Zapata

Natividad Reyes Zapata, 94, of Rockdale died Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at Rockdale Estates & Rehabilitation.

Memorial services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, July 2, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale.

Mr. Zapata was born Dec. 25, 1927, in Rockdale to Feliciano Lombreras and Manuela (Reyes) Zapata.

He was a life-long resident of Rockdale.

He married Mauricia Montelongo on June 11, 1948, and they had just celebrated 74 years together. To this union 11 children were born.

Mr. Zapata worked as a farmer for many years and also worked at the Rockdale lumber yard where he eventually retired from.

He enjoyed telling stories of the old days to family and friends, going and taking care of the cemetery, and taking daily trips to town to get the newspaper and the mail.

Mr. Zapata liked making trips to San Antonio, listening and singing along to music, telling jokes and laughing along with them and watching baseball.

He was preceded in death by a son, Ruben Zapata; his parents, Feliciano and Manuela Zapata; two sisters, Camrne Silva and Amalia Montelongo; five brothers, Simon, Nehi, Eppie, John and Victor Zapata; and two newborn boys.

Survivors are his wife, Mauricia Zapata of Rockdale; his children, Maurilio Zapata and wife Dora of Killeen, Rosa Nunez and husband Eusebio of Hutto, Marcus Zapata and wife Janie of Rockdale, Virginia Kelsey and husband Terrance of Temple, Robert Zapata and wife Cindy of Austin, Alice Zapata of Rockdale, Terry Grimaldo and husband Joe of Temple, Irene Lopez of Round Rock, Ricky Zapata of Austin and Felix Zapata of Austin; his brothers, Butch Zapata and wife Lucy of San Antonio, Nicasia “Nick” Zapata and wife Terry of Little Rock, Arkansas, Steve Zapata and wife Mary of Rockdale; and sister, Dee Lerma of Rockdale; also, 25 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.