Margarita G. Garza

McAllen - Margarita G. Garza, 77, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2024, from pulmonary edema suffered while resting in her home. She is survived by her son Martin (Marty) Garza III, his wife Lisa Garza, and grandchildren Alyson and Emily Garza.

Margarita was born and raised in Rio Grande City by her parents Flavio G. Zarate and mother Maria T. Gonzalez Zarate, and had five siblings, Arnoldo (Mary) Gonzalez (deceased), Flavio R. (Edna) Gonzalez (deceased), Francisco Zarate (deceased), Carolina (Victor) Huerta, and Leo (Iliana) Gonzalez.

She graduated from Rio Grande High School at Ft. Ringold and was married to Martin P. Garza Jr. in 1963. Together they established four successful retail men’s apparel stores across the Rio Grande Valley. In 1974, the couple was proudly granted one of the earliest licensing agreements by the fledgling La Quinta Inns hotel chain. She managed the hotel in McAllen until she retired in 2017 to pursue her passion for world travel. She continued to hold the position as the longest standing franchisee in the entire La Quinta chain of over 900 properties worldwide until her death and is succeeded in that capacity by her son.

A visitation will be held at Sanchez Funeral Home in Rio Grande City on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, from 3:00 to 8:00 PM. Funeral service will be held at Immaculate Conception Church on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 10:00 AM.