Ellis Menchaca Sr., 92, of Uvalde died on April 16, 2017, at Uvalde Memorial Hospital. A funeral service will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Rushing- Estes-Knowles Mortuary. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. He was born on Sept. 3, 1924, in Múzquiz, Mexico, to Maria Menchaca and Raymundo Treviño. He married Rosie Canales in 1951 in Uvalde. The family says he grew up on a ranch in Múzquiz, Mexico, and he became a skilled horseman and ranch hand. The family says he moved to the United States as a young man and began working at the T.P. Lee Ranch, where he rose from cowboy to foreman to farm manager of some of the top cattle and farming operations in Uvalde and Zavala County. According to the family, he was the first graduate from Southwest Texas Junior College to earn his degree by solely attending night school. Later, he attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. The family says he went from cowboy to rancher to businessman, and he overcame any obstacle in his path to reach his goals. He is survived by one son, Ellis Menchaca Jr. and wife, Irma, of Uvalde; and one daughter, Grace Reeve and husband, David of Austin; three grandsons, Ellis Menchaca III, George Allan Menchaca, and Mark Anthony Menchaca. Menchaca was preceded in death by his wife; parents; and one sister, Alicia Alston. Pallbearers will be Ellis Menchaca III, George Menchaca, Mark Menchaca, David Reeve, Rod Gutierrez and Rudy Pruneda.
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