Jesus M Miranda

“Papi”

Dec. 3, 1930 – Sept. 11, 2015

Jesus M. Miranda, formerly of Huffman, TX, Kingwood, TX and Abbeville, LA, passed away Friday, September 11, 2015, with his family at his side. He was 84. Services are scheduled for Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Brookside Funeral Home, in Houston, TX. Deacon Al O’Brien of St. Martha’s Catholic Church will be the celebrant. Burial to follow at Brookside Cemetary.

Jesus leaves behind his three daughters, Blanche Miranda Aguilar and husband Robert of Abbeville, LA, Ivette McKee and husband Darrell and Joy Berman and husband Mark, all of Huffman, TX. Seven grandchildren; Lindsay Aguilar Levier and her husband Michael and Lauren Aguilar Sons and husband Jonathan all of Abbeville, LA, Eric, Patrick and Kevin McKee and Jessica and Jacob Berman, all of Huffman, TX. Four great-grandchildren in whom he delighted; Jayden and Madison Sons and Miranda Levier of Abbeville, LA, and Jackson Gault of Huffman,TX. His brother and sister-in-law, Segundo M. Miranda, Jr. and wife Beba. And a host of nieces, nephews and good friends.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons; Eric, Patrick and Kevin McKee and Jacob Berman, his grandsons-in-law, Michael Levier and Jonathan Sons. Honorary pallbearer will be his nephew, Chief of Police Art Acevedo.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, being blessed with almost sixty years of marriage; Nilda Ortega Miranda; his sister, Blanca Rosa Mesa, brother, Silvio Miranda and parents, Segundo Miranda and Blanca Hernandez Miranda.

Born in Habana, Cuba, he always spoke fondly of his wonderful childhood and how much he enjoyed his youth and early marriage years in his once-beautiful country. After graduating from high school, he entered the Professional Commercial School, studying to become a Freight Forwarder and joined his father’s custom house brokering firm at the age of 20. While in the business, he met and married his wife Nilda in 1952. In 1959, Dictator Fulgencio Batista was over-thrown by Fidel Castro. He and his brother and numerous friends, joined an underground movement that found out about Castro’s communistic plans for Cuba and they worked together to rid the country of Castro and communism. When it became too dangerous for his family for him to continue working in the underground, he emigrated to the U.S. in 1960, sending for his wife and daughters, aged 4 and 6 then, a month later after he found work. His daughter remembers the only month-long separation as taking forever, not just a mere month. Jobs in Miami in the 1960’s were mostly in tourism and all he was able to find was that of a Janitor in a country club. Sometime in 1961, he packed up his family and moved to Los Angeles, CA. His third daughter was born in Los Angeles and the family enjoyed wonderful outings, going to California beaches, mountains, lakes, camping, playing baseball, at which he excelled, get-togethers with family and friends. In Los Angeles, a series of managerial jobs, including one with Fender Guitars, helped him finally find employment in Houston, TX, in his field of Freight Forwarding, but not after another move back to Miami and an attempt at brokering there. He worked at Schenker’s Freight Forwarders in Houston, TX. He eventually retired in Texas.

He loved to travel and visited places like Rome, Paris, Madrid stopping in less big cities through-out Spain, Italy and France, as well as Mexico and Puerto Rico. He was a trained Classical Guitarist and his brother a violinist and sister a pianist, enjoying playing music with them when they were young as well as Christmas, Thanksgiving and other holidays where the families got together and danced to his guitar. He loved classical music, which drove his wife and daughters crazy, not being fans of that style. Cars and planes were also passions of his, as well as photography and his ever-present cigars!

Known affectionately as “Papi” to his immediate family and close friends, he loved to joke with all and was a caring, loving Father, Grandfather and Great-grandfather who doted on his great-grandchildren.

He leaves a legacy of memories behind, not only from family but from many others whose lives he has touched in Kingwood as well as in Abbeville. The family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to all who shared their precious stories of “Papi” with them as well as profoundly appreciate the love, care and respect from his friends in Kingwood and especially Abbeville. You all enriched his later years and he was very proud of all his Abbeville “family” and friends.