Florentino Acevedo Jaquez, of Mason, passed away on Monday, March 6, at the age of 75. Mr. Jaquez is survived by his wife Mary Ann Jaquez of Mason, seven children: Ray Jaquez and wife Cynthia of Mason, Florentino Jaquez Jr. and wife Irma of Mason, Naomi Villarreal and husband Eloy Villarreal Jr. of Mason, Viatrice Guerrero and husband Santiago Guerrero Jr. of Mason, Phillip Jaquez and wife Aimee of Mason, Angelic Andrade and husband Sergio of Buffalo, TX and Mario Jaquez and wife Janice of Mason, a sister Audelia Cruz and husband Lupe of San Angelo, a brother Anastacio Jaquez of Mason, 15 grandchildren: Conrado Jaquez, Hamie Jaquez, Orlando Jaquez, Eloy Villarreal III, Ariel Domingo Guerrero, Santiago Guerrero III, Joshua Ray Jaquez, Michael Anthony Jacquez, Luis Gustavo Andrade, Alejandro Andrade, Trista Jaquez, Crystal Jaquez, Jessica Jaquez, Bianca Lorraine Jaquez and Brianna Andrade, and 7 great-grandchildren: Mason Jaquez, Maxon Jaquez, Jaime Rae Jaquez, Paisley Grace Jaquez, Zane Dangerfield, Tristan Jordan Jaquez and Tavarius D'Marcos Jaquez.

Florentino was born on October 20, 1941 in Purisima Coahuila, Mexico to Jose Jaquez and Josefa Acevedo Jaquez. He came to the United States at the age of 12. He worked at several different places, eventually working in Menard. While visiting in Mason he met Mary Ann Soto and it was love at first sight. They were married in January of 1961. They moved to several different places around the state where Florentino did farm and ranch work. His hard work and natural intelligence brought him to the attention of the owner of a large dairy operation. Before long Florentino was responsible for the operation of this 300 cow dairy.

Florentino and Marry Ann eventually moved back to Mason where they raised their family and Florentino worked as a fence builder. Florentino taught himself to read and write in English and he became an expert at figuring the cost of building a fence. Florentino and Mary Ann are members of Worde Aflame Church in Brady.

Visitation with the family will be Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 8, at 11:00 a.m. in the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ben Aguirre Jr. leading the service. Interment will follow in the Crosby Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers are his grandsons.