A funeral mass for Eliceo C. Vargas, age 77, of Brownwood, will be celebrated at 10:00AM, Tuesday July 30, 2013 in the St. Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Burial will immediately follow.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Monday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 with recitation of the Rosary beginning at 7:00.

Heartland Funeral Home of Early is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Vargas died Saturday, July 27, 2013 in the Brownwood Regional Medical Center.

Eliceo C. Vargas was born on July 5, 1936 in San Ignacio, Cerro Gordo, Jalisco, Mexico to Refugio Vargas and Romana Camarena.  He immigrated to the United States at a very young age where he took on miscellaneous jobs. He devoted 32 years to Jones Cattle Company before putting down the shovel in 2012.

In 2001, he began his battles with cancer and was victorious with most. But after fighting off three different types of cancer over a period of 13 years, the war was lost to a fourth type. He was a dedicated, hard-working individual who loved and cared for his family to the very end. His life’s experiences and thick skin made him hard to crack but his grandchildren opened a seam that brought out the father, husband, brother, and friend that we will remember.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Socorro Vargas; 8 children, Jose Luis, Luz Yamel, Ruth, Vera, Dulce, Eliceo Jr., Romano, and Socorro; 24 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren; one sister, Guadalupe Vargas and two brothers, Anselmo and Juan Vargas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Condolences can be offered to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net.