Gabino Moreno

Gabino Moreno Jr, also known as Gabby or Gabe, passed from this life to Eternity just before noon on Friday, May 31, 2019, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston, after almost five years of kidney failure and dialysis, combined with a weak heart.

Services for Gabino Moreno Jr will be held Thursday, June 6, 2019, with viewing from 9 to 10 AM, and services at 10 AM in the chapel of Wharton Funeral Home with Brother Travis Glass officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park, with lunch to follow at Abundant Life Church in Wharton.

Gabby was born in Gonzales, Texas, on June 11, 1949, to Gabino Moreno, Sr, and Rose Vasquez Moreno, the third child of six children. He attended Gonzales schools, where he completed his education.  He was always proud to announce that his first retail job was with JC Penney and that gave him a good foundation for his future in business.  A little later in life he went to work for Perry Brothers Variety Store, which eventually brought him to Wharton in 1979. This move changed his life forever because he met and married Liz and they were married for over 39 years. She was a divorcee at that time and had a readymade family of four. That did not scare him away.  In fact, he accepted the challenge and they had a fifth child together a few years later.

His last occupation before starting dialysis was cutting and styling hair for men.  Although he was considered a cosmetologist, his customers usually called him their barber and they missed him greatly when he was forced to close his shop, Sherrill’s Hair Cuts, in 2014, due to kidney failure. He worked as a stylist for almost 24 years.

Mr. Moreno was preceded in death by his parents, Gabino Moreno Sr, and Rose Vasquez Moreno, sister Dora Morris, and brother Richard Moreno.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Dettling Moreno, daughter Carol Jean Moreno of Austin, son, Michael Sherman Moreno and wife Mandy of Wharton, son Patrick Alfred Moreno and wife Simona of Gonzales, Texas, daughter Ada Marie Moreno and husband Chris of Needville, Texas, son Christopher George Moreno and wife Bethany of Spring, Texas, and Gabriel Charles Moreno of Wharton. He also has three surviving brothers: Lupe Moreno and wife Brenda of Memphis, Tennessee, Johnny Moreno and wife Diana of Smiley, Texas, and David Moreno and wife Kathy of Austin. He is also survived by his 16 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers include Ryan Moreno, Miguel Moreno, Juan Aguayo, Barry Smith, Aaron Harrison, Nathan Dorow, and John Dettling 

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of Davita Dialysis for the care they’ve given him for the last five years and the doctors and nurses of St. Luke’s Hospital who took excellent care of him in his final days. They also wish to thank the many prayer warriors who helped support the family through so many crisis situations, especially in the last two weeks.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Abundant Life Church in Wharton to help in their recovery from Hurricane Harvey.