Juan R. Cuellar, Sr.

Juan R. Cuellar Sr. entered fully into the presence of the Lord on June 16, 2022 in Katy, Texas at the age of 88.  During his courageous battle with lung cancer, he had no fear because of his steadfast faith in God.

Juan was born on January 27, 1934 to Felipe and Cayetana Cuellar on the Los Maguelles Ranch in Jim Hogg County. At the age of 8 years old, his family moved to Hebbronville, Texas. He became a hard worker, picking watermelons, later becoming a vaquero and enjoying ranch work. In his early 20’s, he and his brother, Reyes, traveled to Port Arthur, Texas to find work in the refineries. It was there that he met the love of his life, Juanita Aguilar, and married her on August 31, 1956.

As a guitar player and lover of music, he joined the choir at Our Lady of Guadalupe church and became a lifelong member. Later in life, it was his honor to become a guitarist for the St Joseph's church choir. He shared his passion for the guitar by giving lessons to anyone who wanted to learn, free of charge. Juan enjoyed hunting on his ranch and fishing with his son.  He also loved watching the Dallas Cowboys with family.

As a skilled carpenter, he worked as a contractor for 25 years before retiring from Ameripol Synpol after 20 years. He was a member of the Labor Union for 12 years and a member of the Carpenters Local (Port Arthur) for 35 years.

Juan was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife of 65 years, Juanita Aguilar Cuellar; brothers, Felipe and Reyes Cuellar; sisters, Maria Refugio Serna, Antonia Ruiz, Andrea Rocha, Felicitas Villarreal; nephews, Marcos Serna Sr. and Marcos Serna Jr. and son-in-law, Matthew Huch.

Juan is survived by his son, Juan R. Cuellar, Jr. and his wife, Erin of Nederland; his three daughters, Lidia Martinez and her husband, Edward of Blanco, Texas, Martha Baker and her husband, Brad of Austin, Silvia McClain of Beaumont; his son-in-law, Kerry McClain; his grandchildren, J. R. Cuellar III and his wife Jessamyn, Anthony Martinez and his wife Caty, Natalie Hernandez and her husband Tyler, Phillip Martinez and his wife, Kelsi, Victoria Ledesma and her husband, AJ, Elise Mueller and her husband Andrew, Luke Huch, Ryan McClain, Joshua McClain and Marisa McClain as well as his great-grandchildren, Jared Fletcher, Julia Rose Cuellar, Adelaide Hernandez, Coraline Jane Hernandez, Gideon Hernandez, Emma Martinez, Grant Martinez, Jay Martinez, Logan Mueller, Lily Mueller, Aunalee Huch, Aurabella Huch and brother in law, Patrick Aguilar.

In keeping with his final wishes, Juan returned to his beloved hometown of Hebbronville, Texas where a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Our Lady of Guadalupe; then he was laid to rest at New Hebbronville Cemetery.

A 11:00 AM Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2022 in Thompson Memorial Chapel at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home, with a gathering of family and friends from 10:00 AM until service time.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Father Fernandez Scholarship Fund at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Port Arthur, Texas or the American Cancer Society.