Fidel Q. Terrazas Jr. left us to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on July 27. He was born on Jan. 1, 1934, in Fort Stockton to Fidel Terrazas Sr. and Balbina Quintana.

Fidel was preceded in death by his wife, Dora G. Terrazas; his father, Fidel Terrazas Sr; his mother, Balbina Quintana; his brother, Camilo Terrazas; and his sister Dora Cordona.

Fidel is survived by his son Jesse G. Terrazas and wife Norma of Fort Stockton; daughter Mary Ann Terrazas White of Fort Stockton and friend Levon Webb; brothers George Terrazas and Luis Terrazas; sisters Adelina Salazar of Fort Stockton, Elma Holguin of Fort Stockton, and Eva Terrazas of Houston; grandchildren Audra Lynn T. Launey, (Dave) Jesse Terrazas Jr., (Abby). Thomas Ross Turner. (Madlyn), and Robert White Jr.; and great grandchildren Avery Turner, Jesse Terrazas III, Talen Terrazas, Trent Terrazas, Rice Turner, Mary Craig Turner, Alexia L. Launey, Frances Turner, and Davery Terrazas.

Visitation will be held on July 31, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Heritage Funeral Home. There will be a rosary held Sunday, Aug. 1, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held the following Monday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m. at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Downtown Parish-St. Joseph Church. The burial will follow the funeral service at the Fort Stockton Catholic Cemetery.

Pall bearers for the occasion will be Thomas Ross Turner, Robert White Jr., Rice Turner, Jesse Terrazas Jr., Jesse Terrazas III, and David Launey.

After leaving the Army Air Force, he married Dora Granado and moved to Odessa to work for Pioneer Furniture Store. One of his most memorable experiences was to work with the famous Buddy Holly.

He moved back to Fort Stockton in the ‘60s to work at Firestone Test Center. He was one of the first Mexican Americans to work there. He met Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt when they came to test tires on the track. In his spare time, he liked to tinker with electronics. He fixed TV’s and old radios for friends and Terrazas Furniture Store. And to this date, still has all of his old equipment.

He then went to work with Duval Sulfer for a while. He was the truck foreman. He had a short stint with the Texas Department of Transportation before going to work with Northern Natural/Enron. He was a plant operator and shift foreman. He retired at the age of 52. He was a cancer survivor and a heart attack survivor. He enjoyed drinking Miller Lites, smoking, driving around to see all the sights, and visiting old friends. He was always one to give a hand or help out someone in need.

He will be remembered as a humble and caring man. His grandchildren always enjoyed going for long rides, shooting the guns, and learning how to drive while he drank his Miller Lites while sitting in the back seat.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Allison Cancer Center of Midland, the St. Joseph Food Bank, or your choice of charity.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at:         www.heritagefuneralhomeofthebigbend.com