Friends,

it is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my first hero.  Please, I beg you, do not say "I'm sorry" because I am not.  Here's why…  My Dad (Lou Aguirre) was born in San Angelo, Texas in 1938 to Jesus & Esther Aguirre; he was 1 of 8 boys.  Dad learned English in elementary school because he wanted to fit in & excel with the other kids.  He never finished junior high because he had to go help his Dad & brothers cut grass & pick cotton so the family could make enough money to eat.

He went on to join the Air Force & served 12 years as a B-52 mechanic.  Dad served our great nation from 1957-1969, attained the rank of TSGT (Technical Sergeant / E-6), served during Vietnam & the Cuban Missile Crisis and was stationed in Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, & Guam.  One of Dad's many claims to fame was when he was positioned at the bottom of the staircase & rendered a salute to the President of the United States of America, John F Kennedy as he arrived at the air base for a visit.  After completing three enlistments, Dad went to work for Boeing, then Six Flags over Georgia.  He would later go on to transfer to Astroworld in Houston where he helped build the Texas Cyclone & many other rides that most of Houston grew up spending their childhood on.  He finished his tour around the world at the US Post Office in the Houston Maintenance Division, where he (reluctantly) retired after 30+ years of service.

Dad entered into his first marriage with Edna, who already had six children.  After they married, they had two children, Catherine & Elizabeth.  Enda's children from before Dad (Hillary, Cliff, Joe, Gloria, Linda, & Louise) grew up loving Dad & he loved them as they were his own.  We are still in contact with Edna & her children, & they all still speak highly & reverently of Dad & miss his kind heart.  Dad's next marriage yielded 4 boys, Christopher, Michael, Marc, & Clayton.  Many of Dad's 12 children still get together today & there are talks of future engagements in the works.  Dad's final relationship was with Yolanda, & they dated for 15+ years.  Yolanda is still Mom to many of us & she is supported by her two daughters (2 more of our sisters) Rosalinda & Dawn Marie.

Our family spans across all parts of Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin, & West Texas. Some of my siblings may not have been of Aguirre blood, but he loved them & raised them as his own & they call him Dad & still weep for him today.  Please pray for the all of the Aguirre's, Cardell's, Brannon's, Huckaby's, Morris', Baker's, Esters', Morse', De Anda's, and many others who have since married off into other beautiful families.

Dad was diagnosed with dementia in late 2020, then diagnosed with cancer in early 2021.  He took a turn for the worse in July & went to be with the Lord on the morning of 16 August 2021 at 0820 hours, surrounded by family.

Dad was my first hero & he is now cancer free, pain free, and of a clear & sound mind.  He is reunited with his parents & 6 of his brothers (Benito, Benito, Jesse, Tommy, Cruz, & Frank) in heaven.  The patriarch of the Aguirre family is Dad's only remaining brother, Willie Aguirre.

Many thanks to Devotion Hospice (Andrew, Kelly, Tim, Lola, Candace, Chaplain Redfearn, Chaplain Alberto, Jennifer, Megan, & Tiffany) for taking care of my Dad at home & loving on him the way they did.  Many thanks to HCSO District 1 Deputy Lopez for putting his hand over his heart & HCSO Sgt Pugh for saluting my Dad as he was taken away under the cover of the American flag.

This, everything you just read, is why I ask that no one say "I'm sorry", because I'm not.  Our Dad lived an amazing 83 years & he had one hell of a ride.  If anyone feels lead to do so, they can make a donation in my Dad's name to any veteran or cancer organization in lieu of flowers.

#fAmilytrAdition