Obituary of Max Garza

Rosary for Maximo Garza Jr. will be recited at 6:00 pm Thursday, July 11, 2024 at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Abernathy, TX. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am Friday, July 12, 2024, also at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Abernathy with Rev. Brian Wood and Rev. René Perez, officiating. The family will gather to receive friends from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm Thursday July 11, 2024 at Abell Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Abernathy Cemetery under the direction of Abell Funeral Home & Flower Shop of Abernathy, TX. Following services, the Garza family will gather to receive friends and family and to celebrate Max’s life at Abernathy City Hall 811 Ave D Abernathy, TX. Maximo (Max) Garza Jr. of Wolfforth, TX went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 7, 2024 at the age of 82. Max was born on August 23, 1941, in Reynosa, Mexico to Maximo and Eduarda Garza. He grew up in New Deal, TX and attended Abernathy High School where he participated in track and field events and where he met the love of his life, Gregoria Garcia. Max and Gregoria were married on April 28, 1962, and they shared sixty beautiful years together. Max began his career in construction at Grand Western Mobile Homes in 1969. Max stayed with Grand Western Mobile Homes until 1973, when he left to pursue an opportunity as a Building Inspector with the City of Lubbock. In 1980, Max was promoted to Assistant Building Official with the City of Lubbock, and then in 1984 he became the Building Official where he managed the Building Inspection Department until his retirement in 1999. During his career, Max served on various task forces and committees such as the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), Building Officials Association of Texas, International Plumbing Code Accreditation Committee, National Academy of Code Administrators, Texas State Plumbing Inspectors Association, Texas Municipal League Legislative Policy Committee, along with other boards and commissions. In 1998, Texas Governor George Bush appointed Max to the Affordable Housing Task Force. After his retirement from the City of Lubbock, Max worked as a Contract Inspector for the cities of Shallowater, TX and Wolfforth, TX until January of 2019. Max was very involved in the community, both in Abernathy and Lubbock. He volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America and served as Little League Baseball Director and Coach in Abernathy. Additionally, Max served as President of the Parents Advisory on Bilingual Education for Abernathy Schools. Max was a parishioner of St Isidore Catholic Church in Abernathy where he served as Choir Director, Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) leader, and a member of the Parish Finance Committee. After moving to Lubbock in 1986, Max became a parishioner of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and performed numerous services for the Diocese of Lubbock as Building Inspector for the Diocese, member of the Bishop’s Building Commission, Diocese of Lubbock Building Committee, and member of the Board of Directors of Catholic Family Services. Max is preceded in death by his wife, Gregoria Garcia Garza; his parents, Maximo and Eduarda Garza; his brother, Raul Garza; and his sisters Eloisa Soto and Eustolia Garza. Max was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather who genuinely loved his family and worked hard to create a great life for them. He is survived by his five children, Christine Burns (Robin) of Wolfforth, TX, Joe Max Garza Jr. (Esmeralda) of Lubbock, TX, Rita Hiracheta (Michael) of Lubbock, TX, Ray Garza (Victoria) of San Antonio, TX, and Sara Garza of Wolfforth, Texas; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; his brother, Arnulfo Garza of Abernathy, TX. Max’s family would like to express their appreciation to The Plaza at Lubbock, The Legacy at South Plains, and Traditions Health Hospice for providing outstanding care, support and love to their parents and the family over the years.