Manuel Gomez Leal

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Manuel Gomez Leal, our beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, the 11th of April 2023 in the comfort of his Brownsville residence surrounded by his loving family. He was eighty-nine years of age.

Manuel was born in Brownsville, Texas on December 24, 1933, son of the late Ysidro Leal and Matilde Gomez Leal. He was a proud veteran having served his country in the United States Army. Manuel was a farmer at Leal Brothers Farms, later known as Leal Farms Inc., for over fifty years. He was also an avid hunter, a great detailed story teller, and a man of one hundred goodbyes. Manuel was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by all those fortunate to have known him.

Preceding Manuel in death was his loving wife, Lucky Leal; his two sons, Manuel C. Leal and Jesus Eleno Salinas; his parents, Ysidro Leal and Matilde Gomez Leal; his brother, Ramon G. Leal; his sister, Consuelo L. Lucio; his favorite niece, Rose Marie Leal; his sister-in-law, Esmeralda Leal; and his brothers-in-law, Merced Burnias, Sr. and Luis Lucio.

Survivors include his daughters Odee Ann Leal, Pamela Marie Leal, Belinda Elizardi (Joe), and Nora Camargo (Robert); his brother, Fermin Leal (Chita); his sister, Arminda Burnias; in addition to numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews, including John “Mijito” Leal.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, the 13th of April 2023 between the hours of three o’clock in the afternoon and nine o'clock at night, with the recitation of the holy rosary to begin at seven o'clock Thursday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at two o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 14th of April 2023 at San Pedro Catholic Church, 7602 Old Military Road, Brownsville. Interment with military honors will then follow, via an escorted procession, at the Ysidro Leal Memorial Cemetery, located at Leal Farms, 8250 U.S. Highway 281, San Pedro.

In honor of Manuel and his love for the outdoors, the family kindly requests that attendees wear camouflage attire for his funeral services on Friday.

Honored to serve as his pallbearers are Roque Leal, Jr., Cesar Pedraza, Jr., Mariano Rey III, Ralph Garcia, Paul Garza, and Rick Hernandez.

Honorary pallbearers are John Leal, Roque Leal, Merced Burnias, Jr., Meme Lucio, George Lucio, Manuel Enrique Lucio, Tony Leal, Mike Leal, and Mike Ortiz.

Memories of Manuel 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.