Lee Roy de los Santos (Roy) was born in 1954 in Harlingen, TX and raised in Brownsville, TX. He attended public school, including Stell Middle School and Brownsville High School, where he was a graduate with the class of 1973. In school he excelled in FFA, Baseball, Basketball, Track and as a Varsity Football Player. Roy married his high school girlfriend, Linda Ann Alvarez. They were married for 28 years and had two children, before divorcing. Following high school, he began working as a longshoreman at the Port of Brownsville. He was an active member of the union where he ultimately became Business Agent for International Longshoremen’s Association, Local 29. In the 1990s, when the Commission of the Port of Brownsville voted to allow non-union companies to begin operating at the port, which dealt a heavy blow to the local unions, he felt an obligation and calling to seek a seat on the Port Commission to ensure proper representation for labor. Roy served as a Commissioner for the Port of Brownsville for 12 years from 1996 - 2008. In December 2008 he married Yolanda Tello De Los Santos, and continued an expanded role as husband, father, and grandfather. Roy loved fishing and hunting, community service and more than anything he enjoyed his family. He spent many years in service to the community helping various nonprofit events and organizations, including years with the Border Lions Club in Brownsville. Following his retirement from the Port of Brownsville and public service, he spent most of his time with family and friends enjoying his hobbies. Having been brought up in a very social family, the get togethers continued at the family homestead on Southmost Rd. which has been the site of numerous De los Santos get togethers over generations, and for the last two decades at the family ranch/lease in Bayview. Roy was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, cousin, uncle, and friend to everyone whose lives he touched, and you could always find a smile and a laugh with him. He leaves a legacy which will last for generations to come.
Roy is preceded in death by his father: Celestino de los Santos, Jr., mother: Lydia Leal de los Santos, aunts: Ofelia Hull, Amelia Rodriguez, Armila Arizmendi, Olga Cantu, Alicia Mares, uncles: Robert De los Santos, Carlos De los Santos, Edio Leal, Carlos Leal and Alfredo Leal.
Roy is survived by his wife: Yolanda De Los Santos, Son Roy De los Santos, daughter: Jessica (Jesse Gonzalez) De los Santos, son: Robert (Myra) Briseno, daughter: Stephanie Briseno, daughter: Roxanna (Lance Wakefield) Briseno, grandchildren: Jayden Alexander Gonzalez, Jonathan Christian Gonzalez, Jacob Diego Gonzalez, Robert Wesley Briseno, Madison Elyse Owen, Ezra James Briseno, Ellie Rae Briseno, brothers: Eddy (Annie) De los Santos, George (Melba) De los Santos, sisters: Deborah (Michael) Garza, Sally (Leo) Garcia, aunts: Odelia Serrata, Dora Rubio, Minnie Moraida, Irma Resendez, Norma Loya, uncle: Alfonso De los Santos, and numerous cousins and extended family members.
Services are entrusted to Funeraria Del Angel Rose Lawn.
A visitation will be held Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 1:00pm to 9:00pm with a prayer service at 7:00pm at Funeraria Del Angel Rose Lawn located at 4464 Old Port Isabel Rd., Brownsville, TX 78526. Cremation will follow.
A family service will be held the following weekend, Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the family ranch in Bayview, where his ashes will be laid to rest with those of his parents.
Photos of Roy to share with the family can be sent to [email protected]
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dignitymemorial.com/legacy for the de los Santos family.
