Minerva “Minnie” Muzquiz, age 99, of Moore, Texas, entered into eternal rest on March 30, 2023, in San Antonio, after a short illness. She was surrounded by her loving family in her final moments on earth, which came just two months shy of her 100th birthday.
Minnie was born on June 1, 1923, in San Diego, Texas to Ernesto and Maria Garcia and spent her childhood years living in several rural communities within Frio County, Texas, including Bigfoot, Schattel and Moore. She graduated from Pearsall High School in 1940 at the age of 16 and moved to San Antonio to attend San Antonio Business College, graduating a year later. After college, she worked as a medical stenographer in the business office of Santa Rosa Hospital and later in the radiology department at Kelly Field.
In 1946, Minnie left her job at Kelly Field and returned to Moore to marry her sweetheart, Frank Muzquiz, Jr., a resident of Moore, who had served overseas in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. As Minnie and Frank began to build their family of six children, Minnie forewent outside employment to raise the kids until the late ‘70s when their youngest child entered the eighth grade. She accepted a job as a field representative with the U.S. Census Bureau, driving thousands of miles each year throughout Texas and Louisiana to conduct housing, employment, economic and crime surveys in residents’ homes as assigned by the Dallas regional office. She loved her job and meeting people, and consistently earned stellar performance reviews until the day she retired in 2009 — at the age of 86.
Minnie was a dedicated volunteer for her children’s schools, including serving as the PTA president at the Moore School where her three oldest children started their education. When Moore’s school closed and students transferred to Pearsall, she served as a room mother to coordinate class parties and volunteered with the Pearsall High School Band Boosters during the 20-year span in which her six children played in the band. She also marketed for the Devine Area Artists’ Concert Series, fundraised for the American Cancer Society, taught sewing to members of the Moore 4-H Club, served as a poll worker for local elections, and handled the bookkeeping and numerous other duties for St. Augustine Catholic Church in Moore for many years. In 2013, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller presented Minnie with the Lumen Gentium Award from the San Antonio Catholic Archdiocese for exemplary volunteer service to the church.
When a hip injury in 2014 challenged her ability to continue living independently, Minnie relocated to San Antonio. In 2015 she became a resident of Brookdale Maltsberger Senior Living, an assisted living facility where she thrived and considered her home until her passing.
Minnie’s husband Frank predeceased her, as did her parents, parents-in-law Francisco Sr. and Ramona Muzquiz, sister and brother-in-law Rose Marie and Nasario Alvarado, brother and sister-in-law David and Rita Garcia, brother Ralph Garcia, and brother-in-law Frank Garza.
Minnie is survived by her six children: Ernest Muzquiz (Alice) of Syracuse, New York, Gloria Villarreal (Emilio) of San Antonio, Robert Muzquiz (Diana) of Mesquite, Roland Muzquiz (Sandy) of Plano, Ramona Teter of San Antonio, and Donald Muzquiz of Franklin, Tennessee; 16 grandchildren: Minerva “Little Minnie” Muzquiz, Michael Villarreal (Blanca), Andrea Kohnert (Chris), Belinda Villarreal, Carolyn Villarreal, Daniel Muzquiz, Aaron Muzquiz (Eric), Amanda Muzquiz, Gabriel Muzquiz (Racheal), Ramon Muzquiz (Sarah), Renee Muzquiz (Kelly), Rochelle Muzquiz, Ryan Teter, Adrienne Scharch (Tanner), Celeste Muzquiz and Brandon Muzquiz; 9 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; sister Martha Garza, brother and sister-in-law Ernest and Christine Garcia; sister-in-law Emma Garcia, and numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren.
Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11, from 5 – 9 p.m. at the Primrose Funeral Home in Devine, Texas, with a Rosary recitation to follow at 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, April 12, at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, also in Devine. Burial will follow at the Moore Catholic Cemetery in Moore.
The family offers sincerest thanks to the staff of Brookdale Maltsberger for providing Minnie with extraordinary care and friendships for the past seven years, as well as to San Antonio Wellness and Rehabilitation and Gentiva Hospice for their gentle care and support during her final days.
Donations in Minnie’s memory may be made to her parish, St. Augustine Catholic Church, Moore, Texas, or the Moore Catholic Cemetery, c/o 108 S. Washington Dr., Devine, Texas, 78016.
If you wish to offer a word of condolences to the family or share a memory you may do so by visiting www.primrosefuneralservices.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Primrose Funeral Services in Devine, Texas.