Rita Margaret (Nelson) Solis

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Rita Margaret (Nelson) Solis of Brownsville, Texas entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, the 10th of December 2024. Rita, also affectionately known as Margo, was born on September 25, 1932 in Aruba, Netherlands West Indies to Albert Anthony Nelson and Clotilde Garcia Nelson.

Margo came to the United States when she was four years of age. Upon the family arriving in New York, they then traveled to Galveston, Texas where she attended St. Patrick’s School during her elementary years. From Galveston, her family moved to Texas City for eighteen months during which time she attended public school and her father worked for a refinery facility. The family then moved to Corpus Christi where she continued her education at Incarnate Word Academy until graduation from high school. After graduation, she entered the convent of Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Nuns. The next eighteen years were spent teaching at various Texas schools in Corpus Christi, Beeville, Benavides, Port Isabel, Brownsville, and Sinton. 

Upon receiving a dispensation of her religious vows, she returned to Brownsville where she married the widowed Armando D. Solis and thereby gained an instant family of three teenage sons. 

She began teaching at Central Intermediate School as a 6th grade teacher and two years later taught English classes to 7th graders. During this time and succeeding years she served as UIL coach, English Department Chair, and NJHS Sponsor. Margo then took the position of an administrative assistant followed by an assistant principal-ship which she held in her final two years, rounding out a 40 year career as an educator.

Margo was an avid fan of the Astros and the Texans and enjoyed following the Olympic Games. She had a love for horses and the opportunity to ride them. Her hobbies included reading from her extensive library of novels and the challenge of crossword puzzles. Although she had no children of her own, Margo was a caring and supportive stepmother and she never ceased to shower her nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren from her stepsons with her love through birthday, graduation and wedding gifts and loved being called “Grandma Margo.” 

Margo was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Clotilde Nelson; her husband, Armando D. Solis; and by her sisters, Marie Barrera and Cecilia Maisel.

She is survived by her siblings, Albert Nelson of Corpus Christi, Texas, Emily Yeary of Victoria, Texas, and JoAnn Quillian of Bishop, Texas; her three stepsons, Armando R. Solis (Grace) of Corpus Christi, Texas, Mario A. Solis of Austin, Texas, and Gustavo J. Solis (Estela) of Brownsville, Texas; in addition to numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, the 20th of December 2024 between the hours of one 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 Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at ten o'clock in the morning on Saturday, the 21st of December 2024 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 2800 Rockwell Drive, Brownsville. Cremation will follow the mass.

Inurnment will be held at three o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 23rd of December 2024 within the Buena Vista Burial Park Mausoleum, 5 McDavitt Boulevard

Memories of Margo 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.