Reymundo Gonzales Jr.

Reymundo “Buck” Gonzales, Jr., 65, was called home to his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, June 11. He was born February 10, 1954, a Wednesday in Corpus Christi, Texas on Dolores St. to the late Angelica Fuentes Gonzales and Ray B. Gonzales.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Angelica; maternal grandparents, Felix and Adela Fuentes; paternal grandparents Longino and Inez Gonzales; father-in-law Reyes Lucio Garza; and mother-in-law Teresita de Jesus Garza; brothers-in-law Rudy “Chico” Garza, Rueben Garza, Robert “Bobby” Garza, Osvaldo Reyes, David Jump; and sister-in-law Yolanda Aguilar Jump.
Reymundo had many nicknames throughout his life – “Daddy”, “Big Buck”, “Cuate”, “Mono”, “Buckwheat” , “Cat Eye” and “Mijo”; each name bestowed on him by friends and family as a sign of the love he radiated. Everyone loved Buck and his oversized personality, sharp wit and beaming smile turned every moment with him into a celebration of life, love and friendship. He was known for his generosity to everyone.
Buck grew up the second of four children on Morris St. in Corpus Christi. As a child, he would witness the growth and transformation of his hometown into a modern day Corpus Christi. He would join his mother and his siblings and watch the Harbor Bridge being built and vow to never, ever cross it.
Reymundo matured into a star athlete at Ella Barnes Junior High and then Roy Miller High School, where his name and talent became the subject of many sports columns and stories written by Texas Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Emil Tagliabue, the famed sports writer at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. He played basketball; second base for the Miller High School varsity baseball team; and shined as the star quarterback of the Miller Bucs varsity football team. Buck’s mother kept every single newspaper clipping in stacks of scrapbooks, the pages yellowed by years but the stories alive with descriptions of his athleticism and love of sport.
Reymundo married Delia Garza, “PeeWee” to those who love her, on September 4, 1976. Together they started a life in Portland, Texas, then later moved to Corpus Christi. Ironically, Reymundo would cross the very Harbor Bridge every day as a loyal employee of DuPont and Reynolds Refinery in Ingleside. Together with his bride they raised three children: Amanda Rae, Sandra Nicole and Reymundo Felix – also known as Mandi, Sandi and Baby Buck. All three of his children were gifted athletes and gave him the greatest gifts of his life: his grandchildren Davi, Brielle Nykole, Nikki Rae, Ryker and Dani. To them he was beloved “Pa” and that nickname – of all the monikers he carried his whole life – seemed to naturally fit him the best. The whole family would eventually start to call him “Pa”.
Reymundo officiated football games and softball for several years. When he decided to retire from the field, he spent his time watching his grandchildren play soccer, softball and dance in recitals. His family would make a yearly trek to Dallas where they would ring in the new year and celebrate the growth of his family.
Reymundo counted so many friends in his life as family. From his years playing on the Little League field to later coaching his own children together to always remembering his neighbors on Morris St. to his lifelong friends who grew up with “Buck” – he was loved by many.
His heart belonged to his family: his siblings Lidia, Bobby and Juan; his parents Angelica and Ray; his children Mandi, Sandi and Buck; his grandchildren and most of all the love of his life, Delia.
He is survived by his father, Ray B. Gonzales; his wife Delia; siblings Lidia (Ricardo) Lopez, Robert (Fel) Gonzales and Juan (Laura) Gonzales of Pleasanton; brothers-in-law Reyes Garza Jr. (Margaret), Ricardo Garza (Debbie), Rolando Luis Garza (Shelly Jo), godson Rene Ray Garza; sisters-in-law Loli Narvaez, Sylvia Garza, Nelda Garza, Angela Garza; children Amanda Rae (Freddie) Garcia of Dallas; Sandra Nicole (Robert) Castaneda; Reymundo “Buck” Felix III (Crystal) Gonzales; grandchildren Daviney Rae, Brielle Nykole, Nikki Rae, Ryker Buck and Danica Nicole; several cousins, nieces, nephews and beloved friends.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 14, 2019, 5:00 pm to 9::00 pm at Reid Chapel. A Rosary will be held same evening at 7:00 pm.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at S.S. Cyril and Methodius, Saturday June 15, 2019 at 10:00 am.