June 23, 1920 - May 18, 2014

Juanita Pineda Gaitan Lara, 93, of San Angelo passed away on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at a local care center. 

Mass will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church in Sterling City. Burial will follow in the Sterling City Cemetery under the direction of Robert Massie Funeral Home. 

Juanita was born June 23, 1920 in San Angelo, TX to Eusebio Pineda and Genoveva Pineda. She was raised by her father Eusebio Pineda in Sterling City, Texas. She was named after San Juan a Catholic Saint. Her father, who was a musician, would serenade her on her birthday, a memory she always cherished. Juanita had a very limited education due to segregation. She wasn’t allowed anything greater than an elementary level education. 

She married Jose Gaitan and from that union came four children; GilbertGaitan, Bisente Gaitan, Esther Holguin and Joe Gaitan. After 15 years of marriage, she became a widow and the only provider of her four children. Due to her limited education, she had to provide by working two jobs as a dishwasher and a house maid at the only motel in Sterling City. Because of her struggles, she was determined for her children to gain an education so that they could succeed in life. 

Besides her children, she was very passionate about her religion. She was a wonderful cook and baker. On the holidays, it was very important for her to have all of her children and grandchildren together. She would spend hours cooking. Her specialty was tamales, which she was famous for, and would work long hard hours making them to make sure there was plenty for everyone. She loved baking pies and rolls. She had very strong family values which she instilled in her family. 

After her children were grown and being widowed for twenty five years, she married Prudencio Lara, Sr in April 1975. He preceded her in death in April of 1980. Later in life, she developed her own little business selling tamales and Mexican food. She worked at it till her mid 80’s. Her hobbies included gardening, raising chickens and her dogs. 

She had three brothers, Manuel Pineda, Andres Pineda and Valentin Torres and five sisters, Aurora Bernal, Hila Medina, Jesusita Fuentes, Josefina Ramirez, and Pascuala Ramirez who have all preceeded her in death. 

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She truly loved her family and most of all she loved Jesus Christ. 

Mae Craft died in peace and with her family present on Sunday, May 18, 2014, at age 99. Born in the Tankersley community of Tom Green County on Sept. 5, 1914, Mae lived in San Angelo until a recent move to a retirement community in Abilene. Mae's parents, John and Lillian McCleery, were farmers in the San Angelo area. She had fond memories and good stories of growing up in a big happy family with siblings Irene, John, Bill, Forest, Lois and Seeley. In 1928, she married Charles N. Craft and together they survived the Great Depression and went on to raise a family. A loving and attentive mother, Mae's joy was raising her children and making a home at 720 N. Jackson St. for more than 60 years. She was known for having a beautiful yard filled with flowers and a house filled with the aroma of home cooking. She would gladly include the neighborhood kids at meal time and was known by many as "The Cookie Lady." Mae was the one all the neighbors trusted with their spare house keys and knew she would watch out for their children. She was a longtime member of Colorado and Jackson Street Church of Christ and later Southgate Church of Christ. Her love of the Lord and deep faith in God's teachings were evident in every aspect of her life. Mae is survived by her children, John and Margaret Craft of Abilene and Carolyn Marshall of Hurst; her grandchildren, Sharon Craft and Dusty Jackson, Katie and Jamar Green, Carol and Kyle Gilmore; her great-grandchildren, Griffin and Chloe Kinnard; brother and sister-in-law Forest and Rose McCleery; sister Lois Fergason; brother and sister-in-law A.S. "Mac" and Glenda McCleery; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Mae was preceded in death by parents John and Lillian Hobbs McCleery; her husband of 51 years, Charles N. Craft; her son-in-law, Buford Marshall; sister Irene; and brothers and sisters and brothers-in-law, John and Lois McCleery, Bill and Ethel McCleery, Jack and Imogene Craft and Robert Craft. Mae will be remembered for her loving spirit, her Christian example, her independent strength and her generosity. She will be dearly missed and her love and spirit will live on always in the hearts of those who loved her. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at Johnson's Funeral Home, 435 W. Beauregard Ave., San Angelo, with a viewing prior to the services at 1:30 p.m. No graveside service. There will be a reception following the service at Johnson's Funeral Home. Family and friends may sign the online register book at johnsons-funeralhome.com. "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal." - from a headstone in Ireland.