Manuel Hernandez

Manuel E. Hernandez, a life-long resident of Fort Stockton Texas, passed away the evening of March 10, 2021 at the age of 81 years old. Manuel was born on May 12, 1939 to Miguel Hernandez and Angela Espino.


Manuel was known to all as Nelo. He was born and raised in Fort Stockton by his large family of parents, aunts, and his beloved grandmother. He quit school in his High School years and began his work career. He worked at Thompson Restaurant as a dish boy and eventually a cook. In listening to his stories, it was a busy place and they had the best chicken fried steaks in town. Passing on stories from his sisters and his cousins they referred to Nelo as the best pool player in Fort Stockton and he was hard to beat. As a young man he worked in one of the local favorites named Bennies Pool Hall where he mastered his skill of shooting pool as well. To this day there is still a pool stick in his closet. It was around this time that he married Margarita Franco and began his family of raising three girls in their hometown. Nelo also worked in the oil field as a roustabout until he began a career with Fort Stockton Independent School district as a custodian on the Alamo School Campus. He made many friends working with the school and many of those friends were only between the ages of 5-8. One of Nelo's favorite encounters was to have a young student from the past call him by name to say hello in the aisles of the grocery store or in a restaurant.
In his past time Nelo enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys. He was known for drawing and painting a little bit, he loved his dogs and spending time in family gatherings and visiting with his dear and near cousins that were like brothers to him. After retirement, he had his coffee buddies whom he enjoyed gathering with several times a week.
He made friends easily and kept his friendships. He was an active member of the Catholic Church and for several years he and his wife Margaret participated in and led fundraising events for their local church. Nelo is no longer on earth but with us in spirit and in memory.

Manuel is preceded in death by his wife, Margaret F. Hernandez, parents, Miguel Hernandez and Angela Espino Hernandez. brother, Reynaldo (Sonny) Hernandez; sister, Benina Serano.

Manuel is survived by his daughters, Sonya Ivan (Jeff) of Ponte Vedra, Florida. Roxie Ingram (Bob) of Fort Stockton. LaMar Johnson (Steven) of Fort Stockton.
His beloved granddaughters Kate Ivan and Amelia Ingram.
Brothers; Miguel (Papo) Hernandez, Mario Hernandez and Ruben Hernandez; sisters, Clara Fierro, Alicia Enriquez, Elva Chambers, Irma Arias and Esmeralda Arias; numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at a later date