Elijio Cantu

He was surrounded by his loving family and special friends. Elijio was born on December 9, 1940 in Encino, Texas to Domingo and Maria V.Cantu. He attended Encino Elementary School and graduated from Falfurrias High School. While attending Falfurrias High School, he excelled in sports. He played basketball, track and football. He was an All-District tackle his senior year. During his senior year, he was voted Most Popular Male student, Class Favorite Junior/Senior years, and was the Falfurrias High School Larrietts’ first beau/sweetheart. After graduation, he served in the US Marines Corps. He was proud of his medal of Expert Sharp Shooter, which he earned while enlisted. Upon his return, he attended and graduated from Texas A & I University in Kingsville, Texas. He received a Bachelors Degree in Science and later received his Masters degree in Counseling. He worked for Robstown ISD, Falfurrias ISD, Alice ISD and West Oso ISD as a teacher and as a school counselor. While attending college, he worked as a coordinator for Zavala Community Center.

After retiring, he spent most of his time enjoying his family, reading and working with leather crafting, planting plants and making rope. He enjoyed working cattle at his ranch in Alice, Texas. He loved watching the Dallas Cowboys, and other sports. He was a member of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. He always wore a great smile and never met a stranger, and was always ready to help anyone that needed his help.

Elijio was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, Juan Diego Cantu, his in-laws, Ben and Elvira Grande, two sisters in laws, Betty Jean Nesmith and Rosalie Cruz. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Tommie Ann Grande-Cantu; daughter, Rozella Yvonne Cantu (Daniel Flores); son, Roque Aaron Cantu and grandson Tristan Ambrose Valencia. He has left a void in his family’s hearts and will be dearly missed by everyone.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 pm at Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 8200 Old Brownsville Rd.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 710 S. 19th St. Corpus Christi, Tx.

Interment to follow at Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery at 12 noon, 9974 IH37, Access Road #9, McKenzie Road, Corpus Christi, Texas.