John M. Gonzalez

John M. Gonzalez passed from this world on Saturday, February 17, 2024. He was 95 years young and only three months shy of his 96th birthday.
He was preceeded in death by his beloved parents Juan and Ida Gonzalez, brothers Oscar, Arturo, Ernesto and Hector Gonzalez and by his sister Mrs. Ana Ramirez. 

Also preceding him in death were Dr. Charles Haydon Dyer, late husband of daughter Herlinda Gonzalez-Dyer and Mike Ortega, late husband of daughter Sylvia Gonzalez.

Mr. Gonzalez was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on May 7, 1928. As a young toddler his family moved to Bishop a small South Texas town.  At 15 he dropped out of school to help with his father's business transporting farm workers to and from the fields to harvest the local crops. Depending on the season it was either cotton or sorghum. While the crops were being harvested, he would fall in line with the other drivers to have his truck loaded then drive to the nearby gins and silos to be unloaded.  When asked about that experience he spoke about the only highlight was when he could let the "pretty girls" ride in the cab with him while everyone else would have to ride in the bed of the large dump truck.  

Mr. Gonzalez was in his early 20's in December of 1949 when he married and by 1952 his small family would include a young daughter and baby son. Two years later he would move his family to Houston, a large bustling Texas city for more job opportunities. By 1958 his family had grown to include two more daughters. Houston is where he would live out his life.

 In Houston he worked a variety of blue-collar jobs. First as a Dockworker at the 2nd largest ship channel in the U.S., loading or unloading domestic and international cargo ships.  Next came working as a Commercial Truck Driver for several manufacturing companies. Those jobs included loading products with a forklift onto bobtail trucks or 18 wheelers. Once loaded he would then drive that truck to deliver the manufactured products. He made deliveries both locally and interstate. He was also a proud member of the East Texas Teamsters. During those early years he worked nights and weekends as a butcher at the "Handibox", the neighborhood grocery store. Several years later Mr. Gonzalez operated " Kingway Muffler Shop" where he not only repaired mufflers but also did auto mechanic repairs. 

He once said, "if he had to work so hard he might as well work for himself" and so in 1970 he began his longest career in the retail trade business by becoming an Lessor/Operator of a Shell Service Station. His full-service station on McCarty Road was open 24 hrs a day and included mechanical repairs, repairing flat tires and issuing state inspections. He became such a knowledgeable mechanic that many times he could just listen to the car while it was running and know what repairs were needed. During those years at the station his days were filled with hard manual labor, always on his feet and sometimes working a 24hr. shift alone. A few years later, along with the gas station, he would lease and manage a small nearby "watering hole" known as McCarty's Ice House. After 20 years, the hard physical labor had taken it's toll and in 1990 he decided to retire from the grind at the service station but continued with the Ice House for several more years. His proudest accomplishment was to be an independent business owner!

Mr. Gonzalez found enjoyment in most motorized vehicles. While at the Shell Station he and brothers Ernesto and Hector became Chevrolet Corvette enthusiasts. They began attending the drag races held at Eastex Drag Strip. Soon Mr. Gonzalez found himself competing with his '63 corvette where he would actually garner a few trophies.  In 1982, years after leaving his racing behind he would drive to Shreveport La. to pickup a brand new Special Edition '82 T-top champagne Corvette! It would be his last and had he kept it, today it would be worth triple the original purchase price! 

On the rare weekends or holidays that Mr. Gonzalez granted himself time away from his business he found pleasure in cruising in his boat around Lake Houston or the San Jacinto River with family and friends. Even though he himself could not swim he found being on the water very calming.

Mr. Gonzalez had one true achilles heel. Babies and young children. They could always get past his sometimes stoic exterior! Even in his last days, whenever a baby or young child was brought into his room to visit with him, he would get a twinkle in his eye and have the biggest smile, his whole face would light up!

Mr. Gonzalez had the most beautiful smile!

Mr. Gonzalez was father to 4 successful children: Gloria, Oscar, Herlinda and Sylvia. He instilled in each the importance of an honest day's work. This same work ethic which had been instilled in him by his father. Along with their respective careers, each would follow in his footsteps and would become business owners in their own right.

John M. Gonzalez is survived by his four children, Gloria Gonzalez Joy (husband Anival Ramirez Jr.), Oscar Gonzalez (wife Belinda Salinas Gonzalez), Herlinda Gonzalez-Dyer, and Sylvia Gonzalez (fiancée Alejandro Gomez). He is also survived by eleven Grandchildren and eight Great-Grandchildren, his sister Eleanor Gonzalez and by his former wife Sulema Pitts, the mother of his children as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services will be held on Saturday March 2nd at St. Phillip of Jesus Catholic Church located at 9700 Villita Street, Houston 77013.

Rosary to begin at 9:00 am with the Requiem Mass immediately following. Burial will be in his hometown.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in honor of John M. Gonzalez to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN. 38101-9929.

"Your presence we miss, Your memories we treasure,
 Loving you always, Forgetting you never."