Dates
Gilbert (Tiki) Duran Velez III was born May 4, 1970, to Gilbert Andros Velez, Jr. and Irene Duran Velez in San Angelo, Texas. He went to his eternal home on November 17, 2025. The Rosary will be held at Johnson’s Funeral Home, Sunday November 23rd at 6pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Monday November 24th at 10am. Burial will follow at Lawnhaven Cemetery.
Gilbert’s family moved to Midland, Corpus Christie, San Antonio and Houston, Texas when he was young, but eventually came home to San Angelo, where he spent the majority of his life. He graduated from Lakeview High School where he excelled in basketball, baseball and golf, as well as academics, such as being in the National Honor Society. He left to join the army and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia where he trained as a Medical Laboratory Technician. He was honorably discharged in 1998 and came home again to San Angelo and his family. He went to work at Shannon in 2001, where he met Donna Rotan. They married in 2005 and welcomed two beautiful children into the world. In 2010, he and his brothers opened Elite Oilfield, which he helped run until he passed.
Gilbert may be best known for his love of all things sports related. He enjoyed hunting, especially varmint hunting, and fishing with his family and friends. He enjoyed playing sports when he was younger and coaching his son’s sports team. He coached basketball and helped coach football through the YMCA and baseball at Northern Little League. In the last few years, he was his son’s biggest fan at all his junior high and high school games. He also became a fan of orchestra, so he could cheer on his baby girl and her love of music. He never missed an event for his kids.
Tiki never knew a stranger. It didn’t matter if he had known you his entire life, or just met you, you were a friend. His friends were very important to him, and he loved spending time with everyone. There was always an open invitation for anyone that could join him to go anywhere or do anything. He was always up for an adventure, big or small, and was always the life of the party. He made people a priority. He wanted to help everyone, and he wanted people to know they mattered. If he couldn’t help, he knew someone that could, and he would, somehow, always make it happen.
More than anything, Gilbert loved his family. He was a devoted son and father, husband, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew. His love knew no bounds when it came to his family, especially his two children. He lived to enjoy them and everything they did. He strived to be a good role model and instill in them his faith and love for Christ. He and his family attended St. Joseph’s Church for many years and was recently attending St. Margaret’s Church.
Gilbert is preceded in death by his son Ethan, his grandparents, Max and Sarah Duran, and his grandfather, Gilbert Velez, Sr., his mother in law, Sharon Rotan, his nephew Harley Rotan. He is survived by his wife, Donna Velez, his children, Gilbert (Alex) IV and Emma Velez, his parents, Gilbert and Irene Velez, his father in law, Jerry Rotan(Judi), his sister, Erika Velez (Moses), his brothers, Lanze Velez(Florinda), Guy Velez (Brenda), and Max Velez (Jessica), all of San Angelo, his brother in law David Rotan (Donna) of Missouri; his nieces and nephews, Zak Velez (Devon), Kara Vela, Sarah Velez, Ava Velez, Matthew Velez, Kaylee Vela, Mason Velez and Zaylin Velez, Michael Cowley (Charla), Daniel Rotan (Allacia), Julia Rotan, Joshua Rotan (Kaylene); his great nephews Eli Velez, Damion Rotan, Aidyn Rotan, Harley Rotan, Haizelyn Rotan and future great niece; his best friend Roger (Naomie) Hernandez; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins that he cherished.
Pall bearers are Ruben Solis, Oscar Solis, Anthony Chappa, Corey Adams, Abelardo Santillan, and Raymond Luna.
Honorable Pall bearers include: Lanze Velez, Guy Velez, Max Velez, Roger Hernandez, Johnny Perez, Moses Vela, Gabe Velez, Jackie Lowery, Gabe Velez II, Richard Luna, Lance Guerrero, Clint Adams, Rick Cruz, Ruben Robles, Joey DE Hoyos, Zeke Franklin, Rob Moreno, Jenaro Rodrigues, Brandon Titus, Rick Perez, Miguel Duran, Don Green, Richard Rendon, John Castillo, John Montelongo, JP Boise, Kevin Kelso, Dayton Draper, Frank Arispe, Scott Collins, Mickey Scott, Jeff Cattlet, and Keith Forrest.
The family would like to thank all his friends for their unwavering support. We would also like to thank Shannon Hospital for the kind, caring staff that helped care for him. To know him, was to love him.