Graviel Gonzales

Graviel Perez Gonzales, age 67, of San Antonio, passed away in early evening hours of Friday, July 17, 2020, at Baptist Medical Center in downtown San Antonio.  Graviel was born on August 3, 1952 in San Antonio to Jose Mario and Santos Perez Gonzales.  Graviel grew up in the west side of San Antonio where he graduated from Lanier High School. He loved talking about his younger years growing up in the Barrio, called the Ghost Town.  It was here where he learned how to be protective of his siblings and later in life, his beloved family.

Graviel moved his family to Emporia Kansas in 1971 to make a better life for his little family. Soon after they arrived in Kansas where he started working at the Iowa Beef Packers (IBP) plant, he was so proud of himself for getting such a good paying job at such a young age in order to support his family.  Graviel worked very hard and many long hours to provide the best life he could for his family.

Graviel loved running in Marathons, he had numerous medals that he proudly showed off, he always said the last marathon he wanted to run was the Rock in Roll Marathon, unfortunately this one wish he did not get to accomplish. He also Loved bowling and competing against with his family, always hitting the highest mark if not very close to it!! He would always smile at them and tell him in “quizás la próxima vez” or “maybe next time”.

Graviel was proud of his family.  His grandchildren loved that he was always playing board games with them like checkers, they loved how their grandpa would listen to their stories they shared with him.  They loved their walks to Whataburger down the street to go eat lunch with their grandpa, the trips to the beach where he would rent bikes and go bike riding all along the beach.  They will never forget how he would play with them in the water or just relax on the sand.  The family loved how he would give his great grandchildren nick names like chief, sunshine, and black cloud. They just enjoyed being around him whether it was doing something fun or even if he would just sit in his recliner relaxing with a hot cup of coffee - just his presence was enough for them. Graviel was always calm about everything in his older years.

Graviel will truly be missed by so many people, especially his family but his legacy and the affects he had on this world will be felt for generations.

Graviel is survived by his children, Rosemary G. Perez, and husband Pilar Perez, of San Antonio, Graviel Gonzales, Jr. of San Antonio, and Monica Gonzales, and husband Jesus V Gonzales, of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren, Pamela Cantu, Priscilla Cantu, Vanessa Ortiz, Edward Veliz Jr, Samantha A Hernandez, Victoria Gonzales, Veronica Gonzales, Antonio Graviel Gonzales, Jesus Gonzales III, and Jessica Marie Gonzales; siblings, Olga Cortinas, Jose Mario Gonzales Jr, Maria Luisa Gonzales, Ignacio Gonzales and Patricia G Soto;  20 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graviel was preceded in death by his mother, Santos P. Gonzales; brothers, Julian Gonzales, Santos Gonzales and Isaias Gonzales; grandsons, Manuel Cantu Jr. and Armando Gonzales.

Funeral services for Graviel Gonzales will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, July 25, 2020 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home with Father Richard Aguilar officiating.  Rosary services will begin at 5:00 P.M., Friday evening, at the funeral home, with visitation from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M.