Felisa Leal

    Felisa Leal of O’Donnell entered her eternal rest and went into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 8, 2021. Felisa was 89.  
    Felisa was born in Cadereyta Jimenez, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on October 1, 1931 to Jesus and Salomé Montemayor.  She was raised in Mexico with her brother Aureliano and sister Octavia.  They all enjoyed getting into the family Model T with their parents and traveling to the Mexican coast for vacations.  
    She married Daniel O. Leal on November 21, 1948. Their first home in Mexico had a dirt floor and was on a small farm they owned.  Ultimately, they saved enough money to buy a modest home in Cadereyta, Nuevo Leon.  Felisa and her husband worked on their farm in Mexico for several years until a long drought caused them to look to the United States for a better life.  In the fall of 1962 they came to the United States with their five children. In the United States they worked as migrant farm workers picking cotton in Texas and traveling to Ohio and Indiana to pick tomatoes for Del Monte.  
    Felisa and her husband ultimately settled in O’Donnell, Texas where they had two more children.  In O’Donnell, the family hoed cotton in the summer and Felisa’s husband worked at the Woolam Gin, the O’Donnell Compress, and as the nightwatchman for the O’Donnell Stock Show.  Felisa provided a second income for the house by working as the custodian for the First National Bank of O’Donnell for several years. 
    In O’Donnell she and her husband raised all of their children and encouraged them to study hard in school, respect their teachers, and get an education so that they could all have a better life.  
    Felisa accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior in her early forties.  Her decision to accept Christ became a tremendous blessing to her family.  Felisa enjoyed spending time at the Iglesia Bautista in O’Donnell.  One of the ways Felisa spread the light God gave to her was through her excellent cooking.  She especially enjoyed making dozens of tamales at Christmas time to give away to family, friends, and neighbors.  Felisa loved all of her church family and her good friends in O’Donnell.  Felisa thought of them often and with great fondness.  
    Felisa had a great sense of humor and a wonderful life.  Her family and friends will miss her gentle touch and her hugs.  
    Felisa was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel O. Leal, on May 24, 1994.  
    Felisa is survived by her daughter Maria Diaz of Uvalde, Texas, Argentina Mendez of Amarillo, Texas, Daniel Leal, Jr. of Amarillo, Texas, James Leal of Seguin, Texas, Rodrigo Leal of Lovington, New Mexico, Senaida Johnson of Killeen, Texas, George Leal, and all of their families which includes 16 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.  Also left to cherish Felisa’s memory is her sister, Octavia Cepeda, and several nieces and nephews who live in Mexico.  
    A viewing for Felisa Leal will be at Combest Funeral Home, 510 8th Street, O’Donnell, Texas, on Thursday January 14, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  A church service will be on Friday January 15, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of O’Donnell, Texas, located at 701 Standefer St. in O’Donnell, Texas.  The Church services will be followed by graveside services at Lamesa Memorial Park Cemetery in Lamesa, Texas.  The funeral will be officiated by Pastor Lee Gamez and Pastor Taylor Wood.
– Press-Reporter obituary services