Alma Diana Perez Laurel

Alma Laurel passed away quietly in her home on May 27, 2015, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Alma was born in Laredo, TX, daughter of Manuel and Herminia Perez. She is survived by her mother, Herminia, loving and devoted husband of 39 years, Efrain Jesus Laurel, her siblings, Sylvia (Joaquin+) Arreguin, Clarissa (Eusebio) Castilleja, Manuel “Blinker” (Lourdes) Perez, Eliseo (Minerva) Perez, Lucila (Rodolfo, Jr.) and Gerardo Perez. She is also survived by her daughters, Clarissa (Alberto) Elizondo and Diedra Lizcano and step-children, Efrain (Jessica) Laurel, Jr., Sally (Raul) Vasquez, and Carlos Laurel. Her grandchildren, who were her pride and joy, are Jennifer (Felix) Gonzalez, Michelle (Parker) Buhr, Efrain Laurel III, Erik Laurel, Ryan Cantu, Jessica Elizondo, Roy Vasquez, Max Cantu, Michael Elizondo, Steven Laurel, Olivia Cantu, Andrea Laurel, Sofia Cantu, and Raul Laurel. She also has four beautiful great-grandchildren, Sadie, Trey, Jacob, and Ezekiel who she also adored.

Alma graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1961, where she was one of the first hispanic female members of the Texas Longhorn Band.  Upon graduation, she was a choir director at Lamar Junior High School where she was loved by hundreds of students. She also worked for the State Commission for the Blind for a number of years before becoming a special education teacher at both Milton and Ryan Elementary schools prior to her retirement.

Alma was an avid birder over the last fifteen years and was a proud member of various bird counting and identification expeditions in Texas and Canada. She will always be remembered for her tremendous love of nature and her extraordinary ability to see the beauty in everything and everyone she encountered.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Dr. Allan White, Altus Hospice, and Dr. Arturo Garza-Gongora for the professional and personal care they and their staff provided Alma and her family. Clarissa Castilleja and Sally Vasquez also spent tireless hours to ensure Alma and Efrain had everything they needed during Alma’s final days. For that, the family will be forever grateful.

The family will received friends, Friday, May 29, 2015, from 5:00p to 9:00pm at Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services, where a holy rosary was recited at 7:00pm.  Funeral services will be Saturday, May 30, 2015, at the funeral home chapel.  Chapel service will be held at 10:00am.  Interment will follow to the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be: Albert Elizondo, Michael Elizondo, Max Cantu, Ryan Cantu, Carlos Laurel, EJ Laurel, Jr., Raul Vasquez and Rodolfo Barrera.

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