Ramon R. "Ray" Casares

Ramon R. “Ray” Casares, with his spouse and family members by his side, peacefully passed February 6, 2023 at seventy-four years of age. He was born to the late Ramon R. Casares, Sr. and Angelita M. Casares on March 20, 1948 in Brownsville, Texas.

Ray was a 1968 graduate of San Benito High School and attended Southmost College from 1971 to 1973. He was a Texas certified peace officer for thirty years. He served the cities of San Benito and Brownsville before joining the Texas Capital Police in Austin. He retired from the Capital Police force and returned home to take care of his grandmother. He was also a former employee of Advance Field Services, J and D Industrial, the American Red Cross, Boggus Ford, and the Cameron County Appraisal District in San Benito.

He was an avid fan of the Houston Astros, Houston Texans, and Texas Aggies. He loved playing and umpiring baseball. In his younger years, Ray traveled to Mexico to play baseball and won a homerun championship. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, and dancing. Ray was passionate about car racing and mud racing and owned his own racecar – “Bad Moon Rising”. He was instrumental in organizing and running mud races in San Benito and Los Fresnos. He also enjoyed serving his community as a volunteer in the annual H-E-B Feast of Sharing.

Ray loved Snoopy, the Peanuts character. He collected Snoopy stuffed animals and had Snoopy decals on his truck, which was his pride and joy.

He was preceded in death his parents; his brother, Ruben Casares; and his grandmother whom Ray cared for until her passing, Marcelina “Granny” Velasco.

Left to treasure Ray’s memory is his spouse of thirty years, Gloria S. Pedraza; his children, Marissa (Angel) Guerrero, Nikki (John) Reeder, Ray Rick (Dale) Casares; stepdaughter, Emily Pedraza (Grant) Orrantia; eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and brother, Mundo Casares.

Ray’s family wishes to thank Oscar Delgado and Graciela Ruiz of Bee First Home Health; Dr. Brajesh Bhatla, MD; Dr. Raquel Bolado, DO; the doctors and nurses of Valley Baptist Medical Center – Harlingen; Renal Care in San Benito; and, Su Clinica Familiar – Harlingen for their compassionate care.

As per Ray’s wishes, he will be cremated.

Memorial visitation will take place Saturday, February 11, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 6:00 p.m.

Services for Ray will conclude Saturday evening.

Click the link below "Recitation of the Holy Rosary" to view a livestream of the service.

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