Mario Moreno
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Mario Moreno, 80, of Mission, Texas, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his wife, Raquel of 60 years, and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren by his side. He went to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021, after his battle with pancreatic cancer.He was born in Harlingen, Texas on April 1, 1941, to father Juan Angel Moreno (?) and mother Maria Luisa Cabrera Moreno(?).
Mario met his "honey", Raquel when he was 14 years old at Taylor Christian School and immediately fell in love with her! They were married on July 17, 1960, and had six children: Mario (Teresa) Moreno of Valrico, Florida, Marcos Antonio (Diana) Moreno of Hidalgo, Texas, Maria Luisa (Adrian) Garcia of McAllen, Texas, Maribel (Martin) Morales of Sidney, Montana, Miguel Angel (Tracy) Moreno of Maryville, Tennessee, and Moises (Melissa) Moreno of Palmview, Texas. He had 23 grandchildren, 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. In addition, to his loving wife and children, he is survived by his siblings, Blanca (Cande?) Ramos of Chicago, Illinois, Rachel (Mike) Keller of Oceanside, California and Lupita Saenz of McAllen, Texas. He also has numerous nieces, nephews and several other people he treated just like family and loved as his own.
Mario is preceded in death by his father Juan Angel Moreno, his mother Maria Luisa Cabrera Moreno, his brothers Ruben and Angel Moreno, sisters Angelita Moreno Jallad and Alicia Moreno Contreras, and his grandson, Mario Luis Moreno.
Mario lost his father at the very young age of 8 and lovingly stepped up to help his mother and siblings however he could, including working since he was 14 years old. At the age of 17, he enlisted with the Army National Guard and shortly after joined the United States Marine Corps. He bravely fought in the Vietnam War from 1966-1967 where he advanced to Staff Sergeant. After being honorably discharged he went back home to McAllen, Texas where he worked as a letter carrier for the McAllen Post Office for a little over 20 years. During that time, he volunteered as a radio DJ for Radio Esperanza and years later, after his retirement from the US Postal Service, he worked at the radio station full time as part of the staff at the Rio Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, Texas. In 2001, he helped establish Radio Manantial in Yuma, Arizona, and so they packed up and moved there for one year. In recent years, one of Mario's biggest passions was his membership with the Patriot Guard Riders of the Rio Grande Valley. This patriotic group's mission is to honor fallen soldiers by escorting their bodies to their final resting place in a grand procession. This is a huge blessing to the families of these hometown heroes.
Mario and Raquel believed it was their calling to bring up their children in the knowledge of the Lord. They were faithful members of Iglesia Bautista Betania since 1976 and Mario served God through that ministry in different capacities throughout the years.
The family is forever grateful to the Lord for the legacy left to them by the strong servant that they know and will always remember as a loving patriarch, faithful patriot and humble example to all.
Viewing and visitation will begin on Monday, April 12, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at Iglesia Baustista Betania located at 851 Breyfogle Road in Mission. Church Service will be held 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at Iglesia Bautista Betania with Pastor Jeremy Mendoza officiating. The Patriot Riders will be escorting the remains from the church to the burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. to the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission with VFW Post #8788 conducting military service.
The Moreno Family wishes to thank the La Joya ISD Police Department for the escort. The Moreno Family entrusted their services to the care of Ceballos Funeral Home of McAllen