Julia "Julie" Ramírez Ybarra

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Julia “Julie” Ramírez Ybarra, a beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and Tia, ceased her earthly life and laughter at age 88 on Saturday, the 21st of September 2024. She will be remembered for her vivaciousness, laughter, and her often wicked sense of humor, often self-deprecating and an incredible ability to regale listeners with life’s joys as well as trials and tribulations with humor and a generous caring spirit. She was strong in spirit and faith. She told you what she thought, rarely with ambivalence, and was fierce in her commitment to causes she believed in. Julie was at ease with people from all social and economic strata; no shrinking violet she never met a stranger y a todos confesaba. And most importantly to her, Julie was an animal lover. Her beloved dog Bella, her companion of many years, passed only a few weeks before her.

Born in Victoria, Texas to Hurbano Renya Ramírez and Beatrice Loza Perez, proud generational central Texas residents, Julie spent her formative years in Los Fresnos, Texas as the oldest of eight siblings, one brother and seven sisters, and thus a life script was created. She attended schools in Los Fresnos, graduating high school in 1955, when soon thereafter the family moved to Brownsville and Julie went to work. Her career was initially office work which led to marketing. She eventually worked for a major bank in Houston where she handled a program for seniors and had the opportunity to travel with them to Europe as well as several cruises. She was a perfect fit! In more recent years, she handled marketing for Ebony Lake Nursing Home in Brownsville.

Preceding Julie in death were her parents, Hurbano and Beatrice Ramírez; her daughter, Minou Christine Ramírez; her son, Javier “Bo” Ybarra; her granddaughter, Jessica Rose Perez; and her niece, Rose Marie Leal.

Survivors include her daughter, Leticia Ybarra, and her grandchildren, Taylor Powell and Andy Powell. 

Because Julie was the oldest of the Hurbano Ramírez sibling group, she was from early years viewed as a family caretaker, the one who rounded up the troops, especially so since the passing of our mother some 21 years ago. She is now survived by the entire remaining family brood; Maggie Ramírez Villarreal (Joe) of Brownsville, Bano Ramírez (Gloria) of San Antonio, Yolanda Ramírez de León (Ramon) of Harlingen, Chita “Rosie” Ramírez Leal (Fermin) of Brownsville, MaryAnn “Mari” Ramírez Barrientos (Homero) of McAllen, Lupita “Bebe” Ramírez Weston of McAllen, and Meldy (Linda Imelda) Ramírez of McAllen.

She is additionally survived by her very proud nephews and nieces, the children of her brother and sisters all of whom knew Tia Julie very well and have their own stories to tell ;Cindy Villarreal Mendez (Jay+), Debbie Villarreal, Sonny Villarreal (Claudia), Rolando “Curly” Ramírez (Anne), Rene “Nay” Ramírez (Letty), Becky Ramírez, Daniel F. de León (Rachel), Angela de León (David Fabelo), John Leal (Edna), Cissy (Cecilia) Barrientos Urrea (Pete), Homer Barrientos (Lucy), and Randy Ramírez (Mandy); in addition to many other grandnephews and nieces and first and second cousins too numerous to name.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, the 4th of October 2024 between the hours of three o'clock in the afternoon and nine o'clock at night, with a recitation of the holy rosary to begin at seven o'clock Friday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. 

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 5th of October 2024 at San Pedro Catholic Church, 7602 Old Military Road, Brownsville. 

At a later date, the family will gather for a private inurnment at the Ysidro Leal Memorial Cemetery, where Julie will be laid to rest beside her beloved family members.

Honored to serve as her pallbearers will be her grandson, Andy Powell, and her nephews John Leal, Sonny Villarreal, Randy Ramírez, Daniel de León, Homer Barrientos, Nico Mendez, and Rene Ramírez. 

Honorary pallbearers are her brothers-in-law Joe Villarreal, Fermin Leal, Ramon de León, and Homero Barrientos.

Memories of Julie may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.