Mary Lou Garcia passed away on Monday October 24, 2022 at Laredo Medical Center at 12:27 p.m. after a cruel fight with cancerous tumors. While her son Henry A. Garcia held her hand and checked her side for signs of breath, her beloved grandson Christoper Perez also of Laredo, Texas said his grandmother let out a sigh of relief. And then without any assistance her eyelids closed.

The attending nurse, who had been monitoring her heart rate, walked into the room and announced to those who came to comfort her during her final moments that she had passed. Her grandson Pete Perez then announced that his grandmother had gone to be with the Lord and with her husband, David Garcia, Jr. who preceded her in death by almost thirty-two years. He said that she now could rest from her struggles and enjoy the company of her husband.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." (Psalm 116:15).

Just a few days earlier while still at her Zapata home and during a short respite from the pain caused by the malignant tumors she sat in one of her favorite easy chairs and stared off into the distance with a peaceful look and said to her son, "Do you remember when your father prayed and accepted the Lord?"

"Yes," he said. "I remember." She then told him the story he so often had heard before of how she had bowed on her hands and knees and prayed to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in response to an invitation given by Evangelist Billy Graham on a televised evangelistic crusade.

The following came at or near the time of her death: grandson Julian Tijerina, Son-in-law Jesus Perez, Christoper Perez and Jacqui, Pete and Vanessa Perez, Jessica Perez who had flown in from the state of Indiana, and her son Henry A. Garcia.

Born September 3, 1935 in Denver, Colorado she passed away on Monday October 4, 2022 12:27 p.m. at Laredo Medical Center of Laredo, Texas.

Preceding her in death were her parents William Henry Seubert and his wife Mabel, and her brother Glenn.

The wife of one of the first two US Customs Officers assigned to Zapata County David Garcia, Jr. she came with him to reside at her Las Palmas home in the summer of 1974.

She served as one of the early Worthy Matrons of the Zapata Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. A member of the Bible Baptist Church of Zapata, she served as the church treasurer for several years. She also later joined the Zapata United Methodist church and helped assist with treasurer duties during the summer months.

She gave birth to four children who survive her: Mary Christine Coronel, David Wayne Garcia, Henry Arthur Garcia, and Charlene Louise Dyer. Granddaughters Tina and Esther Coronel also came to visit and comfort their grandmother just before her death.

A short graveside service will be held at the Zapata County Cemetery Sunday October 30 at 2:30 p.m. followed by a reception hosted by the Lakeshore Tabernacle Church pastored by Jerry and Connie Rodriguez and assisted by members Miles and Karen Miller. Pastor Rodriguez said they would hold the reception in the blue school building on the church's property.

Her son Henry A. Garcia will give a short challenge of about four minutes entitled, Grandma's Five Memorable Words. He said his mother uttered the words just days before her death and the words were now and forever etched in his mind.

The general public is invited to attend.

The Garcia Family also thanks Rose Garden Director Danny Gonzalez and their staff for their help during these trying and troubling times.