Natividad "Johnny" Salazar

On Saturday, September 15th, at 5:45 a.m., our father, Natividad 'Johnny' Salazar, left our lives to find peace with no pain. He was born on December 25th, 1933, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was preceded in death by his mother, Cumecinda, and father, Antonio Salazar, his brothers, Pete and Clemente Salazar, his sister Candelaria Hinojosa, his son Tony Salazar and daughter Gloria Flores.

Our father leaves behind his loving wife, Kathryn Lucille Salazar; his children, Gordon (Kim) Salazar, Michelle (Murl) Hafer, David Salazar, Kathy (Sean) McLerran, John Salazar and Paul Salazar; his brother, Joe Salazar and sister, Carmen (Rosalio) Armijo. He also leaves behind his life-long best friend and brother-in-law, Gustavo Hinojosa. Johnny also left behind numerous grandchildren.

Our father struggled in life to provide for his family. His illiteracy and lack of proper education never stopped or detoured him from making sure that his children were taken care of. He grew up in world of unjust reality, where hardship was just the salt of life. We may have never been of wealth, but our father taught us that a man's self preservation, family and pride was worth more than monetary value.

His quiet demeanor with caddy one-liners will be missed. Our father's sense of humor could catch anyone off guard and his laugh was one that could always bring a smile to your face.

He did the best he could with what life had given him. As a long-haul truck driver, he managed to traverse the highways of our country, memorizing road signs and maps.

Our father leaves behind his true wealth; his family, his children, his grandchildren. We need not worry of ever forgetting him because he is alive in all of us, in some way, shape or form. In a smile, in our laughs or in our moments of despair, our father will always be with us and his true gifts to us will never be forgotten. He will live on throughout our stories and will be missed in our hearts. This quiet little man that moved so many.

Our father passed away without us being able to tell him how much we loved him, but he now has been set free and knows the truth, that his children, wife and family loved him with all their hearts.
We, the children of Natividad Salazar, believe that he would not have wanted to be viewed after his illness and death. He would want us to remember him with our own personal and private memories with him and when he was healthy and happy. In our father's memory, family and friends will set a future date to celebrate the life of Johnny Salazar.

In lieu of flowers or donations to funeral expenses, please give a donation in the name of Natividad Salazar to The American Cancer Society or to The American Diabetes Association.