Michael Carrizales

Michael Carrizales passed away peacefully on Monday morning, November 14th. He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Maria Carrizales and his children, Mary Teresa Newton, Cecilia Anderson and her husband James Anderson, Linda Capino and her husband David Capino, and his son Paul Carrizales. His grandchildren are Adrian Carrizales and Cynthia Idrogo, and Noel Carrizales and his wife Danielle, Alyssa Capino and her brother, Joseph Capino. He was a great grandfather to Luna Carrizales.

Michael was born in San Antonio, Texas on October 23, 1940. He is preceded in death by his sister, Juanita, and his older brothers, Ralph, and Felix. The brothers became lifelong fisherman. His other interests were music and billiards. Michael was a self-taught accordionist playing Tejano music. He began work at an early age to help support his divorced mother, Paula. Michael began spending time at neighborhood mechanic’s garage a few blocks away from his home cleaning car parts and later became a mechanic. On his way to the garage, he passed the Landin family’s home, where Maria Landin lived, and her father, Ignacio, took note that Michael was, “a hard worker”. Michael and Maria became childhood sweethearts and they married 1959 and began their own family. In the early 1970’s, Michael moved the family to Houston where he worked as a diesel mechanic. Maria became a volunteer at her children’s elementary school in Houston’s Eastend, and because of her artistic talent she gained a position as a teacher’s aide with the Houston Independent School District. Galveston was new territory for Michael and the family to explore for fishing. When he learned that professional billiards player Minnesota Fats would be in Houston for an exhibition game, he took his young son Paul with him to watch him beat the pool player legend.

When Michael and Maria became born again Christians, they became members of Lakewood Church and through the years they were active in local evangelical Spanish churches ministering together through music and in mission outreaches. Michael supported the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Holocaust survivor, Zoly Zamir, had a profound effect on Michael’s life, and he adopted Zoly as his foster father. As Michael and Maria came upon their retirement years, they began spending as much time as possible with their children and grandchildren. The also became dog lovers taking their rescue mini-poodle, Scotty, with them everywhere they went. They continued to minister to people about the goodness of God as they went about each day.