Rev. Samuel H. Gonzales, Sr.

June 20, 1933 - July 17, 2023

Rev. Samuel Henry Gonzales, "Brother Sam," was born June 20, 1933 in Dallas. Texas. He is survived by his beloved wife Dora Solis Gonzales; they were married on April 20, 1953, in Rockwall, Texas. They recently celebrated 70 years of marriage.

They have four children, Samuel H. (Juanita) Gonzales Jr., Rudy Solis Gonzales, Doralynn Gonzales Pecina, and Mark D. (Acacia) Gonzales. Bro. Sam and Sis. Dora had 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Rudy. He survived by 3 of his siblings: Elizabeth Garza, Armando Gonzales, and M. Elena Castillo. He his preceded in death by his siblings: Gilberto Robles, Ezekiel Gonzales, Eloisa Gomez, Adiel Gonzales, Rudolph Gonzales, and Benjamin Gonzales.

As a young child, Bro. Sam was taken out of school to work the fields as a migrant farmer traveling state to state with his family picking cotton, tomatoes, cucumbers, and beets to support their large family. As a teenager, he and his brothers boxed in the Golden Gloves in Dallas. At the age of 23, Bro. Sam was saved in 1956 under the ministry of Rev. Grady Barnett. He and Dora attended the West Dallas Congregational Methodist Church (CMC) and made lifelong friends with local CMC missionaries and ministers.

From 1962-1970, Bro. Sam and Dora attended the Free Methodist church in West Dallas under pastor Rev. Jesse Esquivel. He obtained ministerial training under Rev. Snyder of the Free Methodist Conference. He and Sis. Dora were the youth ministers at the church where he developed a love and a strong belief in youth summer church camps.

Bro. Sam and Sis. Dora pastored Conroe St. for many years and he worked outside the church to support his family under Richard Smith, owner of Select Printing, in Oak Cliff. Bro. Smith was his mentor.

In 1972, Rev. William (Lavern) Weeks asked Bro. Sam to assist him in pastoring the Conroe St. CMC Navajo Mission in West Dallas; as Bro. Weeks and his family prepared to move their ministry to the Navajo reservation.

In 1977, Bro. Sam was ordained with Rev Dewayne Jackson under the North TX CMC Conference in Garland, Tx.

Around age of 46, Bro. Sam began working at Methodist Central Hospital in Dallas, as an A/C and Heating maintenance worker. He retired about 20 years later at the age of 66. After his professional retirement, he continued his ministry outreach in East Dallas. Bro. Sam had a Homeless Men's ministry for 7 years at the East Dallas church. This included a hot meal and dessert made by Sis. Dora every Thursday.

Bro. Sam was one of a kind. He was a devoted husband, a loving dad and grandpa, a brother, and a friend. He was a great example to all who knew him. When he was wrong, or made a mistake, he admitted it and made it right. A humble and faithful servant; a godly man. His children never heard him say a bad word. And he always smiled. We will miss you dad…until we meet again.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Friday, July 21, 2023 at Congregational Methodist Church of Grand Prairie, 1310 S. Beltline Rd, Grand Prairie, Texas 75051. A Chapel Service will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, July 22, 2023 at Jeter & Son Funeral Home, 4830 W. Illinois Ave., Dallas, Texas 75211. Chapel doors will open at 10:00 AM. Graveside Service & Interment will be at 1:00 PM, Monday, July 24, 2023 at Laurel Land Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas.