Amarillo—Deacon Andres “Andy” Gonzalez, a former Diocesan Pastoral Center employee who was involved with prison ministry since his ordination to the Permanent Diaconate, passed away Aug. 17. He was 67 years old.
Mass was celebrated Aug. 22, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Bishop Patrick J. Zurek, presiding, with priests of the Diocese of Amarillo concelebrating and deacons of the Diocese of Amarillo assisting.
Andres “Andy” Gonzalez was born on Feb. 23, 1957 in Friona, the fifth child of Delfina and Guadalupe Gonzalez. He graduated from Plainview High School in 1976 and married the former Esmeralda “Lala” Recio on Aug. 26, 1977 at Sacred Heart Church, Plainview.
After their marriage, the couple moved to Colorado and later to Plainview before settling in Amarillo in 1986. Prior to his ordination, Deacon Gonzalez was employed in a few industries, including radio and driving a truck. He served as a musician at several parishes, including St. Laurence Cathedral (now St. Laurence Church) and Blessed Sacrament Church, both in Amarillo; and, at St. John the Evangelist Church, Borger. He was hired for the maintenance department at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in April 2007 and remained employed at the DPC through June 30, 2024.
Deacon Gonzalez was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate by Bishop Patrick J. Zurek on Sept. 30, 2011 at St. Mary’s Cathedral and served at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Amarillo. He began his involvement with prison ministry in 2009 and began serving at various Texas Department of Criminal Justice units in 2015.
According to his family, Deacon Gonzalez was a gifted guitar player and singer who would serenade his wife and family with music every chance he could. He was a blessing—bilingual, musically inclined who really found his calling in life.
Deacon Alvin Loveland, involved with prison ministry in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston said of Deacon Gonzalez: “It is a sad day for the diaconate and correctional ministries, but a glorious day for those souls he has helped in his life. Rest in peace my friend.”
Deacon Gonzalez was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; four brothers, Pablo Gonzalez, Johnny Gonzalez, Gordy Gonzalez and Nena Lerma; and two sons, Nick Gonzalez and Adam Gonzalez.
Survivors include five daughters, Bonnie Spencer, Jennifer Gonzalez, Kayla Melgoza, Kimberly Moreno and Desiree Mason; two sons, Kaleb Spencer and Melvin “Andy” Mason; two brothers, Juan Estaban Gonzalez and Jose Maria Gonzalez; a stepbrother, Joe Sanchez and his wife Raquel; three stepsisters, Maria Eugenia Sanchez, Juanita Sanchez and Veronica Sanchez; 20 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.