Gee was born to Trinidad and Manuel Garza on July 31, 1937.
He met the love of his life Janie Gonzalez in Ralls, TX prior to entering into the US Army where he served as a Radio Communications Technician. Prior to being stationed in Germany, Gee and Janie were married on Christmas day in 1959. Two years later, while in Germany, they celebrated the birth of their first child, Lilly.
Throughout life, Gee was guided by his strong faith in the Lord to advocate for those who needed a voice.
He worked as a Route Manager for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Lubbock where he brought service to those areas of the city that had been neglected in the past. He worked as an advocate for veterans and minorities in Lubbock as a member (and President) of the American GI Forum, a member of LULAC, and as a member (and President) of the Mexican American Chamber of Commerce (COMA). He also owned his own Real Estate Company (Gee Garza Real Estate) where he was an advocate for the minority residents of Lubbock.
Outside of work, Gee was a deeply religious man who attended church faithfully and was an active participant in bible studies and prayer groups.
He was an active member of the Pan American Golf Association (PAGA) and he shared his love of golf with his many friends and his three sons. He also enjoyed coaching and watching his boys play baseball.
He enjoyed football and supporting his beloved Texas Tech Red Raiders; but his greatest joy was watching his three sons graduate from Texas Tech University.
Gee is survived by his wife of 67 wonderful years, Janie Garza; three sons; Manuel “Manny” (Patricia), James Edward “Ed” (Joan), and Richard “Reggie” (Cynthia); eleven grandchildren, Kylie Garza, Andrew Garza, Stephen Hardy, Anthony Garza, Sydney Zapata, Lily Garza, Melanie Olsen, Samantha Himmelstein, Sara Nef, and Ariel Garza; and a number of great-grandchildren.
Gee was preceded in death by his parents and oldest daughter Lilly.
A Rosary will be held on Monday October 26th at 6:00 pm at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers in Lubbock, TX. Refreshments will be served after the Rosary.
A Mass will be held on Tuesday October 27th at 10:00 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lubbock, TX with burial to follow at 1:00 pm at the West Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Lubbock. TX. A luncheon to celebrate Gee’s life will be served at Holy Spirit after the burial.
Closing Tribute:
Gee will be remembered as a loving and supportive husband, a strong and guiding force as a father, a loyal friend, and as a faithful servant of God.
