Tomas Robert Gonzales

Tomas Robert Gonzales, “TR”, was born on January 25, 1948 in Robstown, Texas to Tomas B. Gonzales & Lidia M. Gonzales. That same year they moved to Wapato, WA. Robert was the first born of Tomas & Lidia.

Robert grew up in Wapato and attended Wapato schools graduating in the class of 1966. He attended Central Washington State College (CWU) and graduated in 1974 with a BA degree in sociology. Robert began working at the Employment Security Department in 1975 until he retired in 2011. Robert enjoyed playing sports like tennis, softball, volleyball, bowling and going hunting in his younger years. He loved his cars, especially his jeeps and truck, “The Silver Streak”, that he owned for several years. Robert was a family man. He loved his family, mother, Lidia Gonzales of Wapato; brothers, Roger (Laura) Gonzales of Centralia, Jesse Gonzales, and Joey Gonzales of Wapato; sisters, Anne Farias & Rosa Gonzales of Wapato, and Mary & Sonia Gonzales of Toppenish; sisters-in-law, Lucy Urbina, Mona Miranda, Cathy Gonzalez, and Sally Garcia; step-mother, Elias Hernandez; step-brothers, Joe (Diana) Hernandez, Tony (Marie) Hernandez & Frank Hernandez all of Wapato.

Robert spent some of his years after college DJ-ing for his small business “Malo Productions” from 1987 – 1990. He DJ-ed for weddings, quinces and family parties around the Valley. Robert had a comical sense of humor. He was always making jokes and making people laugh. He enjoyed traveling to visit family in California and Texas, singing along to songs his nephew Tony was learning to play on guitar and watching professional or college sports, but he especially loved watching his nieces and nephews play sports.

Robert had a special relationship with his step children, Matthew Mendez, B.J. “Goonie” Pina and Belen “Chispa” Castro. He loved calling them to check up on them and if they didn’t answer, he would leave them voicemails telling jokes. Robert gave everyone a nickname in the family; it was a personal trademark of his personality. Robert enjoyed spending time with all his nieces and nephews, joking and creating special memories with each of them. In Robert’s last days his sense of humor never changed. His smile would still light up a room when his loved ones went to visit with him.

Robert was preceded in death by his grandmother, Concha Gonzales, father, Tomas B. Gonzales, sister, Josefa Herrera and brother, Willie Gonzales.

Robert passed away at Emerald Care in Wapato on April 3, 2014. Special thanks to Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Yakima and Emerald Care in Wapato.

Visitation will be Monday, April 7, 2014 from 3 to 7:00 p.m. at Merritt Funeral Home, with a Rosary to be held at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 8th at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Wapato, followed by burial in Reservation Community Memorial Park. Merritt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. To share a memory of Robert, please visit www.merrittsfuneralhome.com

Arrangements under the direction of Merritt Funeral Home, Wapato, WA.