Manuela Recio Cisneros

Manuela Recio Cisneros

Manuela “Meme” Recio Cisneros reunited with the love of her life in God's Eternal Kingdom the evening of April 5, 2022. She was 91 years old.

Meme was born on Jan. 22, 1931, outside Lockhart to Bonifacio and Catarina Recio. The youngest of four children, she was the only daughter, and doted on by her three older brothers.

She married her soulmate, Monico Luis Cisneros in 1952, and together they embarked on a life of faith, love and adventure. In her quiet, steadfast way, she supported her husband's ambitions through his military career and later, a meteoric rise in local politics. She entertained Heads of State, decorated generals and dignitaries from all over the world, and she did so with grace, class and skill. Few that met her would have guessed that her greatest regret was her lack of formal education. Few would have imagined she wasn't brought up in the best finishing schools her time had to offer.

During her life, she was committed to learning – learning everything. In the 1950's, she learned to sew from a lifelong friend, and was often known to make her own clothes for many events and engagements as her husband rose in both military rank and in public esteem. Her children enjoyed cutting-edge fashion choices, because of her talent. A native Spanish-speaker, she enrolled in classes to learn English when her family was stationed in California, to give her children the best chance they could have at success. She instilled that love of learning in her six children, as well as her grandchildren, and continued to be a teacher to her great-grandchildren, her nieces and nephews and their children, and to the community whose collective hearts she had claimed as Lockhart's first Hispanic First Lady.

“Tia Nellie” believed she had few accomplishments of her own. Her rise, she believed, was because her husband rose. He would have told a different story. He said, often, that he was the man he was only because she supported, loved, scolded and centered him. In fact, while he was on a deployment in Korea, she took the initiative to buy a home for their growing family, pay every payment except the last, leaving that payment for him to make, as it was HIS home. Theirs was a love story for the ages.

Her sudden, unexpected passing leaves to treasure her memory and legacy her six children: Louis A. Cisneros, Anna Marie Cisneros Schwertfeger, Elizabeth Recio Cisneros, Dolores Kay Cisneros O’Connor, Carl M. Cisneros and Lisa Anselma Cisneros Romero, and their spouses, sons- and daughters-in-law that she treasured; her grandchildren: Christian Lee Cisneros, Joseph Luis Edward Cisneros, Matthew Alan Cisneros, Alison Nicole Schwertfeger, Lindsay Michelle Melton, Travis William Schwertfeger, Victor Jonathan Yanez, David Aaron Yanez, Lauren Davida Yanez, Patrick Ryan O'Connor, Kaitlin Marie O'Connor, Pierce Alan O'Connor, Antonio Luis Cisneros, Laura Patricia Espinoza, , Erica Michelle Cisneros, Monica Manuela Runge Beaugez and Nicholas Michael Barnes, and each of their spouses who she loved dearly; her great-grandchildren: Declan Hugh O'Connor, Isaac Xaiver Yanez, Tyler Nicholas Runge, Jayden Wade Yanez, David Victor Yanez, Braden Victor Runge, Julius Avery Yanez, Aaliyah Justine Yanez, Alexandra Evelyn Yanez, Hollisten Kade Cisneros, Mattison Rene Cisneros, Lillian Manuela Cisneros, Michael Gonzales, Nathaniel Gonzales, Mila June Garcia, Maylin Rain Garcia,  Julian Alejandro Rodriguez, and Cooper Allan Melton, Maxleigh Tyler Beaugez, Caison Noel Beaugez, Monico Lincoln Cisneros, Yavanna Zelda Espinoza, Zachary Jason Barnes and Colin Michael Barnes and Aiden Luis Cisneros and Jason Avery Reed; dozens of nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews; and a host of loving friends.

She meets in Paradise her parents, brothers, and her husband of 59 years.

The family extends their thanks to Lockhart EMS, Lockhart Fire Department, Lockhart Police Department and the staff at Seton Medical Center – Hays, for their heroic efforts.

The family will receive callers at Eeds Funeral Home, 408 S. Main, Lockhart, Texas, 78644, on  Sunday, April 10, 2022, from 2 – 7 p.m. The Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s of the Visitation Catholic Church on Monday, April 11, 2022, at 2 p.m.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are: Jesse Riojas, Bonifacio Recio, Richard Recio, Francisco Recio, Ross Alexander and Eric Alexander.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Meme’s honor to St. Mary’s of the Visitation Catholich Church, 205 W. Pecan St., Lockhart, Texas 78644, or The Salvation Army at give.salvationarmytexas.org. Arrangements under the care and direction of Eeds Funeral Home, 408 S. Main St., Lockhart, Texas 78644, (512) 398-2343

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