Roberto "Robert" Mares Sr.

"The idea is not to live forever, but to create something that will"- Warhol. Roberto (Robert) Mares, Sr., was born August 13, 1940, in Edinburg, Texas. He passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021, surrounded by his loved ones. Robert enlisted in the Army in 1958 and was stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado, before being deployed to Frankfort, Germany. He always enjoyed telling people he was in Germany at the same time as Elvis Presley. He met his future wife, Gloria Garza, before enlisting in the military, and they maintained their overseas relationship through letters. When he returned, he asked for her hand in marriage; they recently celebrated their 60th anniversary on March 12th. They moved from Edinburg to Freeport, Texas in 1962, where he worked as a gas station attendant while learning his trade as a welder. He later went to work for Ace Fabricators as a Welder in Clute, TX for 15 years before being employed at Dow Chemical and retiring in 1997. Robert was quite the storyteller and jokester. He was always entertaining his siblings, friends, children, and grandchildren with fantastical stories and life lessons. As babies, he taught us how to count to 10 using our fingers and toes, or pollitos, as he would call them. He taught us the importance of a firm handshake, to look someone in the eyes when you speak to them, "a person is only as good as their word", and "It is better to be 15 minutes early, than 1 minute late." He loved fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities. Later in life, he spent his time fishing with his children on their boats. Robert was a collector of guns, knives, binoculars, and just about anything you could imagine at the pawn shops. He would say, "A man should always carry a pocket- knife", or "Just because it is used, doesn't mean it's no good". If you were lucky, and he liked you enough he may have gifted you a knife, a leaf blower, a flashlight, a hammer or pair of binoculars. Our sister-in-law, Jeannette, said it best when she said, our dad's love language was "gifting". Robert is preceded in death by his parents; Francisco and Sofia Mares, and his brothers; Alfredo and Tomas. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife; Gloria, sons; Tomas, and Robert, Jr. (Jeannette), daughters; Belinda Brieger (Mike), Criselda Dewesee (Billy), and Christina Henry (James), 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, his brothers; Francisco Jr., Pablo, Amado, Oscar, and Raul, and his sisters; Sofia Mares, Eloisa Guerra, and Carolina Zamora. A viewing and service will be held in celebration of Robert's life and the legacy he created on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at Palms Funeral Home. The visitation will begin at 10 am and continue until the service starts at 11 am. Online condolences may be sent to the Mares family at www.palmsfuneralhome.com Service Details. Visitation When Saturday, April 10th, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am Location Palms Funeral Home Address 2300 E. Mulberry ANGLETON, TX 77515 Service When Saturday, April 10th, 2021 11:00am Location Palms Funeral Home Address 2300 E. Mulberry ANGLETON, TX 77515 Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. View Tribute Book