Israel Saiz

Israel Lopez Saiz of Knippa, formerly of Uvalde, went to rest with our Heavenly Father, on Thursday, August 26, 2021 in Uvalde, Texas at the age of 66. He was born on May 8, 1955 in Uvalde, Texas to Crispin Saiz and Rosa Lopez.

Israel grew up in Uvalde where he began sheep shearing at the very young age of 10, alongside his father and brothers in the Montell, Campwood and Leakey area. In 1974 at the age of 18 years he began working at Williamson Dickies Manufacturing Company. While working there he made many friends and became known to them as "Saiz".  For a brief time, he left Williamson  Dickies and worked at various ranches in Uvalde County.  He always said it was ranching that he enjoyed the most.  He later returned to Dickies and worked there for a total of 37 years before his retirement. Some of his favorite pastimes were dancing, tending to his yard, tinkering with new projects, listening to music on his front porch with his dog, Toby, barbecuing and attending his grandchildren’s sporting events.  His favorite was putting on his cowboy boots and hat and dancing. He loved to dance to all types of music, his preferred being country. He was proud of his children and everything they have accomplished.  His proudest moments were when his grandchildren graduated college and 2 entered the military.

He is survived by his mother, Rosa Anaya of Uvalde, Texas; his wife, Felipa Saiz of Knippa, Texas; daughters, Cristina Blanco and husband,  Benjamin of Uvalde, Texas, Monica Saiz Martinez and husband, Joe of Knippa, Texas; sons, Leroy Saiz of Big Spring, Texas and Adam Israel Hernandez and wife, Emma of Cypress, Texas; step daughters, Patricia Garcia and husband, Joaquin of Uvalde, Texas and Annette Flores and husband,  Edward of San Antonio, Texas; sisters, Eva Torres of Sabinal,  Texas, Janie Gonzales and husband,  Juan of Uvalde, Texas, Rosa Pacheco of San Antonio, Texas,  Ramona Saiz of Santa Ana, Texas, Ruth Ann Wright of Temple, Texas, and Susana Longoria Turman of DeRidder, Louisiana; brothers, Crispin Saiz, Jr and wife, Alicia of Uvalde, Texas and Martin Saiz of Elkhart, Indiana; 24 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; his dog, Toby; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father and brother, Santiago Saiz.

Visitation will begin on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. followed by a rosary and prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary. A mass will be held on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Xavier Reyes, Benjamin Blanco, Jr., Gabriel Reyes, Cristian Blanco, Leroy Saiz, II, Leo Bermea, Julian Bermea, Javier “JJ” Garcia, Matthew Martinez, Benjamin Blanco, Joe Martinez, Joaquin Garcia, and Edward Flores.

Honorary pallbearers will be Elias Blanco, Aiden Saiz, Aaron Saiz, Suerte “Lucky” Saiz, Joey Martinez, and Aidan Martinez.