1950
Eleazar
2011
Eleazar Cortez
April 29, 1950 — February 17, 2011
Harlingen, TX- Eleazar Cortez, 60, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 17, 2011. He was born on April 29, 1950 in San Benito, TX to Placido, Sr. and Eva Cortez; he resided in Harlingen, TX for the past 36 years.
He graduated from San Benito High School in 1969; he earned his Associates Degree in 1971 from Texas Southmost College and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 1976 from Pan American University.
He began his career in Law Enforcement with the Harlingen Police Department in 1973. In 1981, Eleazar moved to Clute, Texas and joined the Police Department where he held numerous Patrol and Administrative position until attaining the rank of Chief of Police in December 1983. He was the first Hispanic to hold this position; he eventually moved back down to the Rio Grande Valley where he served with the Adult Probation Dept. for Willacy County. He would eventually return to finish off his law enforcement career with the Harlingen Police Dept. in 1985. Eleazar retired in 2006 after serving and protecting the citizens of Harlingen for a total of 32 years. After retiring he worked as a Captain for Wackenhut Transportation Company contracted by the U.S. Border Patrol.
Eleazar is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 36 years, Odilia M. Cortez of Harlingen; 3 daughters, Iliana (Jacob) Garza, Vanessa Cortez, and Rebecca Cortez; 2 grandchildren, Gabriela Davila and Isaiah Olivarez; 2 brothers, Juan Carlos (Irma) Cortez and Placido (Esmeralda) Cortez, Jr.; 4 sisters, Rosalinda (Gilbert) Galvan, Gracy (Danny) Quintanilla, Lupita (William) Brown and Norma (Xavier) Lopez; along with numerous nephews and nieces.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Placido Sr. and Eva Cortez; a brother, Omar Cortez; and his grandmother, Adela DeLeon.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends; who knew him as a caring and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend.
Visitation will be held Friday, February 18, 2011 from 3:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with a Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. at San Benito Funeral Home.
Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church. Interment will follow to Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito.
Pallbearers will be Juan Carlos Cortez, Placido Cortez, Jr., Gilberto Galvan, Guadalupe Reyes, Xavier Lopez, and Jacob Garza; honorary pallbearers will be Joe Cavazos, James Scheopner, Richard Turner, Andy Muniz, William Brown, Ralph E. Jones, Danny Quintanilla, and the officers of Harlingen Police Department.
You are invited to leave condolences to the family of Eleazar Cortez at www.sanbenitofuneralhome.com
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of San Benito Funeral Home, 1400 W. Highway 77, San Benito, TX (956) 361-9192.
He graduated from San Benito High School in 1969; he earned his Associates Degree in 1971 from Texas Southmost College and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 1976 from Pan American University.
He began his career in Law Enforcement with the Harlingen Police Department in 1973. In 1981, Eleazar moved to Clute, Texas and joined the Police Department where he held numerous Patrol and Administrative position until attaining the rank of Chief of Police in December 1983. He was the first Hispanic to hold this position; he eventually moved back down to the Rio Grande Valley where he served with the Adult Probation Dept. for Willacy County. He would eventually return to finish off his law enforcement career with the Harlingen Police Dept. in 1985. Eleazar retired in 2006 after serving and protecting the citizens of Harlingen for a total of 32 years. After retiring he worked as a Captain for Wackenhut Transportation Company contracted by the U.S. Border Patrol.
Eleazar is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 36 years, Odilia M. Cortez of Harlingen; 3 daughters, Iliana (Jacob) Garza, Vanessa Cortez, and Rebecca Cortez; 2 grandchildren, Gabriela Davila and Isaiah Olivarez; 2 brothers, Juan Carlos (Irma) Cortez and Placido (Esmeralda) Cortez, Jr.; 4 sisters, Rosalinda (Gilbert) Galvan, Gracy (Danny) Quintanilla, Lupita (William) Brown and Norma (Xavier) Lopez; along with numerous nephews and nieces.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Placido Sr. and Eva Cortez; a brother, Omar Cortez; and his grandmother, Adela DeLeon.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends; who knew him as a caring and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend.
Visitation will be held Friday, February 18, 2011 from 3:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with a Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. at San Benito Funeral Home.
Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church. Interment will follow to Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito.
Pallbearers will be Juan Carlos Cortez, Placido Cortez, Jr., Gilberto Galvan, Guadalupe Reyes, Xavier Lopez, and Jacob Garza; honorary pallbearers will be Joe Cavazos, James Scheopner, Richard Turner, Andy Muniz, William Brown, Ralph E. Jones, Danny Quintanilla, and the officers of Harlingen Police Department.
You are invited to leave condolences to the family of Eleazar Cortez at www.sanbenitofuneralhome.com
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of San Benito Funeral Home, 1400 W. Highway 77, San Benito, TX (956) 361-9192.
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