Eloy Mendez

He was born on December 10, 1934 in Sejita, Duval County, Texas to the late Pilar and Beatriz Mendez and is the middle boy of three children. He attended school in Sejita and worked on the family dairy and farm as a young child. In 1948, his family moved to Falfurrias, Texas and he attended school there. As a teenager, Eloy, began working various jobs, including working as an attendant as Bennie Dunn Humble Service Station. In 1954, he married Nelda Gonzalez of Falfurrias, and they had two children. In 1956 he began working as an auto mechanic for the Gardner Chevrolet dealership in Falfurrias, until 1972, when he joined his brother, Fito, at the Falfurrias Auto Service where he worked as a master mechanic until his retirement in 2000.

As a young man, his passion was cars and drag racing. He competed in many tracks throughout Texas and even broke a ¼ mile record and won class champion in San Antonio, Texas at the Alamo Raceway back in the 1960s. He made many friends during his racing years and was always willing to share his race experience and expertise with others.

After his retirement from work as well as racing, he discovered his new love of ranching and raising beef master cattle. He raised some of the best cattle in South Texas and made many new friends in the industry. He visited his ranch daily and would always meet up with his brothers and friends at the local Dairy Queen as well as the Taqueria to talk about cattle and ranching. He enjoyed being at the ranch and taking care of his cattle made him happy. He loved his family and he loved the lord. He worked hard all of his life to provide for his family and he and his wife lived in the same house for all of their married life. He would do anything for anyone who needed help. He had a special way of accepting all people and always found the good in others and he always leaned towards helping the poor and disadvantaged. On many holidays, he would take the time each Thanksgiving or Christmas to take turnkey dinners to homeless or those less fortunate or disadvantaged. He will definitely be missed by his family and the many friends he has made in his lifetime.

Eloy is survived by his wife, Nelda Gonzalez Mendez, his two children, RJ (Debbie) Mendez from Bixby, OK, Selina (Sam) LeComte from Flower Mound, Texas, his two brothers, Fito Mendez and Tomas Mendez from Falfurrias, Texas and his six grandchildren, Jarod (Stephanie) Mendez from Bixby, Oklahoma, Joel (Katelyn) Mendez from Tulsa, Oklahoma and Alyssa and Abigail LeComte both from Flower Mound; four great-grandchildren, Michelle Soleil Mendez, Danica Elise Mendez, Harrison Ray Mendez and Nora Kate Mendez all from Oklahoma; aunt, Raquel Vasquez from Falfurrias and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members.

Pallbearers are Jarod Mendez, Joel Mendez, Joe Edward Mendez, Hector David Mendez, Robert Saenz, Danny Dominguez and Carlos Perez.

Rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, July 24, 2017 at the Funeraria Del Angel Howard-Williams in Falfurrias with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church in Falfurrias concluding with burial at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Falfurrias.