Hope Jo Spence was born to Manuel Ramos, and Elisa De Hoyos, August 18, 1944, in Hildago County, Texas. She graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1963 and married Manuel Longoria Jr., in 1964. They purchased their first home in the Houston Heights area and worked together raising five little rascals of children; with proper rearing, of course. The marriage lasted for almost two decades until they both decided to separate and divorce. Hope later remarried and decided to venture with a Dallas man named, Robert Lynn Spence in 1994. Their courtship carried on until Robert’s death in 2018.
She is survived by her sisters and brothers: Mary A. Garcia, Mary H. Flicker, Emily Ramos (Elbert McKinlay), Roy Ramos, Jimmy Ramos, her children, Carolyn Ellison, Gerald J. Longoria, (Sara), Manuel Longoria III, (Carrie), Elisa Ochoa, (Juan), her beloved grandchildren, Jacqueline V.M. Ellison Lopez, Gerald J. Longoria Jr., Darian Huyen, Clarissa Ochoa, Austin J. Longoria, Marisa E. Longoria, Nina E. Longoria, Juan Ochoa Jr., Angelina Ochoa, Melody Longoria, Nathan Longoria and she leaves cherished love for all her cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Spence, parents, Manuel Garcia Ramos and Elisa De Hoyos Ramos, her brothers, Manuel Ramos Jr., John Ramos, Ernest Ramos, and her eldest daughter, Marilyn Longoria.
Hope worked for a variety of companies and franchises surrounding service industries for most of her professional career. In just about every work environment, her communication skills and unwavering work ethic launched her from entry-level to managerial positions. She was a true advocate for equal work means equal pay, while maintaining her responsibility of raising and developing 5 of her own children and caring for and raising 2 of her grandchildren. Hope enjoyed tennis, bike riding, hiking, camping, singing, cooking, and being out in God’s green earth and wilderness, enjoying life and the great outdoors.
Some of her work experiences were as follows:
Full-Time Mom; raising 5 children: 3 girls and 2 boys since 1965. Nurse at the Heights Hospital in the early 70’s, An active member of the PTA at Field Elementary School of HISD in the early ’70s, Airline Drive-in Outdoor Theater in the ’70s to early ’80s, Tenneco Oil & Gas Company Inc., in the ’80s, Sunglass Hut-Manager in the ’80s, King Solomon’s Jewry in the ’80s, Whataburger Manager in the ’80s, IHOP on Westheimer in the ’80s, Substitute Teacher/Computer Teacher/Bilingual Teacher for Spring Branch ISD in the 90’s.
A memorial service for Hope will be held Thursday, May 13, 2021, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077. A rosary service will begin from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at the same location.
A funeral service will occur Friday, May 14, 2021, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077. Her burial will follow at 11:00 AM. The reception will occur from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, after the burial at the funeral home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkwestheimer.com for the Spence/Longoria/Ramos family.
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