Rafael Sierra Lopez, Jr., 81, of Amarillo died April 17, 2020.
A private family burial will be held at Buena Vista Burial Park in Brownsville, Texas. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.
Rafael was born on August 14, 1938 in Combes, Texas to Ignacia and Rafael B. Lopez. He was employed at Ameron for 15 years, and Exxon Mobile in the plastics division in Woodland, California for 18 years until he retired. Rafael married Yolanda Barron on October 25, 1961 in Brownsville, Texas and cherished their marriage for 58 years.
Rafael was a servant of God in the church of Grace and New Hope. He was a simple man that would do anything for anyone, a man of honor and integrity.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and two of his brothers, Manuel Lopez, and Rodolfo Lopez.
He is survived by his wife, Yolanda Lopez of Amarillo; sons, David Lopez and wife Kathryn of Amarillo, and Jim Lopez and wife Rebekah of Bakersfield, CA; daughter, Patricia Lopez and Scott Douglass of Alexandria, VA; grandchildren, Heather Lopez, Caleb Lopez and wife Meagen, and Daniel Lopez all of Amarillo, Emily Lopez, James Lopez and wife Aimee of Bakersfield, CA, Samantha Douglass, and Antonio Douglass of Alexandria, VA; five great-grandchildren; four brothers, Pedro Lopez, Frank Lopez, Raymundo Lopez, Tomas Lopez; and seven sisters, Elosia Lopez, Dora Aguillar, Rachel Villareal, Olga Rodriguez, Elvia Garcia, Rosalinda Gomez, Maribel Noriega; many nieces and nephews.
He will also be missed by many friends alongside his family.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2020 from 10 AM to 5 PM at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.
Services are under the guidance of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Flower Shop. 657 Springmart Blvd., Brownsville. (956) 350-8485
Due to COVID-19 disaster declaration, Brownsville City and Cameron County guidelines and ordinances, limited occupancy rules apply to all gathering including at the funeral parlor and cemetery. A limit of 10 people is under effect and will remain until the quarantine is lifted.
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1 Comment
Thinking of my dad brings a smile to my face because I thought the world of him. To me, he embodied just the right type of humor, he was so funny. I remember our Christmas road trips from California to Texas when I was a child, being my dad’s copilot, and having the joy of listening to all his stories of growing up: sleeping in grapefruit trees, using a sling shot to get a bird & cooking it, sharing a pair of dress shoes with his brothers & the jokes they played on each other, grandma learning to drive a car, folklore, and his corny jokes (oh would I … hairlip, hairlip).
He was there for me in every stage of life. I didn’t make it two weeks in college before calling home crying because I missed him so. I’ll treasure his advice and try to emulate the example he set. I remember if he saw a car on the side of the road, he’d keep an eye out for its owner so as to lend a hand. I remember how at ease he made those around him feel. Recently I got the pleasure of having him stay with me for a week in Virginia. We took walks together each day, listened to Christian music and watched old movies. I cooked, not my best skill, but he always seemed to enjoy everything. I thought the world of him and could not have asked God for a better Dad.
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