Refugio Vergara

Refugio “Cuco” Vergara, 88, passed away peacefully on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, at a local hospital. He was a beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend. His wonderful sense of humor, friendliness, attentiveness, and compassion will be missed by all who knew him. Mr. Vergara was born in San Ygnacio, Texas, and spent his boyhood swimming and fishing in the Rio Grande. He also attended Laredo schools during his youth and graduated from Martin High School in 1944. He worked for many years as a salesman in various downtown Laredo stores and sold insurance for the American National Insurance Company. For over 30 years until his retirement, he worked as a manager and buyer for the men’s shoe department at Joe Brand, a job that produced many lasting friendships among co-workers and customers. During his time as a buyer at Joe Brand, he successfully introduced unique product lines to both his U.S. and Mexico customers, an achievement that demonstrated his astute marketing skills. His advice to young people was to learn to speak Spanish well and dress sharply if they wanted to succeed in life. Mr. Vergara was preceded in death by his parents, Ernesto and Florinda Vergara; his beloved wife of 54 years, Dora R. Vergara; sons Francisco E. Vergara and Victor M. Vergara; brother Jose T. Vergara and his wife Eva Vergara; cousin Victor P. Vergara and his wife, Lamar Bruni Vergara; brothers-in-law Daniel Ramirez and Francisco Ramirez; sister-in-law Irene Alcocer and her husband Hugo Alcocer; sisters-in-law Emma Simpson and Luz Maria Portugal Ramirez; nephew Victor (Teté) Vergara and niece Cathy Simpson Bredehoeft. He is survived by son Ricardo R. Vergara, daughters Dora (Carlos) Flores and Veronica (Henry) Torres; brother Ernesto (Nora) Vergara; grandchildren Carlos E. Flores, a local attorney, Florinda (Nathan) Brown of San Antonio, Meagan Kitchy of Pennsylvania, and Francisco Connor Vergara of Houston; great-grandchildren Carolina and Santiago Flores and Ilan and Joaquin Brown; brother-in-law Glen D. Simpson and sister-in-law Celia Ramirez, as well as other relatives and numerous friends. A vigil will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hillside Funeral Home Chapel. A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Friday, February 8, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. from Hillside Funeral Home to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. A mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. Interment will follow at the family plot of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. If you would like to sign the guestbook or send private condolences, you may do so at www.hillsidefuneral.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Hillside Funeral Home, 310 Hillside Road.