Socorro Gonzales

Socorro Nieto Gonzales, age 95, of Fort Stockton, Texas passed away on June 17, 2014 at Arbor Hills Memory Care in Plano, Texas. Socorro was born to Maria Armendariz and to Mateo Nieto in the agricultural community of Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico on July 21, 1918. Mateo united the family in the West Texas farming community of Buena Vista in 1923. The family ultimately settled in Fort Stockton, Texas.

Socorro married Reyes Valencia Gonzales in 1955, when they moved to Eagle Pass, Texas. She loved the bright pink oleander bushes of Eagle Pass, where their daughter, Billie was born. After two years, Socorro and Reyes returned to Fort Stockton where they had the closeness of their families and raised their daughter, Billie. Socorro was widowed in 1979.

Socorro attended Butz Elementary and was a member of St. Josephs Catholic Church where she was active in the choir and the Catholic Youth Organization under the early leadership of Father Cuadrado, then Father Franchi and Sister Stella. Socorro had a fiftyyear career in retail sales at Winklers Department Store in Fort Stockton. During that time, she managed the ladies lingerie, purse and accessory department until retirement in 1994. Her love of classic, tailored fashion and personalized service was highly appreciated by her many customers. Her longtime hobby was sewing and she was an expert seamstress. In later years, she transferred her membership to St. Agnes Catholic Church where she was active in the choir, a ladies bible study and was an active lector until her early 90s. She loved sharing her faith in our Lord Jesus with youth through her jail ministry. After her retirement, she remained active in the community through her volunteer service with the Fort Stockton Hospital Auxiliary.

Socorro is survived by her daughter and soninlaw, Billie Kirk Meador of Plano, Texas and her sister Mary Nunez of Fort Stockton, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Reyes Valencia Gonzales, and her siblings Aurelia Gonzales, Margarita Scott, Francisco Nieto and Enemencia Almanza.

In her later years, Socorro enjoyed her travel throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico as well as to the Holy Land, to Rome, Milan and Venice, Italy and to the Southern Coast of Spain. She lived almost all of her life in Fort Stockton, but moved to the Dallas area in 2011 to be closer to her daughter. Most of all, she loved reconnecting with her extended family and learning of the many successes that the youth in her family were able to attain. She never lost her love for mariachi music as it reminded her of her proud heritage from northern Mexico. The family requests contributions be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 403 S Main, Ft. Stockton, Texas 79735 4323365027 or The American G.I. Forum Education Scholarship Fund in memory of Manuel R. Nunez Socorros brotherinlaw, co Ray Falcon, P.O. Box 1415, Fort Stockton, Texas 79735 4323363804.



Visitation will be held on Friday, June 20th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, followed by a rosary at 7:00 pm at Heritage Funeral Home in Fort Stockton, Texas. Socorros celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, June 21st 10:30AM at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Ft. Stockton, Texas.

The family would like to express thanks to her independent living companion, Kaye Johnson in Dallas, Texas and to the staff of Arbor Hills Memory Care in Plano, Texas and to Esteem Hospice of Dallas, Texas. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.heritagefuneralhomeofthebigbend.com