Javier Escalante

Javier Escalante, 70, was a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. 

 Javier was born on August 13, 1953, in Fresnillo Zacatecas, Mexico to parents Javier and Dominga Escalante (both deceased). He married Maria Trinidad Villarreal (that would later give him 8 children) in 1973. Javier passed away Saturday, June 1st at Scott & White in Temple, surrounded by his wife, Maria and all of his family.

 He excelled in the construction field, with less than a high school education, a trade that he was proud of and used to remodel most of his children’s residences. He was a self-taught carpenter, electrician, and concrete expert. He worked with several companies but retired from Emerson Construction in Temple as an Assistant Superintendent after 32 years when he was diagnosed with kidney failure and could not return to work because of the toll dialysis took on him. Even after this, his work ethic never changed, and he could put most to shame when it came to the extreme summer temperatures and outside work.

 Hunting and fishing were his favorite pastimes, and when his children and grandchildren started to take it up, he was delighted. He would say to only hunt what you would eat. In his healthier days you could count on summer sausage in the winter after the deer hunts, and fish fry’s in the spring and summer when he went fishing. Lest not forget the occasional carnitas and birria when we had those cravings. He sure did love to cook but he loved to eat even more.

 Javier loved everything outdoors and cooking, but most of all he loved his family. You could always count on brisket and ribs for your special occasion no matter how sick or weak he was. He cooked as good and as hard as he worked. From the day he was born, till the day he passed he was the epitome of “WORK HARD, PLAY HARD.”

 Javier was preceded in death by his parents Javier and Dominga Escalante.

 Javier leaves behind his wife, Maria T. Escalante; 9 children, 3 daughters, Martha (Chris) Bush, Susana Escalante (Jose), and Mari Sol Escalante; 6 sons, Sergio Dominguez, Manuel (Tina) Escalante, Javier (Augusta)   Escalante, Juan Escalante, Jorge (Jessica) Escalante, and Alvaro (Oliver) Escalante; 21 grandchildren, (Sergio Jr, Karina, and Julian Dominguez), (Michael, Esmeralda, Manuel Jr, Carlos, and Emiliano Escalante), (Joe Anthony, Isabella, and Javier Escalante), (Henry, Shania, and Cheyenne Mendoza), (Eric, Giselle, and Evangeline Escalante), (Izaac, Dominic, Jacob, and Jorge Escalante) and 2 great grandchildren, Giovanni Perez, and Saint Escalante.

 Javier leaves behind many other family members and friends that became family like Bobby Jones and Steve Rodriguez. Thank you both for the many years of friendship, caring, and kindness you gave our father. We will forever be grateful to everyone for all you have done for Javier. Our hearts will forever be broken until the day we meet again.