Carlos F. Mendez
9/24/1940 - 2/7/2011

Carlos Francisco Mendez, 70, of The Colony, Texas, formerly of Galesburg, died at 4:47 a.m., surrounded by his children and loved ones, on Monday, February 7, 2011 at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, TX.

Carlos was born on September 24, 1940 in Monmouth, IL, the son of Marciano and Ramona (Adames) Mendez.  He married Belen (Lisa) Martinez on May 7, 1960 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Galesburg, IL, in which they just celebrated their 50^th anniversary.  Carlos is survived by his wife, Belen of The Colony, TX; 2 sons, Carlos A. “Squeeky”, and wife Miram Mendez of Valrico Florida and Mark T. Mendez of Dallas, TX; 4 daughters, Christine R. “Tina”, and husband Keith Patterson of The Colony, TX; Cynthia F. and husband Joel Olivares of Round Rock, TX; Mona M. and husband Ron  Sallom of Woodbury, NJ, and Mendi R. Mendez of The Colony, TX.; a brother, Ray Mendez of Galesburg, IL; and 4 sisters, Carmon Pacheco of California, Antonia (and Clemente) Mireles of Florida, Violeta (and Arnold) Gonzalez of Galesburg, IL, and Pamela Mendez of South Carolina.  Carlos is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Anthony Gorman and his wife Rachael; Daniel “Danny” Hoyt and wife Brandy; Dana Gorman, Nikki Mendez, Talia Sallom, Chase “Boo Boo” Patterson, and Nicholas Marciano Sallom; 5 Step Grandchildren, Miram Cortes, Christian Cortes, Lyric Olivarez, and ZJ Olivarez, and Eric Ortega; 3 great grandchildren, Dimitri “Baby D” Gorman, Cameron Hoyt, and Cassidy Hoyt.  He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas V. Mendez; a brother, Anthony Mendez; and his parents, Marciano and Ramona Mendez.  Carlos attended Galesburg Senior High School.

Carlos was a hard worker, working at A.J. Cokel Welding for 9 years, Dohrn’s Transfer Company for 17 years, and Admiral Corporation for 3 years.  He was the proud owner and operator of Pancho’s A-1 Ornamental Welding, which was his trade and his love.  He retired in 2002. Carlos was a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Feed the Children, and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Dallas, TX.  Carlos will be remembered for his many passions of life including the outdoors, gardening, American and Mexican history and especially the joy of his children and grandchildren.