Manuela Garza "Meme" Longoria

MANUELA “MEME” G. LONGORIA MONTE ALTO – Manuela “Meme” G. Longoria, 95, crossed over Friday, November 15, 2013, at Aurora House in Weslaco. Manuela (Meme as she liked to be called) Garza Longoria was born on December 18, 1917 in Mission, Texas as one of four daughters from Manuel and Guadalupe Garza Family of 323 Miller Avenue. She is preceded in death by her husband, Augustine C. Longoria, of Monte Alto; her father, Manuel Garza; her mother, Guadalupe Guerra Garza; and sisters, Herlinda Garza Pena, Ysaura Garza and Elisa Garza Salinas of Houston. Meme was educated in the Mission Public Schools and afterwards attended and graduated from Mary Hardin Baylor College in Belton, Texas. Her first teaching position was at the King Ranch (La Andrea) in Kingsville, where she met her future husband, Augustine C. Longoria, who was born, raised, and worked on the ranch. Augustine was an avid hunter, businessman, and vegetable and citrus grower in Monte Alto. In the early 1940’s he was the first entrepreneur in Monte Alto and built a business complex consisting of a grocery store, clothing store, restaurant, barbershop, drug store and theater. His father-in-law and master carpenter by trade, Manuel Garza of Mission, helped the couple build the business complex in the Delta Area. Meme taught Spanish at Mission High School, while her husband was overseas in Europe during World War II. After his return she was very much involved in the management of their business complex. She continued to teach for Monte Alto I.S.D., Edinburg I.S.D., and La Sara I.S.D.; and served on the Monte Alto School Board. After her husband’s death, she stayed active as a Reading Consultant for the Migrant Program at the Region One Service Center in Edinburg. Meme also taught in the Alternative Program at Pan American College. For relaxation she loved to play the piano, garden, read and authored numerous teaching manuals. Meme is survived by two daughters, Gilda N. (†Gus) Guerra of Alamo, and Yvette Y. Longoria, M.D., who resides in North Carolina. Her pride and joy were two grandsons, Philip E. (Monica) and Alexis G. (Maribel) of Alamo. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. rosary Tuesday, November 19, 2013, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Memorial mass will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 20, 2013, at Resurrection Catholic Church in Alamo. Private interment of cremated remains will take place at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen at a later date. Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.