Rene Leal Escamilla

EL NARANJO, TX. – Rene Leal Escamilla, seventy-seven, of El Naranjo, Texas, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, the 30th of March 2024, at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen. He was born on October 26, 1946, to Agapita Leal Escamilla and Pablo Escamilla in Brownsville, Texas.  

He served our nation honorably in the United States Army after being drafted to the Vietnam War in 1967. After returning from Vietnam and marrying the love of his life Lucy, in 1971, together they opened Casa de Carne in 1974, which led to his taxidermy passion. He then opened Escamilla’s Taxidermy in 1982, which he successfully operated for thirty-eight years.

Rene enjoyed spending quality time with his family and friends, sharing stories and telling jokes with an enthusiasm that only he could. After an extremely brief and unexpected battle with Leukemia, he went to his eternal resting place where he can watch over his loved ones.

Rene is survived by his loving wife of fifty-two years, Lucy Escamilla; his children, Jaime Escamilla and Lora Calliham (Tony); his grandchildren Sofia Escamilla, Abel, Rebekah, and Alaina Calliham; his two sisters, three brothers, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, the 5th of April 2024 between the hours of five o'clock in the afternoon and nine o’clock at night, at Mary, Mother of the Church, 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville, with the recitation of the holy rosary to begin at seven o’clock Friday evening within the church.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at twelve noon on Saturday, the 6th of April 2024 at Mary, Mother of the Church. Interment with military honors will then follow, via an escorted procession, at the Escamilla Family Cemetery in San Benito, Texas.

Honored to serve as his pallbearers will be his nephews Rolando Garza, Samuel Escamilla, Eleno Capistran, Paul Capistran, Joe Capistran, Henry Escamilla, Raul Escamilla, and Jeffery Escamilla.

Memories of Rene 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.