On the morning of July 14, 2016, Eleazar passed away peacefully onto the next journey of his soul and spirit in Austin, Texas. At the time of his death, Eleazar was comforted by his wife, Gloria Garza, and reassured by his family that those who preceded him were awaiting him with love. Eleazar was 85.
Eleazar Garza was born in the village of Los Ebanos Texas on July 27, 1930. He was the sixth child of Albino and Santos Flores Garza and had twelve siblings. Eleazar was raised in the Los Ebanos/La Joya area of Texas at the time of the great depression, in a remote area of South Texas. Being only a few hundred yards from the Rio Grande River, Los Ebanos is an international border crossing; and the only hand-pulled wooden platform ferry service between the two countries. The Garza family owned acreage bound by the Rio Grande that at the time, served as the community’s swimming pool, an activity that can no longer be taken for granted. This unique cultural situation shaped Eleazar’s early youth and view of the world.
Eleazar excelled in school and sports, and graduated from La Joya High School when its graduates only numbered a couple of dozen. The picture of a proud, smiling Eleazar hangs today in the building that was his high school and is now the Central Administration for a community that is much larger than the one he grew up in. The community reveres its matriarchs and patriarchs with images displayed proudly, not to be forgotten.
This reverence for family and culture was the core of Eleazar’s life. He had a love and respect for where he came from; where his parents came from; and where his family roots are as deep as those that seek the waters of the Rio Grande. He was a selfless, caring and loving son, brother, husband, father, uncle, father-in-law and ultimately grandfather, great-grandfather and Patriarch of his family. He guided his children, adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and with his wife Gloria assured the stability of the family core. This was his goal, his mission and his life.
Eleazar served in the United States Army as a medic in post WWII Germany. He returned to Los Ebanos/La Joya in 1953 where he met his future wife, Gloria, who was a starting teacher with La Joya ISD. Eleazar sought further education in an area where educational opportunities were a privilege. Eleazar & Gloria were married on June 26,1954 and started a family in McAllen Texas.
Eleazar was preceded in death by his first son, Jose Alfredo Garza; parents, Albino Garza and Santos Flores Garza; brothers, David Garza, Emilio Garza, Arturo Garza, Rodolfo Garza, Rosendo Garza; and sisters, Emma Ortega, Eliza Flores, Alida Hovey, and Josefa Garza.
Eleazar is survived by his sisters, Dalia Amerjorado and Azusena Amejorado; sister-in-law, Teresa Garza; children, Diana Maria Negrete (David), Maria Graciela Pratt (Wallace), Ruben Eleazar Garza, Thomas Ricardo Garza (Maritza); grandchildren Tomas (Adelia), Diego (Jerry Lynn), Timothy, Claudia, Terra, Taylor, Sergio, Hylaree (Trevor) and Kathryn; great grandchildren Christian, Aliyah, Joshua, Aeben and Akaia.
Visitation: Sunday, July 17th, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm; Cook-Walden Capital Parks, Pflugerville, Tx
Funeral Mass and Committal; Monday, July 17th, at 10:00 am, St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, Austin, Tx; Burial: Cook-Walden Capital Parks, Pflugerville, Tx
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