Rafael E. Laurel

Rafael E. Laurel, 78, passed away from natural causes on October 6, 2005.He was born in Laredo, Texas on December 26, 1926. He was a World War II U.S. Navy Veteran and served proudly on the USS Intrepid in the Pacific Theatre. Following the war, he worked as a Thom McAnn Shoe Store Manager and retired after 40 years of service. His civic activities included membership in V.F.W., long-time member of the Lions Club International and Eucharistic Minister of Holy Family Catholic Church. Rafael was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and greatgrandfather, and he will be dearly missed.He is preceded in death by his first wife, Evangelina Garcia Laurel, and his parents, Antonio & Librada C. Laurel.He is survived by his wife, Maria S. Laurel; five daughters, Nelda (Arnold) Tellez of Crosby, Texas, Nora, (Joe) Gonzalez, Nydia (Richard) Cruz, Noemi Laurel (Rene Vasquez), Niris (Sandy) Tyler all of Corpus Christi, Texas; four stepsons, Dr. Ernest (Jeaneen) Zamora of Austin, Texas, Richard (Linda) Zamora, Jaime (Celeste) Zamora all of Houston, Texas, Robert (Lydia) Zamora, of Corpus Christi, Texas, a brother, Jesus (Alicia) Laurel of Laredo, Texas; three sisters, Alicia Urdiales of Corpus Christi, Texas, Rosa Washburn of Beaumont, California, Maria "Chita" (Pat) Canfield of Houston, Texas and sister-in-law, Elida S. (Robert) Flores; grandchildren; Lori (David) Lozano, Vanessa (Kevin) Kirkpatrick, Joey (Anna) Chapa, Melanie (Gilbert II) Villarreal, Audra Werbiski, Orlando Vasquez, Laurel Vasquez, Kayla Tyler, Rynne Cruz, Melissa (Brian) Lofton, Carissa Zamora, David Zamora, Amanda Zamora, Jason Zamora, Steven Zamora, Michael Zamora, Alana Zamora, Emily Zamora, Alexis Zamora, Isabella Zamora; and 13 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., on Sunday, October 9, 2005 at Corpus Christi Funeral Home with a Rosary to be recited at 7:30 p.m. that same evening at Holy Family Catholic Church.Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m., on Monday, October 10, 2005 at Holy Family Catholic Church.Interment will follow at Seaside Memorial Park.Pallbearers will be: Orlando Vasquez, Joey Chapa, David Lozano, Gilbert Villarreal II, Kevin Kirkpatrick and Michael Zamora.