Carlos Leal, Sr.

    A family funeral mass for Carlos Aurelio Leal, Sr., 69, of Big Spring, was held at 11:00 a.m. on Feb. 1 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Big Spring.
    An outdoor veteran service was held at Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Abilene.
    Arrangements were by Myers & Smith Funeral Home.
    Leal passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 after a battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
    He was born on Nov. 5, 1951 in Lamesa to Arturo and Anita Leal. After graduating from Alamo Catholic High School in Amarillo, Carlos joined the US Air Force. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic boxing team while in the military.  In 1971 he married Linda Coffey (Lopez) of Lamesa.  They had five children together.
    After serving in the Air Force, he attended Howard College in Big Spring and Sul Ross State University in Alpine, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and criminal justice.  He worked as an adult probation officer in Lubbock and Odessa, and as a juvenile probation officer in Alpine.  Carlos also was a teacher and coach in the Harlingen school district.
    Carlos was a Catholic.  He was a member of the National Guard, LULAC, and American GI Forum, and served as Brewster County Democratic chairman. 
    Carlos was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Ciria Saenz.
    He is survived by his five children, May Michelotti of Austin, Carlos Aurelio Leal Jr. of Benbrook, Belen Rodriguez of Richardson, Christina Leal of Dallas, and Francisco Leal of Denton; grandchildren; and several brothers and sisters.
– Press-Reporter obituary services