Francisco Guerra JR

Francisco "Chito" Guerra, Jr.

On April 11, 2014, Francisco "Chito" Guerra, Jr., joined his Lord and Savior at the age of 91. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a soldier, a successful businessman, and a man that believed in loyalty above all else except honor. He was a man of great faith in his Creator and a proud member of Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church. He was a man that lived every day to the fullest.

Chito was born on June 24, 1922, in Alfred, Texas. He was the son of Francisco "Pancho" and Constancia Guerra. Unable to complete high school, he quickly learned and mastered his father's trade of the gravel business. Starting with nothing more than a shovel, a truck, and a lot of blood, sweat and tears, he would eventually build the great cement and gravel empire known as Rosita Gravel. Few things made him prouder than seeing the now infamous red and yellow concrete trucks traveling the roads of Starr County, while having coffee with his friends at El Rancho Café.

They say that true love doesn't consist of holding hands --- it consists of holding hearts. Early on his journey to manhood, Chito met and married the love of his life, Lilia Moreno Guerra. He always bragged that although she played hard to get, it was love at first sight. They built a proud legacy of 11 children, 29 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild. For better or for worse, they were happily and passionately married for 71 years. They hold each other's heart for eternity.

Chito was a member of the "Greatest Generation" and served with the United States Army in the European Theater during World War II. Although a humble man, a quick walk through his home in La Rosita would quickly reveal that among other honors, he earned 3 bronze stars and a purple heart while proudly serving his country. In his later years, he was a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He never missed an opportunity to wear his uniform and share the stories of what he had experienced fighting for our freedom in foreign lands. If asked, he would have picked up a weapon and proudly done it all over again the last day of his life.

Chito is preceded in death by his parents, his three brothers, his son, Juan Manuel, and his grandson, Ove Jr. He is survived by his rock and loving wife, Lilia Moreno Guerra; his sister Maria Elena Procell; his children, Oralia Cavazos (Wally), Norma Olivarez (Ove+), Yolanda Villarreal (Alfredo), Lilia G. Garza (Javier), Francisco Guerra, III., Noemi Hinojosa (Jorge), Idolina Flores (Sixto), Hector Guerra, Enedelia Coulter (Gary) and Hortencia Chapa (Ruben); his grandchildren and great grandchildren; all who patiently await the day they will be with him again in Heaven.
Visitation started on Saturday, April 12, 2014 from 2:00pm to 9:00pm and will continue today, Sunday, April 13, 2014 from 1:00pm to 9:00pm, Rosary will be resisted at 7:00pm. His Funeral Mass will be on Monday, April 14, at 10:00am, Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church in La Rosita, Texas. Interment will follow at Los Saenz Cemetery, in Los Saenz. Funeral Services are under the direction of Sanchez Memorial Funeral Home of Roma, Texas.

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