Ophelia Gamez Cavazos

Ophelia was known by all as a loving and compassionate woman. No birthday, Christmas, or holiday was complete without a visit to her home for a celebration and delicious meal.

She saw a lot of changes in her long life but was always anchored by her love of family. She was a genealogical savant easily recalling the names of scores of family members living and dead, their spouses and children.

Ophelia was born Dec. 17, 1925, in Kaufman, Texas, to Gabriel Gamez and Gabina Cuellar Gamez. She graduated from Terrell High School in 1941.

She moved to Dallas at the request of her sister and was soon working for her uncles at their first El Chico Café on Oak Lawn and Lemmon Avenue. She told her children that when she found herself missing country life, she would sit on the banks of Turtle Creek and feed the ducks.

Ophelia also found part-time work at Western Union and Sanger Bros. department store in downtown Dallas. Once, she and her friend went to a movie at the Majestic Theatre and when the movie was over, the girls discovered they had missed the last streetcar. Ever resourceful, Ophelia went to the Western Union office and sent her brother, who lived a few miles away on Douglas Ave., a telegram to come pick them up. They were soon safely home.

Ophelia said she loved living in Dallas during the war, when the nightlife in Dallas included Big Bands or country music and dancing. And Sundays always found her at Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

When her uncle Alfred wanted to date Ophelia’s friend Marty, he asked her to make it a double date and go out with his Army buddy, who was stationed with him at Dallas Love Field. The date was apparently a success because it resulted in two lifelong marriages.

Ophelia married Fernando Cavazos on Feb. 25, 1945, in Rockwall, Texas. They had three children – Helen, Norma and Fred. Fernando went to work for the Cuellar brothers starting out as a waiter at “No. 1” and later working at other El Chico restaurants as the company went corporate and opened restaurants across Texas and other states.

Ophelia was usually at his side, taking cash and/or keeping books. She also worked for her sister and brother-in-law, Vera and Mariano Martinez, at their El Charro restaurant in Pleasant Grove, and later for her nephew, Mariano Martinez, who had just launched the first Mariano’s restaurant in Old Town on Greenville Ave. and El Cabrito Ranch on Knox-Henderson.

In 1980, Fernando and Ophelia finally took the leap and opened their own restaurant in the Buckner Terrace neighborhood in East Dallas. Casa Cavazos was a success and led to two more restaurants, Papagallos in Grapevine, and Don Fernando’s in Garland.

Ophelia was a faithful Catholic, an avid shopper, and a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan.

She was preceded in death by her husband Fernando R. Cavazos.

She is survived by her daughters Helen Levy and Norma Cavazos, and her son Fred (Telma), grandsons Jacob Levy (Kerin), Michael Levy (Anna), Marko Cavazos, Fernando Cavazos, and John Cavazos, and great granddaughters Lauren Levy, Kaitlyn Levy and Madeleine Moehling; brother Edward Gamez (Suzy) of Fort Worth, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Graveside Memorial Service is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at Calvary Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ophelia's memory may be made to a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.calvaryhilldallas.com for the Cavazos family.