Inez Y. Lerma

Inez Y. Lerma, beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend passed away and went to join her Lord and Savior and the love of her life, her husband, Ralph G. Lerma, on February 9, 2024, at the age of 97, at an assisted living facility in Corpus Christi, TX. Inez was born on October 1, 1926, to Irineo and Gregoria Ybarra. She grew up on a small farm in Ricardo TX. While living on the farm, she met a young soldier who would become the love of her life and they married in 1943.

Ralph and Inez spent their lives raising their family and serving the Lord by becoming active members of Our Lady of Good Council Catholic Church. Inez served her church as a Eucharistic Minister, as well as a member of the Alter Society, the Guadalupanas, and the Columbian Ladies. She and Ralph were also active in the American Legion. Inez took an active role in all of her children’s activities as a PTA member and leadership roles in Little League, Camp Fire Girls, and Boy Scouts. She and Ralph started a family business, Central Plumbing and Heating where she served as office manager until her retirement in 2001. Inez was devoted to her Savior, her husband and her family. She was a talented seamstress and an excellent cook and baker. Her annual Tamaladas were legendary for the quality and quantity of tamales made with so much love.

We were blessed by her sense of humor and her ability to ease the tension during challenging moments in life. Though she will be dearly missed, we know she lived a full, happy and faithful life devoted to our Lord and Savior and praying the Holy Rosary daily.

Inez was preceded in death by her parents, Irineo and Gregoria Ybarra, her husband Ralph G. Lerma and siblings, Juan Ybarra, Petra Martinez, Irene Trevino, Idolina Heras, Isabel Ramos, Isaura Luna, Isidoro Ybarra and Irineo Ybarra Jr. 

She is survived by her siblings, Ignacia Quinones, Virginia Marking (Darrel), Hilda Flores, and Israel Ybarra (Mary Lou); her children Charles R. Lerma (Irma), of Burnet, TX, Benjamin G. Lerma, of Rivera, TX, Norma L. Leal (Gilbert), of Calallen, TX, Margaret S. Lerma, of Corpus Christi, TX and Joseph I. Lerma (Susanna) of Harlingen TX; grandchildren, Laura Bustamante (Amaro), Linda Salinas (Lamar), Lea Perez (Omar), Thelma Flores (John), Tammie Lerma, Nicole Gunn, Madeleine Lerma, Melina Lerma, and Miranda Lerma; great grandchildren, Amaro Bustamante III, Amanda Bustamante, Alexa Bustamante, Aris Salinas, Aiden Salinas, Adam Perez, Alleyne Perez, Carson Flores, Colbie Flores, Kenedy Lerma, Jackson Kind, Logann Gunn and Porter Richardson; and numerous extended family members.

Honoring the memory of Inez as Pallbearers are Amaro Bustamante III, John Flores, Omar Perez, Adam Perez, Lamar Salinas, and Aiden Salinas

Honorary Pallbearers will be Amaro Bustamante Jr., Jackson Kind, Porter Richardson, Bryan Luna, and Daniel Garza

The family would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the staff at Elan Assisted Living for the compassionate and loving care they provided to our mother.

Funeral services have been entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary in Kingsville, TX. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 pm on Friday, February 16, 2024, with a rosary recited at 7:00 pm at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at Our Lady of Good Council Catholic Church. Graveside services will follow at Resthaven Cemetery.