Zacarías Cruz

November 5, 1928 - February 27, 2022

Zacarías Cruz, 93, left us on February 27, 2022. He was born to Pedro and Gertrudis Cruz on November 5, 1928, in Venado, San Luis Potosí, México. As a youngster in San Luis Potosí, Zacarías started working shepherding goats, sheep, etc., and carrying wood to sell on his beloved donkeys. He subsequently came to Tamaulipas in northern México where he met Guadalupe. There, he worked as a farm laborer and many other jobs. Zacarías married Guadalupe Salinas on October 16, 1954, in Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, México. He and Guadalupe immigrated to the United States in 1956 with one-year-old Agustín in tow. Their other son, Pedro, came a year and half later. Zacarías and Guadalupe made their home in the Bluetown/La Feria area where Zacarías worked at the John Weckl farm. After immigrating, he held many other farm labor jobs, including working in the agricultural fields in California, Arkansas, Colorado, the Texas Panhandle, and in the Río Grande Valley, where he also worked for many years at the sugar mill in Santa Rosa. Upon retiring, Zacarías was happiest and in his element when he worked outside his home tending to his yard and garden. He would allow his tractor lawn mower very little rest, and a hoe and a shovel were his friends he held close and dear. In fact, he drove his tractor as recently as January of this year. Already in his 90’s, neither a hot and blistering day nor a wet and cold day would deter his enthusiasm and commitment to his work ethic. As he would often say, “¡Ay caray, qué de trabajo hay!” Zacarías was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Guadalupe, several brothers and sisters, and his grandson, Roberto Carlos Cruz. He is survived by sons Agustín (Luz María) and Pedro (Hilda), grandchildren Claudia Ysela López, María Anabel Cruz, Rocío Ana-Alicia Rodríguez, José Armando Cruz, Raúl Agustín Cruz, Juan Diego Cruz, and twelve great-grandchildren. Also surviving Zacarías are his brother Leonor Cruz, sisters Juana Cruz, Alejandra González, and María Ascención Cruz. Zacarías’ family thanks Dr. Kuye, Dr. Roa, and Greater Valley Hospice for their compassionate care provided to him. Special thanks are also extended to Blanca Benavídez for her dedication in caring for him. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 1:00 pm until 9:00 pm with a rosary at 7:00 pm at the Rudy Garza Funeral Home. The funeral will be held on Friday, March 4, 2022 with a funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Harlingen with Monsignor Briseño officiating. Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in La Feria, Texas. Descansa en paz, Abuelito Zacarías. Lo queremos mucho, y lo recordaremos siempre.