Our beloved Alejandro “Alex” Barrera, age 89, of Kyle, Texas was called by our Heavenly Father, Jan. 5, 2016. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. Alex was born Oct. 23, 1926 to Antonio and Teresa Barrera.
In 1946 he married the love of his life, Irene LaFuente. They created a beautiful life together and were blessed with five loving children. Alex and Irene were married for 67 years. They loved good food, family gatherings, and outings with friends. He especially enjoyed dancing with his life-long dance partner Irene. Many happy and wonderful memories were created together.
Alex began working at age eight on the farm with his dad. Years later he ran a dairy, worked at Longhorn Machine Works, Marbridge Ranch, and was ranch foreman at the Joe Brown Ranch in Driftwood, Texas.
He had a great love for the outdoors and enjoyed working with horses and cattle. He would dress up in his best cowboy attire and go to the stock shows. He showed Red Angus cattle at the stock shows in San Antonio and Waco. He placed Grand Champion Bull, Grand Champion Heifer, Best Showmanship Award, and Herdsman Award. In his free time, he was an avid fisherman and deer hunter.
Another joy of Alex was going to athletic events that his grandchildren would participate in. At the football games, it took him a long time to get to the section where the family was sitting because he would stop and shake hands with all the people whether he knew them or not. Alex never met a stranger.
When Irene died on Aug. 10, 2013, he longed to be with her once again. It was family support and his faith which helped him remain strong. He believed in Jesus’ promise of eternal life and he knew he would see Irene in heaven one day.
Alex spent the last two years of his life as a resident at Legend Oaks Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Kyle where many friends would come and visit. He would always mention that the “coffee group” had come by with coffee and “pan dulce.” He also had friends who were residents and they would gather together to talk and listen to Tejano music. The highlight of his stay at Legend Oaks was participating in the “Olympic Games,” as his family called it. He participated on April 12, 2014 in the Games for Life, an Olympic-style event for Texas nursing home and assisted living residents. The event was held at the University of Texas Recreational Sports Center with 500 residents participating. When he heard it was being held at the University of Texas, he told his friends he was probably going to compete with some students from there. He was so pleased when he won a 3rd place medal for the wheel chair race and a second medal for participating in the games. He proudly wore his medals and later displayed the medals in his room.
Alex is survived by daughters: Mollie and husband Joe Flores, Alice and husband Bill Wollet, Minerva and husband Dave Evans, sons: Alex and wife Kay Barrera, and Mike and wife Maggie Barrera; seven grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren; sister: Teresa “Terry” Abrigo, brother Bobby and wife Hilda Barrera, and sister-in-law’s Angelina Jaime, and Rachel Hernandez. He was preceded in death by his parents Antonio and Teresa Castillo Barrera, sister Gloria Ramirez, brother Gilbert Barrera and wife Irene Barrera.
Serving as pallbearers are Michael Evans, David Evans, Nickolas Barrera, Matthew Flores, Marcos Barrera, and Pedee Abrigo. Honorary pallbearer: Miranda Barrera.
We wish to thank all the family and friends who visited Alex. Special thanks to Father Miguel Duarte, communion ministers to the sick and the faith community of St. Anthony Catholic Church for their love, support and prayers; and the staff of Legend Oaks for their loving care of Alex.
A Vigil Service and Rosary was held on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016 at Harrell Funeral Home, Kyle, Texas. Funeral Mass was celebrated Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Kyle.
