Obituary of Reyes Hernandez

Reyes Hernandez, loving husband and father of two, passed away on July 10, 2021, at the age of 71.

Ray was born on January 6th, 1950, in Austin, TX, to Felipa Cantu Hernandez and Pedro Santos Hernandez. He graduated from Crockett High in Austin in 1969. Once he graduated, he began to work at Southwestern Bell and worked there until his retirement in 2000. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus at St Julia’s Church and took great pride in being a member of the parish and singing in their choir.

He married the love of his life, Anita Cecilia Martinez, on November 11, 1972, after a courtship filled with trips to Mansfield Dam, visits with family, and dancing to conjunto music. Together they raised two good children, Reyes Carlos and Monica Corisa.

Ray spent his childhood playing, learning, and working in los trabajos. He loved spending time with family and friends. He would plan fishing trips with his buddies and always made the best cook-out breakfasts. He loved being outside, whether it was working in his yard, golfing, or going out camping or hiking. He enjoyed spending time in any hardware store and was always ready to fix anything. His home was filled with his woodwork and he enjoyed gifting his handmade items. He loved tinkering on cars and riding motorcycles. He loved his son-in-law’s cooking and trips to visit his children and their families. He loved hamburgers and snacks and had a great sweet tooth. He delighted in chewing gum no matter how much it bothered anyone else and would stop on any trip for an XL strawberry slurpee and a bag of peanuts. Every year, Ray made his pecan pralines for families and friends.

He was a proud and loving father. He loved being a dad and, later, a grandpa. He was an active participant in the activities that his children did and he loved going to band concerts, field trips, baseball games, Boy Scout camping trips, and school activities. He was happy to support their fundraisers and usually ordered any kind of candy, popcorn, or nuts they sold until his wife told him that he had enough. Family vacations were a great joy for him and he loved teaching his kids how to camp, indulging in finding hotels with pools to make them happy, and getting to explore with them. Being able to continue to take trips with his children as they became adults was one of his favorite things to do. As a grandfather, he could be found taking the kids on long walks, teaching them how to ride bikes, trying out cooking projects, eating ice cream, and being a captive audience to many songs and shows.

Ray was a good man, kind, generous, and loving. There wasn’t anything that he wouldn’t do for his family. He will be missed by so, so many.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Felipa and Pedro Hernandez; his brother, Conrado Hernandez, and his brother-in-law, Simon Sifuentes.

Ray is survived by his wife, Anita; his children, Carlos Hernandez and Monie Goodvin and her husband, Jay; his grandchildren, Charlie Goodvin, Leah Goodvin, Gigi Goodvin, Zoe Hernandez, and Gavin Hernandez; his sisters, Amelia Sifuentes, Olivia Gil and her husband, Johnny, and Lou Ann Lucas; and a large extended family of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Honored Pallbearers will be Rudy Martinez, John Martinez, Larry Martinez, Ernest Quiroz, Jr., Oscar Hernandez, and Mark Guerrero.

The family wishes to thank Choice Hospice and their team for their care and comfort to Ray and his family.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in his honor to Blessed Sacrament Academy in San Antonio.

Visitation will be held from 4:00-9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at Mission Funeral Home - East Side, 1615 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, Texas.  The family will be present this evening between 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Recitation of Holy Rosary will begin at 11:00 on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 also at Mission Funeral Home - East Side.  Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery, 3650 S. IH 35 Frontage Rd., Austin, Texas.  Rosary will be live-streamed through Mission Funeral Home Facebook for those who are unable to attend.