Ernesto Vergara Jr, aged 98, passed on in Life on January 7, 2025 to be with his wife of 64 years Nora Elena Martinez in their heavenly home.

Ernesto (Ernie) was born on May 4, 1926 in San Ygnacio, TX to Ernesto Vergara, Sr. and Florinda Palacios de Vergara.  He was the third of three sons, the first being Jose and the second Refugio.  At a young age he moved with his family to Laredo TX, where he attended elementary, middle school, and high school.  He graduated from Martin High School in 1944.

He progressed into the work force shortly after high school until September1950, when his country called him to duty in the US Armed Forces, US Army, during the Korean Conflict.  He remained state-side, helping train fellow soldiers for deployment to the Korean Peninsula while stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, Fort Riley, KS and Fort Bragg, NC.  He served the needs of this country until September  1952.

After completing his military service he then chose to continue serving his country as a government civil servant, work for US Customs, Department of the Treasury (now Customs and Border Protection).  At around that time he was introduced by friends to the Love of his Life, Nora Elena Martinez.  They determined they couldn’t live without each other, so he and Nora married on May 28, 1955.  They initially lived in Monterrey, NL, Mexico where Ernesto worked for US Customs in what was then known as the “Bracero Program.”  It was there they initially began to raise their three children, Nora Alicia, Ernesto Javier, and Gerardo Alfonso.  In the intervening years he relocated his family to Brownsville, TX and Falcon Heights, TX, where he retired in 1987 after serving 37 years in government service.  He and Nora relocated to Laredo, TX.  Nora preceded him to their heavenly home in December 2019.

Ernesto is survived by his three children, Nora, Ernesto J, and Gerardo; his 8 grandchildren, Michael, Isaac Jr, Ernesto, Roberto, Ricardo, Angela, Sarah and Daniel; his 6 great grandchildren, Sophia, Beatrice, Emma, Maximus, Catalina, and Ricardo Jr.  We, your family, appreciate the time spent with you, Dad, and hope we made/will make you and Mom proud.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 9:00 am to 11:30 am at Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services. A chapel service will begin at 11:00 am. Inurnment will follow at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the United States Army Honor Guard and the American Legion Post 59.

Funeral arrangements are by Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services, 1320 Trey Dr., Laredo, Texas 78041 (956) 723-3611. For your convenience, you may leave your condolences to the family online at www.freddickey.com

To plant a tree in memory of Ernesto Vergara Jr, please visit our Tribute Store.