In loving memory of a husband, father, grandfather and friend, Ramon G. Valadez, whose dawn arose on September 1, 1934 passed away on January 7, 2005 surrounded by his family on earth and enveloped with the arrival of dusk, he departed on the wings of an angel to join his family in heaven.Born in San Diego de Alejandria, Jalisco, Mexico, Ramon sacrificed all for the love of the craft of boot making. At age 7 he began working alongeside his father learning the trade and honing his skills. Tools of the trade were his toys and his father?s co-workers became his childhood friends. His talent, discovered and soon admired, drew attention from distant places and in 1969 Ramon moved thousands of miles away to Matamoros Tamaulipas, Mexico knowing little that soon his life would encounter a more drastic change. In 1972 when the company he worked for was bought by another and moved to the United States, he left behind his ?Mexico Lindo?, trading the ?tierra linda? that had embraced him for so long for the plains of Texas. With a pair of strong hands, an artistic ability matched by only a few if any, and an undying spirit to forge ahead despite language barriers, hardships and prejudices he carved his niche in the small town of Moulton, Texas. Ramon?s talent for custom bootmaking comforted the pocketbooks of a few companies; Tex-Tan, Nacona, Shenandoh and Bona Allen, but his boots comforted the feet of thousands. Among them, Willie Nelson, Former Gov. Bill Clements, U.S. Senator John Tower, Kris Kristofferson, Kenny Rogers and band, and former Dallas Cowboys Bob Lillie and Ed ?Too Tall? Jones. In 1985, Ramon opened his own boot shop in Flatonia, Texas removing himself from what became a labor of profit. There, once again he felt the embrace of a community and again labored for the love of his art. Survived by his beloved wife of 44 years; Alicia R de Valadez of Moulton, TX., Sons; Ramon Valadez of San Antonio, TX., Juan Valadez of Austin, Daughters; Alicia V. Carasco, Susana Valadez, Purificion Valadez all of San Antonio, Monica Valadez and Rebecca Valadez both of Austin, Brother; Manuel Valadez-Gallegos of Mexico, Sisters; Magdalena Barrientos, Maria dela Luz Basurto, Josefina Hernandez and Eva Valadez all of Mexico. Grandchildren; Raul Carrasco, Jr., Veronica Carrasco both of San Antonio and Sofia Guadalupe Valadez of Austin. Preceded in death his parents; Ramon and Saturnina Valadez, and a brother Alfonso Valadez. Recitation of Holy Rosary 7:00p.m. Tuesday in the Remembrance Chapel-Mission Funeral Home, 1615 E. Cesar Chavez. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 10:00a.m., Rembrance Chapel-Mission Funeral Home, Rev. Fr. Bill Elliott to officiate. Committal services will be private. In leiu of flowers please send donations in memory of Ramon Valadez to one of the following orginizations; The American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association, The Americam Diabetes Association, or Casa Marianella, 821 Gunter St., Austin, Tx. 78702.