Israel De Leon Cortez

Israel De Leon Cortez entered peacefully into eternal rest on Sunday, October 12, 2014 at his residence in Falfurrias, Texas. He was born on April 21, 1939 to Gaspar Cortez, Sr. and Nieves De Leon Cortez in San Benito, Texas. After graduating high school, Israel played football for Victoria Junior College where he was awarded the Rusty Russell Award in 1960. He then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree from Howard Payne University where he also played football and received several MVP awards from the Dallas-Fort Worth Newspaper.

Israel had many accomplishments in life and was so proud to also be an avid member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Parish, Eucharist Minister for the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, member of the Knights of Columbus, Chairman of the Board for the Falfurrias Museum and President of the Falfurrias Little League. Israel retired from a 30 year career in education after teaching and coaching for 8 years in San Benito, Texas and 22 in Falfurrias, Texas. Of all his accomplishments, his most honored title was being a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother.

He was welcomed into the gates of Heaven by his parents and two brothers, Antonio and Jose Manuel Cortez.

He leaves behind to cherish his memories his loving wife, Maria Anita Cortez of Falfurrias; three sons, Ricardo (Lucy) Cortez of Laredo, Texas, Gilbert Cortez of Falfurrias, Texas and Mario Cortez of Cedar Creek, Texas; his only daughter, Belinda Cortez of Austin, Texas; four brothers, Reynaldo Cortez of Athens, Georgia, Gasper (Clarita) Cortez, Jr. of San Antonio, Texas, Carlos (Noemi) Cortez of Houston, Texas and Robert (Estela) Cortez of Donna, Texas; six sisters, Mary Oaks of Lyford, Texas, Elisa (Raul) Garcia of Cedar Park, Texas, Dora Ramos of Corpus Christi, Texas, Anita (Ramiro) Gomez of Brownsville, Texas, Delia (Isaac) Martinez of Harlingen, Texas and Emily (Walt ) Canady of Round Rock, Texas; four grandchildren, Marcus Andrew, Justin Matthew, Mikaela Victoria and Leo Israel Cortez and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Falfurrias with visitation to begin at 5:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Falfurrias.

Graveside Service will follow at the Mont Meta Cemetery, San Benito, Texas at 2:00 p.m.