AGAPITO REYES
Agapito Reyes; 86 of Madisonville, TX; passed away on Tuesday; May 31, 2022, at his home with his family by his side. The funeral mass is scheduled for 10AM on Saturday; June 4, 2022, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Madisonville, TX with the burial to follow at Madisonville Cemetery in Madisonville, TX. The visitation is scheduled to begin at 4:30PM on Friday; June 3, 2022, at Day Funeral Home Chapel in Madisonville, TX.
Agapito, who was known to his family as “Papá” and “Papá-Pito” was born on August 6, 1935, in San Jose de Cervantes; San Luis Potosi, Mexico to Doroteo Guarino Reyes and Maria Del Socorro Mendoza. He was the oldest of ten children, and during his early teen years, he traveled to the United States with his father and brother to work and provide for his siblings. From his father, he learned his skills as a carpenter.
At the age of 21, he married his wife, Panchita and they were married for sixty-five years. Agapito learned at an early age the value of hard work and that strong work ethic motivated him to provide for his own growing family. For many years, he traveled to Laredo, TX to gather and load use merchandise that he resold in the villages of San Ignacio, Leoncito, and Silos near his hometown of San Jose. This rewarding work experience led him to meet people that became longtime friends.
In 1962, he became part of The United States “Bracero” program working for the West Point Farm Labor Association, Inc. in Tahoka, TX. He would travel during the harvest seasons to several states from Florida to Washington, often staying in Texas. In 1977, he moved to Madisonville, TX to begin working at Ralston Purina, now known as Monterey Mushrooms. The opportunity came after visiting with his “Bracero” foreman that many of his family was still back home in Mexico. Though his three youngest children were natural born US citizens, he was working for the legalization of his other children to bring them all to The United States. After many hours of meetings and paperwork, he finally received an appointment to travel to Monterrey, Mexico. On December 18-20, 1979; his wife and nine children met him and left Monterrey with legal status to travel to The United States. His biggest dream was to bring his family to The United States safely without having to endure dangerous illegal border crossings like he had experienced prior to the “Bracero Program”. On April 28, 1980; he moved his entire family to Madisonville, TX where they still reside. He loved watching sports as well as listening to music. In his spare time, he enjoyed wood working and several of his fine pieces are treasured by his children in their homes. Every spring, he would travel back home for a big homecoming church celebration, of San Jose, and not often would he miss this event. He loved his family along with the many others that became part of his life by simply calling him “Papa Pito”.
Agapito was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Tito Reyes and Froylan Reyes, his brother in law, Manuel Escobedo and his granddaughter, Marcela Martinez.
Agapito is survived by his wife, Panchita “Mendez” Reyes, his siblings: Zefecino Reyes (Alfonsa); Cata Reyes (Ciriaco); Leonor Escobedo, Irma Alvarado (Jose), Celia Flores (Jose Luis), Noé Reyes, José Luis Reyes (Suzy), Jaime Reyes (Olga), and his nine children: his daughter, Mine Garcia (Santiago) and her children; Ricky Ceron’ (Melissa), Lupita Ceron’ (Christopher), Juan Pablo Garcia (Zaida), Rudy Ceron’ (Alma), and Chris Garcia (Marliyn); her grandchildren, Mathew, Adaly, Walther, Mary-Jane, Christobal, Marlin, Juan Pablo, Jr., Yaretzy, Jade, Tacie, and Zeke; and her great grandchildren, Xavier and Milani.
His son, Agapito Reyes, Jr. (Carmen) and his children; Juan Reyes (Ciara), Sonia Nava (Jose), Rosario Reyes, and Jerry Reyes; and his grandchildren, Ava, Kobi, Korie, Aubree, and Kaylee. His son, Baltazar Reyes (Rebecca); and his children, Maribel Penaloza (Mauricio), Baltazar Reyes Jr. (Alondra), Andie Reyes (Pedro) and Becky; and his grandchildren, Anthony, Mauricio Jr., Alexander, Miranda, and Sebastian.
His daughter, Leo Martinez (Valentin) and her children, Rosy Martinez (Mark) and Valentin Martinez, Jr.; and her grandchildren, Daniel, Marcy, and Mark Anthony.
His son, Elias Reyes (Raquel) and his children, Elias Reyes, Jr. (Amy), Elsie Reyes, Elvia Reyes, Ellis Ali Reyes (Jailene), and Eliseo Reyes; and his grandchildren, Kixley, Gracie, Lane, and Luna Rae.
His daughter, Dora Polanco (Jose) and her children, Laily Polanco, Jose Polanco, Jr. (Josselin), and Doris Pachuca (Jose); and her grandchildren, Ayden, Isabella, Issac, Leilany, Alani, and Abel.
His daughter, Rosa Barrera (Martin) and her children, Erick Barrera, and Sandy Barrera (Gio)
His daughter, Lola Hardy (Jay) and her children, David Bastardo, Joeli Hardy, and Jillian Hardy.
His daughter, Sandra Reyes, and her children, Rubi Rondan (Carlos), Jessie Herrera, Emily Villalta, and Crystal Villalta; and her grandchildren, Xavier, Eliana, and Abigail.
