Start spreading the news, he's leaving today…

Guadalupe Contreras - lovingly known by many nicknames throughout his life - Canal, Lupe, Country, and Papoo to name a few - took the world by storm upon his arrival in Laredo, TX on July 26, 1928, to his parents, Eusebio and Modesta Contreras.

His life was one of adventure. He left school in 1944, at the ripe age of 16, to join the Marines. Upon his return, he attended St. Mary's University. He continued his service as a civilian working at Kelly Air Force Base, work he enjoyed and which took him around the world, until his retirement.

He and his sweetheart, Esther (Muzquiz) Contreras, were married in 1967. Anyone who knew him knew how devoted he was to her. Beyond his first love, Esther, he loved many things in this life: Frank Sinatra, Pebble Beach Golf Course (or any golf course really), a good story, and most of all, a good laugh.

He fondly remembered summers spent with Esther at Pebble Beach; trips from which they always delighted their grandchildren by returning home with sourdough and their saved Southwest roasted peanuts. Though he attended many PGA tours over his lifetime, by far his proudest accomplishment was getting to hold Tiger Woods' 2000 PGA trophy!

He was a loyal and generous person who always went out of his way to help those he loved - whether it was helping a grandchild purchase their first car, hiring a friend to paint his house (when he did not need his house painted), or begrudgingly feeding the stray cats in the neighborhood.

When you arrived at his house, you could be assured of being greeted with a huge grin and a warm welcome. In his early life, he was a serious and sometimes burdened man, as many were who served overseas. But in his later years, he was fortunate to have the time and life experience to grow and change into someone softer, more open, full of joy and exuding a constant sense of delight at the gift of being alive and surrounded by loved ones.

May his memory remind all those who loved him that it is never too late to grow kinder, more loving, more grateful, and more joyful.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Eusebio and Modesta Contreras; his siblings, Eloisa Lucio, Ernestina Quintero, Ninfa Quiroz, Alfonso Contreras, and Eusebio Jr. He is survived by his beloved wife, Esther; his children, Suzette Soucie-Garza, Frank Soucie, and Louis Soucie; his grandchildren, Aivee, Joshua, Rachel, Althea, Francis, Sarah, Catherine, David, and Hannah; his great-grandchildren, Isaac and Pedro; and the cat he swears he didn't want, Callie (who he called Penelope for some reason).

Funeral Services

Rosary

May 23, 7 pm

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church

Funeral Mass

May 24, 10 am

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church

Rite of Committal

Processional will depart Our Lady of Grace following Mass

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery