Eleanor Winifred Raymond Wetegrove

Eleanor Winifred Raymond Wetegrove November 24, 1923 – June 16, 2015 Eleanor Winifred (Winnie) Raymond Wetegrove passed away June 16, 2015. She was born November 24, 1923 to Edward Charles and Lenora C. Raymond, at the main house on the Raymond family’s Las Majadas Ranch, just outside of Raymondville, Texas. She graduated from Raymondville High School in 1941. While Winnie was attending the University of Texas at Austin in 1941 and 1942, her fiancée, Herman Joseph Wetegrove, was called into the US Navy as an ensign in 1943. Eager to help the war effort, Winnie worked as a chemical assistant on a synthetic polymer project in Houston, Texas. Winnie and Herman were married on June 24, 1944 in Miami, Florida, as he was still commissioned in the US Navy. After the end of WWII, they both re-enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin and both graduated in 1948. Winnie remained an avid Longhorn fan and a supporter of the University throughout her life. From 1950 to 1973 Winnie and Herman lived in Corpus Christi. During that time, Winnie was involved with the Campfire Girls, National Little League baseball, St. Patrick School room mother program, student field trip driver, Cotillion, Junior League, Pan American Roundtable, Petro Club, Holy Family Guild, Yule Toy Board, Neighborhood Youth Corp., Lamar Park Garden Club, St. Patrick Altar Society, and numerous bridge clubs. As school board presidents at St. Patrick School, Herman and Winnie were instrumental in getting the cafeteria annex constructed. After Winnie and Herman moved back to the family ranch, Las Majadas, in August 1973, Winnie immediately became involved with numerous associations in Raymondville. She served on the school board, worked with the Wild in Willacy Organization, was involved with Raymondville Historical Society, and donated several historical pieces of ranch equipment to the Raymondville- Willacy County Museum. She served as Grand Marshall of the Raymondville Centennial celebration in 2004. At the 2006 Border Fest, a commerative brick was laid in her honor at the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame and in 2014 she was chosen as the first recipient of the Raymondville Chamber of Commerce and Willacy County Pioneer Days “Pioneer Family” award. In 2010, Winne welcomed the opportunity to be closer to family and friends, and moved back to Corpus Christi, Texas. Upon returning to Corpus Christi, Winnie resided at Trinity Towers, where she reunited with many friends from her Corpus Christi years. She is preceded in death by her husband, Herman Joseph Wetegrove, her parents Edward Charles and Leonora C. Raymond, her sister, Frances J. Raymond Martin and her husband, John O. Martin, her half-sisters, Maydelle Hoover and Doris Trachta, her brothers and sisters- in- law, Dr. John F. Wetegrove, Dorothy Wetegrove, Charles William Wetegrove Sr., Clarence Adolph Wetegrove Sr., and Sara Wetegrove. She is survived by her sons, Charles Edward Wetegrove, Joseph Michael (Jackie) Wetegrove, Raymond Frederick (Lisa) Wetegrove, John Patrick Wetegrove, and Gregory Herman Wetegrove, and her grandchildren, Gwyndolann Marie Wetegrove (Chris) Richter, Charles Thomas Wetegrove, Jennifer Marie Wetegrove (Jason) Wiehrdt, Jessica Ann Wetegrove (Philip) Ulary, Janelle Eleanor Wetegrove, Raymond Philip Wetegrove, Donald Nicholas Wetegrove, and Alexandra Michelle Wetegrove, and one sister in law, Irene Grosbeck Wetegrove, eight (8) great-grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was affectionately known as Momma Hootie to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Winnie was very proud of her heritage as her linage from both parents played an integral role in the early development of the Rio Grande Valley. Her mother, Leonora Cavazos, was a descendent of Jose Narciso Cavazos, who received the largest Spanish land grant ever made in South Texas— San Juan de Carricitos— in 1792 from the King of Spain. Her paternal great grandfather was Nathaniel Charles Raymond, who served as confidant and aide to General Edward Burleson and fought with General Burleson during the Texas Indian Wars. After Nathaniel moved from Mississippi to Texas in 1837 and married Lucinda Riggs at Washington-on-the- Brazos in 1838, he put his education to good use and served as Secretary of the Senate for the newly formed Republic of Texas. Her grandfather, Edward Burleson Raymond, worked as a cowboy for Captain Richard King, and later became the first foreman of King’s El Sauz Division. He eventually founded Raymondville in 1904. As a girl growing up in the brush country, Winnie became a skillful rider and an expert on South Texas brush country flora and fauna. She grew familiar with the behavior and character of South Texas wildlife. From her girlhood in the South Texas brush country, Winnie gained a deep appreciation for the native birds and animals of South Texas. She was a lifetime University of Texas Exes member and Longhorn football fan. Winnie loved people. Whenever she met people, she greeted them with a kind, genuine inquiry as to how they and their families were. She treated everyone with concern, dignity, warmth, and kindness. She was a true lady. The family would also like to thank Azalea Romero, Diana Dominquez, and Maria Rodriquez for their special kindness towards Winnie. A rosary will be held at 7pm Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 464 S. 1st, Raymondville, Texas 78580. Funeral services will be celebrated at 10:30am, Wednesday, June 24, 2015 also at St. Anthony Catholic Church followed by a graveside service at the Raymond family plot at the Raymondville Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers will be, Chris Wetegrove, Dan Wetegrove, Tommy Rains Jr., Michael Scott, Mark Brown, and Gary Palousek. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Winnie’s name to St. Anthony Catholic Church or their favorite charity. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Duddlesten Funeral Home, 604 W. Hidalgo Ave., Raymondville, Texas.

Eleanor Winifred Raymond Wetegrove

November 24, 1923 - June 16, 2015

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Eleanor Winifred Raymond Wetegrove

November 24, 1923 - June 16, 2015

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