luisa's artistic spirit was a source of joy in her life. She took immense pride in instilling a love of dance, particularly Flamenco and Mexican Folklorico, in her daughters. Despite the distance, she happily commuted from San Ygnacio to Laredo 2-3 times per week to take her daughters to dance classes as they were growing up, a testament to her dedication to instilling a love for the arts in her daughters. Her heart swelled with pride as she watched her daughters and granddaughters dance, a reflection of her cultural passion for song and dance, ensuring the beautiful legacy she left for her beloved daughters' families. Her love for music was evident in her harmonious duets with her husband, who played the guitar as she sang along every chance they got, especially at family gatherings.

Maria Luisa will always be loved and remembered for her kind and gentle heart and unwavering faith in God. It is with this unwavering faith that she was able to overcome breast cancer at 48 years old. Her love for life and unique ability to make everyone feel special captured her essence. Her strong family values guided her throughout her life and inspired the many people she met along the way.

Maria Luisa is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Humberto Garza (†Selenia), Lazaro Garza, and Heron Garza (†Adeline), and her sisters Estela Ward (†Bill) and Maura Garza. Brothers-in-law, Joel Uribe (Dene Lulu), Luis Angel Uribe, and Rene Uribe (Olga Maria).

Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband of almost 53 years, Omar David; her daughter, Maria Cristina Uribe-Short and her husband Travis Short; her daughter, Maria Teresa Uribe Rubio and her husband Ernesto Rubio; and four grandchildren: Melissa Maria Short, Cristian James Short, Alexia Maria Short, and David Gilberto Rubio. She is also survived by her sisters Maria Graciela Lopez (†Encarnacion) and Isaura "Chawa" de la Cruz (Israel), brothers Arturo Garza (†Frances), Hector Garza (†Bertha), and Javier Garza (Lilia), sisters-in-law, Elvira Garza, Maria Del Refugio Garza, Maria del Carmen Uribe, Alma U. Perez (†Jose Javier Perez), and brother-in-law, Jorge Uribe (Irma), along with numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

The Uribe family is forever grateful to Erika Hernandez, Guillermina Hernandez, and Felipa Angeles for their devotion and for providing her with the utmost care.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home in Zapata, Texas. Visitation hours were on Sunday, May 26, 2024, from 6:00- 9:00 PM, with the rosary taking place at 7:00 PM. The funeral mass was held on Monday, May 27, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Zapata, Texas. Father Amador Garza  officiate the funeral mass. The interment  occured at the Uribe Cemetery in San Ygnacio, Texas.

Pallbearers were David Garza, Jorge Gonzalez, Jaime Eduardo Hinojosa, Jose Alberto Hinojosa, Edgardo Perez, Ryan Rubio, Cristian James Short, and Alfonso Uribe.