Jose Zapata

Jose Roberto Zapata, Sr. SLATON- Jose Chicho Zapata, 90, died at his home in Slaton, on Wednesday, August 15, 2012. He was surrounded by his family. Mr. Zapata was born on January 4, 1922 in Jimenez, Mexico to Tomasa and Felix Zapata. When he was one year old, his parents moved to Brady, Texas, where he grew up. On July 8, 1953, he married his beloved wife, Lucia Gloria, in Gering, Nebraska, a happy marriage that lasted 59 years. He and his family moved to Slaton, Texas in 1963. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Jose Zapata, Jr.; and brothers and sisters, Antonio, Elena, Gregorio, Bartolo, Bencelado, Paula, Teodula, and Ramona. His survivors include his de voted wife, Lucia; a sister, Cecilia Chavez; his beloved children, Yolanda, Juanita Martinez, Luis, Modesto, Gabriel, Basilio, Robert; and Daniel, and Janie Stephens, who he helped raise. His 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren also survive him. Jose Zapata was a humble man, his wife and his children were the center of his life. Everything he did, he did for his wife and children, to make sure that they never needed anything. He provided all the material things that they needed and they will be forever thankful that he was their father. Mr. Zapata will also be missed by his many nieces and nephews to whom he represented the best of what it meant to be a caring uncle. He traveled Texas to visit his nieces and nephews to make sure that they knew that he and his family cared about them. They will all be forever grateful and will never forget him. A man as humble and loving as Mr. Zapata will always be remembered by the family who knew him and loved him. Although we will miss him, his smile, his love, we take consolation in the good feelings of our memories. We will remember how he loved to collect rocks and how we find them everywhere. Sorrow comes in great waves...but it rolls over us, and though it may almost smother us, it passes and we remain. - Henry James