Horacio G. Gamez

It is difficult to put into words what it means to say goodbye to our brother. He was 67 years old and the only boy in a family of sisters, which made him special to us from the very beginning.

He was hardworking, intelligent, caring, and deeply generous. He showed that generosity in countless ways—from donating his own PTO to help a coworker in need to ordering food for everyone so the people around him felt cared for and included. He gave freely of his time, resources, and knowledge, always willing to help whenever he saw a need.

Horace devoted 40 years of his life to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a career he took great pride in. His dedication and strong work ethic were evident throughout those four decades, especially in his roles as a manager, mentor, and trainer.

He cared deeply about helping others succeed. Rather than simply managing people, he worked to develop them, sharing the knowledge and experience he had gained so they would be prepared for the future. Although he never had children of his own, he leaves behind a lasting legacy through the many people he taught, encouraged, and mentored.

His knowledge lives on through everyone he took the time to teach.

He was also our family’s peacemaker. He wanted the people he loved to make decisions together and forget ourselves for once. During his illness, his sisters came together, setting aside ourselves and remembering what mattered most:

Our brother. In that way, he left us one final lesson:

Life is short. Be generous with one another. Love each other. Focus on what matters.

Our brother was preceded in death by his beloved parents Margaret Gonzales Gamez and Isaias Valdez Gamez and his older sister, Eleanor Rocha . We find comfort in believing that he has been reunited with them and welcomed home by those he loved and missed.

Those he has left behind are Debbie Gonzalez of Hereford, Silvana Vessel of Hereford, Berna Gamez of Amarillo, and Vonnie Gamez of Hereford

And then, of course, there were his beloved Texas Longhorns.

He was not simply a fan; he was a proud University of Texas alumnus and a lifelong Longhorn. If you knew him, you knew about the Longhorns. His loyalty never wavered, win or lose, and burnt orange was always close to his heart.

We will think of him whenever we see that color, the Longhorn symbol, or someone raise that familiar hand sign.

“HOOK ’EM HORNS!” 🤘

Our brother had no children, but he leaves a meaningful legacy in his family, his friends, his coworkers, and the many people whose lives he touched. His generosity lives on in those he helped, his wisdom lives on in those he trained, and his love lives on in his sisters, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, and everyone who knew him.

A legacy is not only what we leave behind; it is what we leave within other people.

We will miss his voice, his wisdom, his work ethic, his generosity, and his presence. Most of all, we will simply miss him.

Forty years of service. Sixty-seven years of life. The only brother among his sisters. A generous heart. A teacher and mentor to many. A peacemaker. A proud University of Texas alumnus. And a Texas Longhorn forever.

Rest peacefully, brother. You spent your life giving, teaching, helping, and preparing others for what came next. In the end, you brought your sisters to agreement.

We love you. We will carry your lessons, your generosity, and your love with us always.

Whenever we see burnt orange, we will think of you.

Until we meet again, brother…

HOOK ’EM HORNS!

In lieu of flowers and plants, please consider donating to The University of Texas Foundation and John Corcoran Foundation. Links can be found below.

A visitation will be held at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, TX 78749, US, on September 19, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Followed by a Memorial Service starting at 2:00 PM.