Francisco Contreras Gomez, 89, was called home Saturday, February 25, 2023, to join his bride of 66 years, Maria Minerva, who went to heaven 13 months earlier.
He is survived by five children and their spouses – Norma (Paul) Peña, Margie (John) Perez, Ricardo (Wilma) Gomez, Raul (Elizabeth) Gomez, Nelda (Greg) Watson - and 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Guadalupe “Lupe” (Martin) Cantù, is his only surviving sibling. He was preceded in death by son Eduardo, sister Luisa (Valentine) Herrera and brother Esteban (Olga) Gomez.
After serving in the Korean war, he worked his way from a carpenter apprentice and became a carpenter foreman for Marshall Construction before joining the Houston Fire Department in a similar capacity. He also served as the first Grand Knight for St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and was a proud member of VFW Post 9187.
Drawing upon his youth picking cotton and selling ice cream from a push buggy, he instilled in his children a strong work ethic, sense of personal responsibility and a spirit of independence.
His stories of his many life experiences will not be forgotten.
