He was born on April 24, 1946 to Rufino Cantu and Guadalupe Garcia Cantu in Hebbronville, Texas. He married the love of his life, Yolanda Garza in 1962 and together they raised three daughters. Ray was such a loyal and hardworking man. He was unwaveringly determined to provide for his family and give them the life he felt they deserved. He poured his heart and soul into his work and dedicated 50 years of his talent, knowledge and labor to the oilfield industry before his merited retirement. He was the type of man that didn’t mind being without, as long as he knew his loved ones had what they needed.
In his retirement, Ray loved spending his Sundays barbecuing with his family and he was very fond of their family vacations. His grandchildren were his greatest joy. If you were ever looking for him, you knew to look out to his favorite spot at the house and the place everyone fought over, his swing.
Ray was reunited in Heaven with his parents and his two brothers, Nicasio Cantu and Pablo Cantu.
He leaves behind many warmhearted memories that will endlessly be treasured by his loving wife of 59 years, Yolanda G. Cantu; daughters, Maricela (Arnoldo, Jr.) Mendoza, Dolly (Bobby) Ramirez and Norma (Bernard Reyna) Morales all of Hebbronville; brother, Rufino Cantu, Jr. of Hebbronville; sisters, Armandina Vela of Corpus Christi, Texas, Angelina Gomez of Hebbronville, Anita Chapa of Wharton, Texas and Benilde Gonzalez of Hebbronville; 12 grandchildren, Clarissa, Casandra, Eli, Jr., Kymberly, Claudia, Cecily, Estevan, Lorissa, Elizabeth, Robert Ray, Joe Isaac and Kevin; 18 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Honoring their grandfather as Pallbearers will be Eli Morales, Jr., Estevan Morales, Robert Ray Ramirez, Joe Isaac Mendoza, Kevin Ruben Ramirez and Orlando Narvaez, III. Honorary Pallbearers will be Pablo Cantu, Jr., Bobby Ramirez, Arnoldo Mendoza, Jr., Bernard Reyna, Orlando Narvaez, II and all his great-grandchildren.
A service to celebrate Ray’s life will be held on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at the Funeraria Del Angel Howard Williams in Hebbronville. Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a Rosary to be prayed at 9:30 a.m. Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hebbronville. Services will conclude with a Burial at the New Hebbronville Cemetery.
