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Donna - Antonio "TJ" Perez Jr. passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at the age of 44. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Hawkins Funeral Home in Donna.
Antonio (TJ) Perez Jr. passed away at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX on Tuesday, February 14th, 2023. TJ was born in Weslaco, TX on August 30th, 1978 to Antonio and Ludivina Perez. TJ is survived by his father, Antonio Perez Sr.; brother, Roman Gabriel Perez; and sister, Loisa Marie Perez. He was preceded in death by his loving mother, Ludivina Perez; paternal grandparents, Andres and Luisa Perez; maternal grandparents, Manuel and Maria de Jesus Zavala; uncle, Arturo Perez; and aunts, Esmeralda Perez, Esperanza Perez and Ana Maria Perez; also his cousin Eli Alegria.
Antonio, known by his family and friends as TJ, graduated from Donna High School in 1996 in the top 10 of his graduating class. He went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Development from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. (Gig’ Em Aggies!!) After graduation, his first job was with Verizon Wireless in San Antonio, TX. He lived there a few years before he was transferred to Tulsa, OK. After working in Tulsa, he decided that he wanted to come back to the Rio Grande Valley, and started working for Hamlin Pools in Pharr, TX.
TJ made many, many friends throughout his life. His beautiful smile, infectious laughter, and charisma were very appealing to all those who met him for the first time. He was kind and respectful with everyone. He would do anything to help others! TJ loved his mom unconditionally, because she had him spoiled!
TJ was a very intellectual person. While at Donna High, he was very active in academic events. He was in the honor society, participated in UIL, represented Donna in Boy’s State, and above all, graduated with honors. TJ loved sports. He joined football and baseball in middle school, and eventually went on to play for the Donna Redskins football and baseball teams. He didn’t just love playing sports, he loved watching sports, too, and was a huge fan of the Dallas Cowboys. His favorite Cowboys players were Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman. He almost never missed a chance to watch his Aggies play, even long after he graduated. TJ loved his pet dog, Linkin, who he named after one of his favorite bands, Linkin Park. TJ also loved spending time with his younger siblings, Roman and Loisa, by playing video games and watching the latest installments to the Star Wars franchise with them. He also took any chance he could to spend time with his sister, Loisa, by watching the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe from beginning to end. His favorite superhero was, of course, Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man. And with his brother Roman, he attended a couple of Metallica concerts, they both loved that type of music. TJ was also a man of faith, and received the Catholic sacraments of Baptism, the Eucharist, Penance and Reconciliation, and Confirmation.
We would like to thank the EMTs who attended to TJ at the scene of the accident. We would also like to thank all the doctors and nurses who assisted him at Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg, TX. We are also eternally grateful and appreciative to the many surgeons, doctors, and nurses who did their very best to care for TJ’s fatal wounds while at Brooke Army Medical Center. They worked tirelessly and cared for him around the clock, and remained informative with regular updates on TJ’s condition.
Also, thank you to all the support and prayers from all his high school friends, plus friends that he met while at A&M, and the rest of the A&M family. There was such a pouring of support and prayers over Facebook, we are so appreciative.
TJ will be missed by all those that loved him.
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