Juan Mario Saenz, 70 years of age, passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside in a San Antonio hospital on October 26, 2023. Mario was born on March 10, 1953, in Freer, Texas. He was a high school graduate of Freer High School Class of 1972. He began working for Mobil Oil in Edna, Texas and worked throughout the West Texas and South Texas areas for 37 years until his retirement from ExxonMobil in 2009. Mario had many hobbies that included traveling, gambling, watching the Houston Astros and the Dallas Cowboys. He enjoyed spending time at the ranch, above all his hobbies, he treasured his wife and family whom he adored with all his heart. He was preceded death by his father, Diego Saenz Sr.; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; father-in-law, Lloyd Vaughn Sr.; and his mother-in-law, Anita Vaughn. Mario is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Mary Lou Vaughn Saenz; one daughter, Marissa V. Saenz; two sons, Juan Mario (Darcie) Saenz Jr. and Daniel Saenz Sr. all of Freer; his mother, Criselia R. Saenz of San Diego, Texas; one brother, Hector (Vianna) Saenz of Alice, Texas; half-siblings, Eva (Javier) Perez of Laredo, Texas, Horacio (Rebecca) Saenz of Orange Grove, Texas, Anna (John Barton) Saenz of Freer, Jose “Joe” (Margo) Saenz of Round Rock, Texas, Maribel (Arnold) Liguez of San Antonio, , Amanda (Jason) Carrloa of Leander and Diego (Irisbel) Saenz Jr of Freer; his grandchildren Kristen Alvarez, Kylah Saenz, Daniel Saenz Jr. Devyn Saenz; five aunts, Angelita (Vicente) Guerra of Corpus Christi, Texas, Simona Reyes of Freer, and Gloria Reyes of Robstown, Texas, Emily Saenz, and Thelma Saenz, both of Freer; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends. Family will received friends and relatives on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at 5 p.m. at Rosas Funeral Home in Alice with a holy rosary recited at 7 p.m. that evening. A funeral mass was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday November 1, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Freer. Burial followed at Hahl Memorial Park Cemetery of Freer. Serving as pallbearers were Juan Mario Saenz Jr., Daniel Saenz Sr., Armando Gonzales, Fidel Vela Jr., John Jesse McAnear, Roy Salinas, Michael Barnes and Eulogio Espinoza III. Honorary Pallbearers were Romeo Barrera Sr., Tom Flood, Marty Perez, Deyvn Mario Saenz, Daniel A. Saenz Jr., Carlos Garza, Frank Vega, Roy Canales Sr., and Henry Fletcher, Raul Ramirez and Ruben Munoz. The family of Juan Mario Saenz Sr. would like to extend heartfelt, gratitude to his Cardiologist, Dr. William Wu of San Antonio, Texas for his many years of compassion and care.
