Eugenio De Leon

Eugenio De Leon was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and hardworking provider who dedicated his life to giving his family a better future.

He was preceded in death by his siblings Dionicio, Nicolas, and Maria del Refugio De Leon, and by his beloved wife of 55 years, Maria Salinas De Leon with whom he shared a lifetime of love, sacrifice, and devotion.

He is survived by his four children: Eudelia Garcia (Benito), Ismael De Leon, Eugenio De Leon Jr. (Irma), and Janie De Leon; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; his brothers Carlos, Roman, Antonio, Juan, and Daniel De Leon, and his sisters Leonor and Jovita De Leon.

Eugenio immigrated to the United States with a dream shared by many—to build a better life for those he loved. Through sacrifice, perseverance, and an unwavering work ethic, he made that dream a reality. Alongside his family, he traveled as a migrant worker to Arkansas, Arizona, and California, following the seasons to harvest various crops. He spent his life working in agriculture, dedicating countless days in the fields as a labor worker. His hands told the story of a man who never feared hard work and who took great pride in honest labor.

Eugenio was a man of many talents and curiosities. He had a remarkable mechanical mind and loved creating experimental inventions of his own. Whether it was building one lawn mower from the parts of several others or assembling a single working car from three, he found joy in recreating items, tinkering and figuring out how things worked. An idea in his younger years was buying a bus, removing all the seats, and transforming it into his own custom RV.

Outside of work, Eugenio cherished time with his family. He especially loved fishing with his sons and grandsons—moments filled with laughter and shared stories. He enjoyed dancing, never shied away from a game of pool, and had a playful spirit that made people feel at ease.

He found joy in life’s simple pleasures: watching Mexican comedy movies and shows, laughing at the magic and surprises of The Carbonaro Effect, enjoying nature and wildlife programs on the Discovery Channel, and watching old western films. Above all, he loved sharing stories from his younger years, keeping memories alive and passing wisdom from one generation to the next.

Eugenio’s life was one of resilience, creativity, and love. His legacy will live on through the family he worked so hard to provide for and the countless memories he leaves behind. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Visitation will begin Friday, January 2, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM with a rosary at 7:00 PM. Funeral service will begin Saturday, January 3, 2025 departing Heavenly Grace Funeral Home at 9:15 AM for a Catholic mass at St. Margaret Ann Catholic Church in Santa Maria, Texas at 10:00 AM with burial to follow at Heavenly Grace Funeral Home in La Feria, Texas.