Antonio H. Reyes

Antonio H Reyes, age 80, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away on June 10, 2026. He was born on October 24, 1945 to parents Leon & Maria Reyes. He was married to Eva Reyes on March 12, 1965, in Corpus Christi.

Tony, went on to work as a Rig Welder for 42 years, when he eventually retired in October 2018. At 72, he decided to “retire”—which, for him, simply meant trading one kind of hard work for another. He launched Leon’s Mesquite Grill Food Truck, proudly named after his dad, and ran it for five years. His cooking was so good and so in demand that family members were often lovingly recruited to help work. And when it came to the food truck, one thing was certain: his BBQ beef ribs were the “best seller.” Even after selling the food truck, he never truly slowed down. He kept busy building fire pits, taking on projects, and, of course, continuing to cook up meals that brought family together. Dad never met a stranger; he just met friends he hadn’t talked to yet.

He loved fishing, cheering on sports, and adding a little excitement to life with a trip to the casino, the bingo hall, or a well-placed bet on a game. If there was a scoreboard involved, chances are he was interested. He especially loved cheering on his grandsons and great-grandchildren at their sporting events. He volunteered in the church, cooking fish on Good Friday, and helped build the church barbecue pit along with David, his son in law. He was also deeply respected in the welding community, where he was known not only for his skill, but for generously sharing advice and mentoring new welders.

He is preceded in death by Leon & Maria Reyes -Parents, Elisa (Licha) Soto – Sister. He is survived by spouse Eva Reyes of 61 years. Children: Kristin & David Iglesias, Brenda & Mario Guevara, Mark & Marie-Eve Reyes. Grandchildren: Nikki & Santos Reyes, Jonathan & Katrina Iglesias, Anthony & Adrian Reyes. Great grandchildren: Ava & Alexis Nava, Nathan & Luke Iglesias, Ezequiel Reyes. Siblings: Oralia Rios, Olivia Reyes and Angelita Reyes.

One of the many things his family and friends will always remember is his familiar reminder: “Okay, now let’s give thanks, “Thank you, Jesus.” Those words reflected the gratitude, faith, and warmth he carried throughout his life. We are truly blessed to have a man like Tony in our lives. The memories he gave us will forever be one of life’s greatest gifts.