Jesus Manuel (Tato) Gonzales passed away at the young age of 84 on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Fort Stockton, Texas. A public visitation will be held from 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at Eternity Funeral Home located at 600 E. Dickinson Blvd. Fort Stockton, Texas. We will also be praying the Rosary on Sunday from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM; please join us in prayer.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, August 3rd at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church located at 403 S. Main St., Fort Stockton, Texas, with Father Francis Njoku officiating. Burial will follow at the Fort Stockton Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements are by Eternity Funeral Home.

Jesus Manuel Gonzales, who was also known as Tato, Babe, Dad, Grandpa, and Apa, was born in Shafter, Texas, to Raymundo and Bernarda Gonzales on November 5th, 1941. He married Bessie Miller on March 21, 1964, and their love story was one of love and respect for one another for a total of 62 years. He worked as a Mechanic who owned his own business, better known as J & B Auto Repair, for numerous years until he took a job alongside his wife working at The Pecos County Juvenile Detention Center until his retirement. He served in the United States Army for a total of 3 years, stationed in Germany. He was a man of many traits; he had a love for woodworking, building anything and everything his wife wanted, fixing things around his home, tending to his fish and turtle pond. He loved planting gardens, spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his dog Molly. He was an avid golfer who loved playing with his friends on a daily basis, and when he couldn’t play, you could always find him in his golf cart supporting his friends and family. He loved to tease and give his family and friends a hard time in a playful manner. If he argued with you, it was definitely a sign of affection, and you could never beat him in an argument. Those are just a few of the things that made him special. He was a man of his word, and he loved his wife deeply, for they were always inseparable.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Raymundo and Bernarda Gonzales, and his sister Josephine Munoz and brother- in-law Albert Moreno.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bessie Miller Gonzales; his two daughters, JoAnn Hernandez (Robert), and Delilia Urias (Edward); his grandchildren Eduardo Olvera (Melanie), Amber Vandennieuwenhof (Joey), Alyssa Urias (Aaron), Abigail Bechtel (Josiah), Anthony Urias, Russell Hernandez (Haley), and a total of 16 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his two sisters, Grace Moreno and Freda Mesa (Lucas), his two brothers, Raymond Gonzales and Ricky Gonzales (Ribia), and numerous nephews and nieces.

Pallbearers will be Eduardo Olvera, Joey Vandennieuwenhof, Aaron Ramirez, Josiah Bechtel, Benji Gonzales, and Michael Ibarra.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Pecos County Memorial Hospital and all the Nursing staff, C.N.A’s, Dr. Medina, Jeremy Calzada and his staff, and Home Hospice for the tender care provided to our loved one. We are forever grateful. The loving family of Jesus Manuel Gonzales.