Reynaldo Hernandez

Today, we come together to celebrate the life of Reynaldo Hernandez our father, husband, grandfather, brother, and friend. A man who was gentle yet strong, humble yet full of wisdom, quiet yet unforgettable. 

Our father was born in San Benito, Texas, and raised in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico—a place that shaped his spirit and where his roots ran deep. He was the son of Jose Antonio Hernandez and Dolores Caballero, and the proud brother of Odilia, Anibal, Sigifredo, Jose Antonio, Eduvijes, and Laura.

He was a bright, straight-A student, but at 17, he made a selfless choice to move to Dallas for work. A few months later, he moved to Houston. Eventually, he found his true home in Weslaco—a city that gave him both proximity to his roots in Mexico and the chance to fulfill his dream of marrying a girl from across the border. That girl was our mother, Altagracia. Weslaco is where they chose to build their life, and marriage of 52 years.

He was the proud father of two sons, Rey Jr. and Henry, and the beloved grandfather of seven grandchildren.

His career was in life insurance, not because he was passionate about selling, but because it gave him the freedom to do what truly mattered: visit family in San Fernando every weekend, take us to the ranch, and gift us a childhood surrounded by cousins, love, and laughter. He made sure we were never far from our roots.

After our grandparents passed, and despite any danger or difficulty, if his brother Anibal called, he would go. No hesitation. No excuses. Just love. The bond he shared with his brothers was unshakable, and time spent with them—especially in San Fernando—was sacred to him. 

Our dad had a deep love for music. After hearing a neighbor play guitar, he decided to learn too. With dedication and a lot of practice—often with his friend Heriberto Villarreal —he got good. He played at church, practiced daily, and kept a harmonica with him wherever he went. His performance of El Rey was legendary in our family—especially at my brother’s wedding in Venezuela, where the whole room stood up to cheer as he sang. His final performance was this past summer in Houston, for his brother-in-law Cheto and our cousins. He later said it was the hardest time he’d ever had performing in front of family—because all of his grandchildren were watching. But knowing they were there, listening to him sing, melted his heart.

He also loved his in-laws deeply. He cherished moments with Panchita and Gregorio, enjoyed heartfelt conversations with his brother-in-law Hermilo, and always looked forward to joyful gatherings with his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. He especially loved sharing in the Thanksgiving feasts, where his sisters-in-law and our mother would cook their famous dishes. The ranch, the stories, the laughter—he felt completely at home with them.

Weslaco was his kingdom. He loved having coffee with friends, walking through Walmart and H-E-B, and knowing every familiar face in town. If he didn’t answer the phone, Mom would call the  restaurant and the staff would say, “Yup, he’s here.” 

He never said no to us. He dropped us off and picked us up from school every day. He gave us the freedom to be who we were. He was kind to our friends and never judged. He was calm, steady, and always present.

He loved our mother with a quiet intensity. He defended her, admired her, and stood by her side without fail. At their 50th wedding vow renewal, he looked her in the eyes with pride and said without hesitation, “I do.”

He was proud of us—his sons—and we always knew it. His friends knew it too. He mentioned many times that we had done a great job of picking our wives. He loved songs without lyrics so he could sing freely during our road trips. As a child, he loved fishing with his brothers in the river near their home—no fishing rod needed. And even though we reminded him often to watch his diet, he never stopped enjoying his sweets. Chocolate candies and a half bread with meat and vegetables at Whataburger were his simple joy.

On March 27th, his heart—so full of love—finally gave out. But his spirit didn’t. It lives in the music, in the stories, in our memories, and in the values he passed on to us.

Our father lived a beautiful life—rich in love, full of faith, and grounded in family. We thank him for every moment, every sacrifice, every laugh, and every lesson.

He was, and always will be, El Rey—the king of our hearts.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 with a Prayer Service at 7:00 pm at Rivera Funeral Home of McAllen. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rivera Funeral Home of McAllen. 

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