Santiago O. Muñoz Jr.

Mr. Santiago O. Muñoz Jr. entered Eternal Rest on Sunday, January 7, 2024. He was born on June 12, 1936 to Mr. and Mrs. Santiago and Maria Del Refugio Muñoz Sr., in Taylor, Texas.  Mr. Muñoz is preceded in death by his Parents, Daughter, Belinda Muñoz; Grandsons, Roel Gutierrez, Richard Gutierrez; Great Granddaughter, Evangelina Gutierrez; Sisters, Santos Muñoz, Paulita Reyes, Juanita Orta, Benita Torres, Guadalupe Torres; Brother Refugio Muñoz.

Santiago devoted his time to working a full-time job and being dedicated to public service in the Mathis community. In March 2000 he retired from Texas Parks & Wildlife having worked as a Park Ranger at Lake Corpus Christi State Park for 26 years. He wasn’t ready to stay home so he continued to use his Water/Wastewater licenses to work with the City of Mathis in the Water Department until he retired in April 2018.

Santiago was the first Hispanic to join the Mathis Volunteer Fire Department in November 1966 and retired from public service in November 2006. He served the Department for 40 years total with 35 years as Fire Marshal. On his days off from the State Park you could find Mr. Muñoz around town conducting his annual building inspections and working on his fire reports for the month. He only had one hobby and that was collecting Fire Department patches which he proudly displays in a shadow box.

Santiago was proud to have implemented Fire Prevention Week in Mathis in the 70’s and he collaborated with Mathis Independent School District campus administrators yearly on providing all school children the opportunity to participate in fire prevention poster contests. He was proud to have posters advance through the local, district and state competitions. He found joy in taking the Fire Trucks to the local schools on Fire Prevention Week with his fellow department fire fighters.

Santiago and his wife Antonia were married for 66 years and they raised a family. They enjoyed many vacations together. Their favorite getaway was to Las Vegas as Mr. Muñoz would say that “there are no clocks in Vegas! It doesn’t matter what time it is!” 

Serving their uncle/great uncle as pall bearers are Joe Muñoz from Mathis, Jerry Holdiness from Mathis, Julio Muñoz from Donna, Eddie Munoz from Austin and Jimmy Reyes from Taylor, and Roland Trejo from Beeville.

Honorary pall bearers are members of the Mathis Volunteer Fire Department, The
City Of Mathis Employees and Lake Corpus Christi State Park Employees.
Mr. Munoz’s life will be celebrated with a Fireman’s Funeral.

Left to cherish Mr. Muñoz' everlasting memory are his Loving Wife, Antonia Resio Muñoz; Daughters, Delia (Rodolfo) Ramirez, Maria (Jaime) Espericueta, Antonia (Leonard) Perez, Belinda Muñoz; Sons, Refugio Muñoz (Samantha), Rolando Muñoz; 16 Grandchildren, 17 Great Grandchildren, One Great-Great Grandchild; Sisters, Otila Carrillo, Blanca Estella Trevino; Brothers, Eduardo (Elva) Muñoz, Julio Muñoz, Manuel Muñoz, Jose Luis Muñoz; Numerous Nieces and Nephews.

Visitation for Mr. Muñoz will be at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm at Dobie Funeral Home and will resume at 6:00 pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Friday, January 12, 2024 followed by Holy Rosary at 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church followed by interment at Cenizo Hill Cemetery in Mathis, Texas.