Sam Casarez

Sam Casarez was born in downtown Austin on West 2nd Street on May 7, 1923. He finally received his birth certificate 18 years later as he sought to enter military service during WWII. His service in the Merchant Marine is highlighted at the University of Texas “VOCES” Oral History project and the Smithsonian Maritime Museum, (Answering the Call, In Their Own Words). Upon his return from WWII Sam met and married Mary Rina Gamboa, the love of his life for 62 years.

Along with his family, Sam lived and worked during his youth at the Pannell Dairy that would become Mueller Airport. Sam would always say that dairy cattle didn’t know Sunday from Monday. Upon the death of his father, the family left their work at the dairy. Sam eventually worked at Calcasieu Lumber Company in downtown Austin. After the war, he worked at National Linen Company of Austin working his way up to laundry manager and Jack Brown’s Cleaners, where he ran their laundry until his retirement.

Sam joined his parents, wife, and siblings on Sunday, August 16, 2015. Sam was the youngest of the family of five born to Jesus and Maria Chavarria Casarez. He was preceded in death by his mother, Maria; father, Jesus (Jesse); and elder brothers, Jesse, Louis, and Julius (Shorty); and elder sister, Consuelo. Sam is survived by his two sons, Jesse Casarez and his wife, Linda and Sam Casarez, Jr. and his wife, Lori; grandchildren, Christopher Casarez and his wife, Sarah, Julia Casarez Alva and her husband, JC, Kelly Casarez Sanford and husband, Brandon, Christina Casarez Griffiths and husband, Cody, and Kevin Casarez; great-grandchildren, Julissa, TJ, Ethan, Jace, and Lewis; numerous other relatives; and a host of friends.

A Recitation of the Rosary will be at 9:30 A.M., Friday, August 21, 2015 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church followed by a Mass of Celebration at 10:00 A.M., Father Pat Coakley, Celebrant with Deacon Jesse Casarez as Deacon of the Altar. Interment will follow at 1:30 P.M. at Cook-Walden/Memorial Hill Cemetery.