Thursday, January 16, 2025
Willie E. Gonzales was born on March 10, 1941, to Celia Solidad Chaffee of Morenci, AZ. He passed away from this world on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 at the age of 83.
Memorial services to celebrate Willie Gonzales’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, at Scott’s Funeral Home, 2425 E. Main Street, in Gatesville. Burial with military honors will immediately follow the service at Restland Cemetery.
Willie was raised by his grandparents, Leanor and Trinidad Estrada alongside his sister Nora. He also had two brothers, Robert Nunez and Tom Lopez. As a teenager, he grew up working hard and learned the value of perseverance and dedication while working summers with his Uncle Frank in southern California.
While in high school, he met the love of his life, Anna Bonilla. After graduating high school, Willie joined the Army and shortly after, he and Anna were married. They started their family and went on to have three children. Life began very early for them even though they were just teenagers. After serving his country, Willie and Anna began their life in Montebello, CA and then moved to Morenci, AZ, where he worked for Phelps Dodge Copper mine for 23 years. In 1987, he moved from Arizona to Pomona, CA, where he retired from Golden State Power Plant in 2006. After retirement, Willie and Anna settled in Gatesville to be near their children.
Living in Morenci, he had so many memories. He loved fishing, hunting, running, and playing basketball at Peru’s house. Every year he would take his family on extended vacations to go camping at West Fork and then would travel to Southern California to see family.
While living in Pomona, Willie would enjoy going to the horse races, traveling to Las Vegas or Laughlin, Nevada to gamble. He also vacationed in Hawaii. He would often host swimming pool parties for friends and family.
After retiring and moving to Gatesville, Willie loved spending time with his family, watching football, playing cards and dominos. He and Anna would often travel to Safford and Tucson, AZ to spend time with family.
For certain, Willie loved to be with family. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Anna; his three children, Paul and his wife, Mary, of Allen, Richard and his wife, Andrea, of Gatesville, and daughter Nancy and husband, Nick, of Gatesville; as well as his three grandchildren, Mary, Tanner, and Dariann. Willie’s legacy of strength, love, and resilience will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
