Reynaldo "Ray" Almaguer Contreras

Reynaldo “Ray” Almaguer Contreras, 84, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

Ray, a native of San Benito, TX, was a longtime resident of Brownsville. As a young man, Ray was quite the athlete.He played football for the Greyhounds where he was Co-Captain of the football team. Ray also earned All District and All State honors. Ray played football while he served our country in the US Army. Ray also played minor league baseball and for a period of time held the highest batting average which led to Ray's induction into the Mission-based Baseball Hall of Fame during the 38th Annual Leo Najo Day Celebration.

Ray shared his love of sports with his daughter and grandchildren and showed them to follow in his footsteps and be as athletic as he was. Later in life, Ray put together the annual Old Timers baseball game where he invited ex-players to play against the current UT Brownsville Baseball Team. After retirement, you could find Ray umpiring local baseball games.

Ray loved sports but his true passion was spending time with his family and friends. Ray was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed not only by his family and friends but by all those fortunate to have known him.

Waiting for Ray with open arms, were his parents, Cleotilde A. and Jesus Contreras; and his siblings: Ricardo “Rico”, Dora and her husband Claudio Gonzalez, Mary Lou and her husband Juan Meave, and Robert A. Contreras.

Ray is survived by his son, Jeffrey Ray Contreras; a daughter, Angela (Arturo) Contreras Garcia, and 5 grandchildren: Samantha Contreras, Alyssa, Audrey, Abriana, and Arturo Jr. “A.J.” Garcia. Ray will also be missed by his longtime companion, Mary Lou Bewley; his siblings: Mary Alice (Ignacio+) Magaña, Carmen (Rudy+) Soliz, Minerva (Charles) Baker, Gloria (Frank) Contreras, Christina (Juan) Garcia, Mindy (Robert) Yzaguirre, and Ruben (Terry) Contreras; 2 sisters-in-law, Bertha and Minnie Contreras along with numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

Visitation will begin on Sunday, August 18th, 2019, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Darling Mouser Funeral Home with a Rosary service at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Catholic Church on Monday, August 19, 2019. Committal services will follow at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens. The VFW Post 2035 will be conducting military honors at the graveside.

Charles Michael Baker, Robert Anthony Contreras, Ricardo “Ricky” Contreras, Gianluc Cantu, Michael Robert Bilyeu, and Juan Tovar are honored to be serving as Ray’s pallbearers.

Ruben Contreras, Charles Baker, Robert Yzaguirre, Juan Garcia, Amalio Perez, Joe Olivarez, Arturo McDonald Jr., Emilio Sanchez, and Frank Cierpisz will serve as honorary pallbearers.