Lucia A. Guerra, beloved Mother passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children at her home in Von Ormy, Texas on March 6, 2025.
Lucia was born in San Antonio, Texas to parents’ Isidro and Hortencia Ayala. Always industrious she left high school early to start working. Her various jobs included Kress Five & Dime store, where she learned to make the best milkshakes and malts. Taking on a job as a seamstress, she mastered the art of sewing and created everything from simple dresses to glamorous gowns. She also worked at Finck’s Cigars where she learned another skill, how to roll cigars. She was quick and accurate and when the company agreed to pay her by-the-piece, there was no stopping her. She rolled out those cigars like a master Cuban.
Wanting to improve herself, in 1970 mom went back to school and earned her GED. We were all so proud of her. With her GED in hand mom applied and was hired as a civil servant employee. She worked at Kelly AFB, Randolph-Brooks AFB and Ft. Sam Houston. Mom received many awards and promotions through her years of employment. She retired in 1994 with many accommodations from her superiors for her outstanding performance and work ethic.
After being a single mom since her divorce to our dad, Richard de Leon, she remarried Ricardo Guerra whom she met while working at Ft. Sam Houston. She left the big city for country living in Von Ormy. Here she learned how to be a rancher. She fed the cows and chickens and watched out for snakes. Unfortunately, Ricardo passed away soon after their marriage.
With Ricardo gone, mom was left with the duty of taking over all the chores on a ranch. She didn’t hesitate. She climbed that John Deere tractor like she had been doing it all her life. She knew what had to be done and did it. No time to ponder.
We remember mom always working, a trait she passed on to us. Still, she always had time to watch over us, disciplined us when necessary and show her love and support for us. The best meals. Homemade flour tortillas nice and hot with butter. Thanksgiving meals were the greatest. She insisted on fixing the whole meal herself and would cook for the whole family. Us, husbands and wives, her grandchildren and great grandchildren, friends and neighbors, and her sisters and brother. Everyone was welcome at the table.
We miss you mom.
Lucia was preceded in death by her husband Ricardo Guerra; her parents, Isidro and Hortencia Ayala; her sisters Alicia Ayala and Hortencia Guzman and her daughter Lydia D. Rodriguez.
She is survived by her children Laura and (husband) Erasmo Barron, Catalina and (husband) Anthony Hernandez, and Richard Raul de Leon; Sisters Juanita Santellan and Mary Alice Reyes and brother Sid Ayala. Many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Viewing and rosary to be held on March 17, 2025 at Del Angel Trevino Funeral Home, 2525 Palo Alto and burial service on March 18, 2025 at First Memorial Park Cemetery, 20567 St. Hwy. 16, Von Ormy, Texas.
