Obituary for Leonardo "Leo" Garza
Leonardo “Leo” Garza met Jesus on February 28, 2023. He was born on August 4, 1955 in Port LaVaca, Texas to Rebecca and Luciano Garza Jr. The family lived in Garceno, Texas until moving to Italy, Texas when Leo was six years old. Leo made his life long career in the trucking industry. His love for the industry began early with his first job. At 13 he started working at the Italy Fina Station, later moved to Conaco, and then to Texaco. He loved working at the full service gas stations as a teenager, and throughout his life – he never met a stranger. Upon graduation from Italy High School in 1975, Leo’s father Luciano started a trucking business with his son. Leo worked hard, alongside his father, as a truck driver and owner/operator of L. Garza and Son Trucking. He loved his Red 1987 Kenworth, and called it “his baby!” His passion for trucks and driving was complemented by his very adventurous nature. His family will always and forever love him!!
On June 23, 1972, Leo married the love of his life – Rita McBride. The couple welcomed four children, Christina, Dana, Lee and Mary Ann, eleven grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Leo and Rita shared 50 love filled years together. He loved his wife dearly and never left her side. They were inseparable! Though he was fond of his trucks, Leo had no greater adoration than that of his family. He loved them fiercely! He taught them to be hard workers and never missed anything his children or grandchildren were involved in. Leo was so proud of them! His love of family began early with his deep affection for his parents.
Many memories of Leo include him giving his advice; whether it was good or bad, playing dominoes at the picnic table, taking his grandkids to McDonalds, eating boiled eggs with his salt shaker, buying lottery tickets, watching his grandkids in anything they were involved in, and always having gum in his pocket ready to pass out. He could often be found watching westerns, Judge Judy,or playing his game on his tablet. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, hog hunting, piddling, sitting on the front porch and sitting with his Dad. He was always on the move either mowing or working on trucks. He also made sure that he checked on his Mom and Dad everyday. Leo had a great sense of humor and liked to make everyone laugh! You could often find him being sneaky with the grandchildren, he would sneak them fireworks or take them to play in the big trucks, so they could pretend they were driving. He was always, ALWAYS, there for his kids or grandkids. And when you did call, and it was not good, he did not hesitate to say “Oh Gawd Dawg!”
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Lydia and Olympio Gonzales; paternal grandparents Jacinta Rosa and Luciano Garza; and his in laws Cecil and Etta McBride.
Leo is survived by his beloved wife Rita Garza; parents Luciano and Rebecca Garza; sister Lucinda Martinez and husband Rey; children Christina Richards and husband Allen, Dana Jones and husband Jason, Lee Garza, Mary Ann McKey and husband Mike; grandchildren Megan Richards and fiancé Oscar Gonzalez, Alyssa Richards, Brycelen Richards, Grant Hamby, Jake Hamby, Jessie Garza, Kiersten Garza, Tucker Garza, Chace McGinnis, Mikayla McKey, Eli McKey; great grandson Liam Gonzalez; nieces and nephews Timmy Riojas, Lily Mendez, Rayden Mendez, Tim Riojas, Ricardo Mendez Jr, Cindy Cashion and husband James, Timothy Cashion, Cathy Buckner and husband Albert, Marcos Kinser, Caty Betancourt;several aunts and uncles, lots of other nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws that he loved dearly.
Visitation will be held Sunday March 5, 2023, from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm at the Boze Mitchell McKibbin Funeral Home Chapel in Italy, Texas.
Services will be held Monday, March 6, 2023, at 11:00am, also at the Boze Mitchell McKibbin Funeral Home Chapel in Italy, Texas.
On June 23, 1972, Leo married the love of his life – Rita McBride. The couple welcomed four children, Christina, Dana, Lee and Mary Ann, eleven grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Leo and Rita shared 50 love filled years together. He loved his wife dearly and never left her side. They were inseparable! Though he was fond of his trucks, Leo had no greater adoration than that of his family. He loved them fiercely! He taught them to be hard workers and never missed anything his children or grandchildren were involved in. Leo was so proud of them! His love of family began early with his deep affection for his parents.
Many memories of Leo include him giving his advice; whether it was good or bad, playing dominoes at the picnic table, taking his grandkids to McDonalds, eating boiled eggs with his salt shaker, buying lottery tickets, watching his grandkids in anything they were involved in, and always having gum in his pocket ready to pass out. He could often be found watching westerns, Judge Judy,or playing his game on his tablet. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, hog hunting, piddling, sitting on the front porch and sitting with his Dad. He was always on the move either mowing or working on trucks. He also made sure that he checked on his Mom and Dad everyday. Leo had a great sense of humor and liked to make everyone laugh! You could often find him being sneaky with the grandchildren, he would sneak them fireworks or take them to play in the big trucks, so they could pretend they were driving. He was always, ALWAYS, there for his kids or grandkids. And when you did call, and it was not good, he did not hesitate to say “Oh Gawd Dawg!”
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Lydia and Olympio Gonzales; paternal grandparents Jacinta Rosa and Luciano Garza; and his in laws Cecil and Etta McBride.
Leo is survived by his beloved wife Rita Garza; parents Luciano and Rebecca Garza; sister Lucinda Martinez and husband Rey; children Christina Richards and husband Allen, Dana Jones and husband Jason, Lee Garza, Mary Ann McKey and husband Mike; grandchildren Megan Richards and fiancé Oscar Gonzalez, Alyssa Richards, Brycelen Richards, Grant Hamby, Jake Hamby, Jessie Garza, Kiersten Garza, Tucker Garza, Chace McGinnis, Mikayla McKey, Eli McKey; great grandson Liam Gonzalez; nieces and nephews Timmy Riojas, Lily Mendez, Rayden Mendez, Tim Riojas, Ricardo Mendez Jr, Cindy Cashion and husband James, Timothy Cashion, Cathy Buckner and husband Albert, Marcos Kinser, Caty Betancourt;several aunts and uncles, lots of other nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws that he loved dearly.
Visitation will be held Sunday March 5, 2023, from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm at the Boze Mitchell McKibbin Funeral Home Chapel in Italy, Texas.
Services will be held Monday, March 6, 2023, at 11:00am, also at the Boze Mitchell McKibbin Funeral Home Chapel in Italy, Texas.