Guillermo "Memo" Alcala Barrera

Guillermo Barrera, 82, passed away at his home on Friday, April 19, 2024. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Tuesday, April 30 at 9 am, with burial and military honors to follow at Central TX State Veteran’s Cemetery. A visitation will be held the evening prior from 6-8 pm at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Killeen.

He was born in Brackettville, TX to Fidel and Hermila Barrera. Guillermo was known to those who loved him as “Memo” or “Willie”. He attended and graduated from school in Brackettville, TX. Upon his graduation in May of 1959, he chose to enlist into the United States Navy. He entered the Navy in December of 1959. Guillermo’s service began at the US Naval Station in San Diego, CA, where he served on the USS Marshall (676) Fletcher class destroyer and the USS Wilhoite (397) Edsall class destroyer escort. While serving his country, his travels took him to Hawaii, Antarctica, New Zealand, and Japan. He always said he would have loved to travel back to New Zealand, it was the place he liked the most in his Navy travels. Guillermo received his Honorable Discharge in December of 1963 as an ENFN Engine Fireman. Upon his discharge he returned home to Killeen, TX, hitchhiking his way from California to Texas. Once he arrived in Killeen, he began working in construction for Goodnight Homes and Sharping Construction. He later worked for Barrera & Sons construction alongside our father and brothers. Later, he began working for McCarty Construction in Austin, and traveled to several states throughout the US. Guillermo retired and returned home and became one of the primary caregivers of our beloved mother, Hermila.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fidel and Hermila Barrera; younger brother, Fidel “FF” Barrera; nephew, Michael P. Medina; brothers-in-law, Frank Medina and Arthur Chavarria; several grandparents, aunts and uncles.

He is survived to honor and cherish memories of him by sisters, Veronica “Betty” Barrera of Killeen, TX, Nora “Sherry” Medina of Lampasas, TX, and Patricia Chavarria of Mansfield, TX; brother, Alfonso Barrera (Elida) of Leander, TX; sister-in-law, Marisela Barrera of Killeen, TX; aunt, Dora Alcala and uncle Arminio Alcala, both of Del Rio, TX; numerous cousins, nine nephews, one niece, fourteen great-nephews, eight great-nieces, one great-great-nephew and one great-great-niece, that Guillermo loved and cherished as his own.