Carmen Velasco

Carmen Gonzalez Velasco entered eternal life on October 15, 2016. Her spirit is carried on by her husband, Frank R. Velasco, Jr.; son Jaime Velasco and wife Gina (Pittillo) of Midland, TX; daughter Minerva and her husband Mark Cortinas of San Antonio, TX; daughter Rosana and her husband Timothy J. Ryan of Riviera, TX; son Frank (Trey) Velasco, III of Houston, TX; 12 grandchildren; Christopher Ryan, Megan Ryan, Bryna Moreno, Kelly Ryan, Mariana Cortinas, Monica Legarreta, Trevor Velasco, Jacob Ryan, Andrea Cortinas, Mark Cortinas, Breanna Cortinas, and Heather Velasco. She is also survived by four brothers; M.R. Gonzalez, Jr. (Christiane), Abe Gonzalez (Alicia), and Oscar Gonzalez (Ilda) all from Fort Stockton and Alex R. Gonzalez (Carolyn) of Alto, NM, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Carmen was born on May 18, 1937 in Fort Stockton, Texas to Carmen Gutierrez and Manuel Ramirez (M.R.) Gonzalez, Sr. Carmen spent her youth in Fort Stockton and was a graduate of Fort Stockton High School class of 1957. She continued her education and received a cosmetology license in San Antonio, TX in 1959. It was during her stay with an order of nuns that Carmen became a devout Catholic. Carmen returned to Fort Stockton, TX where she married Frank R. Velasco, Jr. of Presidio, TX at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on December 31, 1961. She opened her own successful beauty salon at home where she balanced her career and family. In the mid-1970s, Carmen retired to spend more time with her family and to support her husband with their gas station business, as well as their farming and ranching operation.

Possessing a servant's heart, she became an active member of her community serving as PTA president and in countless school activities. Carmen was an active member of the St. Agnes Catholic Church where she volunteered as a Eucharistic minister to parishioners unable to attend church and served as a CCD teacher. Family and friends were Carmen's love and joy. She considered her four children to be her and her husband Frank's proudest accomplishments. Carmen was actively involved in her children's academic and extracurricular activities. She was a woman of faith and the heart of the Velasco family.

Carmen had a real zest for life and enjoyed traveling, family history, reading, needlepoint and music. She was also an advocate for the sick and elderly. The Velasco and Gonzalez families wish to thank all those who extended their love and support and to those who cared for her, especially Pecos County Memorial Hospital Home Health and Hospice, Yolanda De La Rosa and Sylvia Guzman who lovingly cared for her. She made her presence known and had a way of connecting with so many people and always made time for others. We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Carmen: to be life-long learners, and be devoted to one's faith, family, and friends.

Visitation will take place at Heritage Funeral Home in Fort Stockton, TX from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday followed by a rosary on Thursday, October 20 at 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church on Friday, October 21 at 10:00 a.m. Immediately following interment at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at St. Agnes Church Hall.

Visitation

Heritage Funeral Home
301 N. Main
Fort Stockton, TX  79735
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
11-7pm

Heritage Funeral Home
301 N. Main
Fort Stockton, TX  79735
Thursday, October 20, 2016
11am-7pm


Thursday, October 20, 2016
7pm

Service

St. Agnes
Fort Stockton
Fort Stockton, TX  79735
Friday, October 21, 2016
10:00am

Cemetery

St. Joseph Cemetery
Fort Stockton, TX  79735