Tomas Eli Villarreal

For all who knew my dad, they would say he was the most honest, hardworking, giving and well-respected man they had the pleasure of knowing. This is all true. I’ve always known dad had these qualities but never fully understood how he became the man, husband, and father he came to be. You see I remember dad waking up early to a hot breakfast plate and packed meal that mom would prepare every morning at 5 am while Eli and I readied for school and waited for the school bus. Dad traveled an hour and at times longer to start his workday with Exxon Corporation. Dad worked for Exxon Corporation South Texas division for 32 years and retired as Field superintendent with an impeccable record for the highest production and zero work related incidents. He worked with so many wonderful individuals and was still in contact with some until recently. You would think his workday ended at 5 pm. Nope. His other job was heading out to the ranch until late at night. At times mending fences, repairing broken water lines, working on the windmills, gathering cattle to haul for sale the next day or burning cacti during the drought so his cattle wouldn’t starve. Our summers were not filled with sleeping late, vacationing, spending time with friends, but rather waking up early to work at the ranch. You see working at the ranch was not just about the work and not spending time with friends, it was what dad was teaching Eli and I. That making sacrifices, working hard for what you’ve got, being disciplined and proud of what you’ve got is what will make you a success in life. 

In having conversations with mom, I learned things I didn’t know about dad. Born and raised at El Rucio ranch, dad too worked at many ranches as a young boy. He worked, went to school and continued this way of life until graduating and attended Pan American University. He would attend classes and then walk to the sale barn in Edinburg until the late hours of the night and sometimes to the wee hours of the morning. He ended up enlisting in the Army and had to stop attending university. Throughout dad’s life, he always had one goal in mind. To acquire land and have a ranch to call his own. “Mission accomplished“ as he would say. Nothing was ever handed to him on a silver platter. It was always the sacrifices he made and his determination to acquire all he created. All this was with mom’s support and sacrifices she too has made.

So now I understand why he was such a successful, respected, hardworking father who taught and instilled these qualities to Eli and I and his 3 adorations, Hunter, Jasmine and Kamryn. My only hope is to make my dad proud in keeping what he has so worked hard for up and running the ranch as he would. 

So on behalf of his wife Debra, myself, my husband Lupito, daughters Hunter and Kamryn, my brother Eli+ his wife Gracie and daughter Jasmine, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all who helped carry us throughout this long and difficult four-year journey. 

Dad is survived by brothers Jaime (Belsa), Roel (Carmen), and sisters Isabel Cottrell, Nelda (Douglas) Campbell, Elda (Ismael) Islas, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 29, 2024, from 1:00 to 8:00 with rosary at 6 pm. and continue on Tuesday October 30, 2024, 11:00 to 4:40. Funeral service at 5:00 at Immaculate Concepcion Church. Interment will follow at the Rio Grande City cemetery with a sunset burial. All funeral services are under the direction of Sanchez Funeral Home.