Reynaldo Ramirez Tovar

Reynaldo "Ray" Ramirez Tovar, age 71, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 4, 2025. He was born in Waelder, Texas, on April 7, 1954, to Victorio Tovar and Juana Ramirez Tovar – he was the sixth of fifteen children.
Ray started working at a young age to help provide for his large family through demanding jobs that included picking cotton, picking vegetables and bailing hay as far away as Amherst, Texas. This early dedication, along with his competitive spirit, earned the love and respect of his brothers and sisters.
On June 6, 1980, he married the love of his life, Anita Ayala Tovar. Together they built a home grounded in faith, commitment, and love. They raised three children – Ryan, Cynthia, and Jacob – who will forever remember his strength, generosity, and unwavering devotion to family, friends, and community. He was a proud and loving grandfather to four grandchildren: Anthony, Jacob Jr., Sophia, and Jasmynn.
Ray spent many years supervising the work at leather boot companies in Moulton, Yoakum and Gonzales, Texas, taking deep pride in the craft and in the people he worked alongside. Among his proudest accomplishments were creating a custom boot for someone with a prosthetic foot – a challenge many others had attempted and failed – and crafting boots worn by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the San Francisco 49ers Cheerleaders, and Earl Campbell.
Faith and service were paramount in Ray's life. He was a dedicated member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waelder. When the congregation outgrew the capacity of the original St. Patrick's church, he and his wife, Anita, served on the committee that created the inaugural Fiesta Guacamole. The funds raised from the Fiesta were instrumental in the construction of the new St. Patrick's church at its current location, and his devotion to God and the church remained strong through the years.
His dedication extended far beyond the church walls. In his younger years, Ray was a committed Boy Scouts troop leader, a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (L.U.L.A.C.), and a selfless member of the Waelder Volunteer Fire Department. He coached both Tee Ball and Little League, and he enjoyed playing softball himself, making many friends and earning many trophies along the way.
He found true joy in being with friends and family. He could be found tearing up a dance floor with Anita throughout their 45 years together, where they would oftentimes be the ones to kick the dancing off. He also enjoyed playing pool and darts, including playing alongside his son, Jacob, on the Lucky Dogs team. The food that came off of his grill, especially his legendary fajitas and roasted corn, was a highlight of the Waelder community. And even though it was hard work, he loved tending to the horses and cows he kept on his mother-in-law Mary's small farm.
Above all, Ray was known for his generous spirit. He was a jack-of-all-trades, having skills in plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and auto repair, to name just a few. If anyone, even complete strangers, needed help, he was there to lend a hand. He approached every task and every person with a giving heart, leaving a lasting legacy of kindness and support in his community. His wealth was not measured in dollars and cents, but in the love of his friends and family.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Anita Tovar; his children, Ryan Tovar (Selina), Cynthia DelaRosa (Gerardo), and Jacob Tovar; and his grandchildren: Anthony Martinez, Jacob Tovar Jr., Sophia Renee Tovar, and Jasmynn DelaRosa. He also leaves behind his surviving siblings: Eva Martinez, Victor Tovar Jr. (Irma), Arthur Rosas (Sylvia), Sandy Carlin (Ruben), Adela Mireles, Raymond Tovar (Karen), Robert Tovar, and Rudolph Tovar.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Victorio and Juana Tovar, and his siblings Raul Tovar, Domingo Tovar, Tomasa Moreno, Rosemary Gamboa, Roy Tovar and Marcela Tovar.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home in Gonzales, Texas. The Rosary will follow from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waelder, Texas. The Funeral Mass will begin at 2:00 p.m. Pallbearers participating will be Jacob Tovar, Ryan Tovar, Jacob Tovar, Jr., Gerardo De La Rosa, Paul Tovar and Victor Tovar, Jr., and Raymond Tovar. Honorary pallbearers will include Robert Tovar, Arturo Rosas, Rudolph Tovar, Jesse Ayala, Randy Tovar, Anthony Martinez, Steven Puente, Abelardo Ibarra, and Rocky Quintero, Jr. Interment will follow at the Waelder Community Cemetery in Waelder, Texas.
Friends and family may leave their condolences online by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com All services are under the care and direction of Seydler – Hill Funeral Home in Gonzales, Texas