Maria Esther Bexar

Maria Esther Bexar, of Houston, Texas, passed away on August 3, 2024 at the age of 96. Esther was born on July 18, 1928 to Esther Jimenez Mena (later Rodriguez) and Juan Gordoa Mena in Houston. Following the death of her father when Esther was a teenager, her mother married Manuel Rodriguez. She was in the Carlton Cadet Drum Corp at Jeff Davis High School and loved telling her grandchildren stories about her days playing drums. Esther attended Jeff Davis Nursing School, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1951. She was voted class sweetheart in her junior year. After graduation, she worked at many of the hospitals in the Medical Center and went on to assist Doctors DeBakey and Cooley in surgery early in her career. She worked at San Jose Catholic Clinic, where she treasured her time working with nuns. She was Obstetrics supervisor at Jeff Davis Hospital and IV supervisor and assistant head nurse at Memorial Hermann Hospital for many years. Nursing was her passion. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston in 1985.

In 1953, Esther met her future husband, Armando Robert Bexar. They wed on November 5, 1955 and had four children, Diana, John David, Robert and Cynthia. She was devoted to her family. Esther loved gardening, decorating, oil painting, traveling with her family and friends, participating in her grandchildren's activities and picking them up from St. Ambrose Catholic School. The kids loved it when Mimi took them to Luby’s, the Houston Zoo, or Mytiburger for crunchy ice.

Esther was predeceased by her husband, Armando Robert; son, John David; grandson, Kristian; and sisters, Connie Sanchez Herrera, Eva Martinez and Virginia Garcia. She is survived by her children - daughter, Diana Hendon; son, Robert Bexar (Bethanie); daughter, Cynthia Ruggles (Thomas); grandchildren Kellye Hendon, Robert Bexar II (Ashley), Ashlee Bexar (Sean Horigan), Patrick Ruggles (Nikki), Kyle Ruggles; great-grandchildren Cora and Charles Ruggles; sisters Olivia Munoz and Eloise Rodriguez and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her children would like to especially thank their Tia Eloise and her grandson, Robert, for the love and support in caring for their mother during her last days.

Pallbearers Robert Bexar, Robert Bexar II, Ashlee Bexar, Thomas Ruggles, Patrick Ruggles, Kyle Ruggles, Honorary Pallbearer Kristian Bexar.

There will be a service at Pat H. Foley Funeral Home on Thursday, August 15th at 10 a.m., 1200 W. 34th Street, Houston, Texas 77018, followed by the graveside burial at Memorial Oaks Funeral Cemetery, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, Texas 77079.