Gloria Juanita Liles

Gloria Juanita Liles (Juanita) passed away on August 27, 2021 in Taft, Texas.

Gloria Juanita Haley Liles (Juanita) was born in Houston, Texas, March 23, 1935, to Clay Wilburn Haley and Lillian Beatrice Holland Haley. Juanita and her family lived in the Houston area until 1969, when they relocated to Corpus Christi. 

Juanita graduated from Reagan High School in Houston in 1952. After high school, she graduated from Massey Business College. Upon graduation, she worked as a secretary for Hydril Co. in Houston until 1969. After relocating down to Corpus Christi, she worked as a secretary for Coastal States Oil and Gas, and then Valero. She was well known for her fast shorthand.

Juanita married Tommy, the love of her life, in 1954. They met at a big band dance hall in Houston, married three months later, and remained married until Tommy passed away in 2009. They moved to Corpus Christi in 1969, and also lived in Port Aransas for a number of years. While living in Port Aransas, Juanita loved long walks on the beach looking for seashells. She had quite the huge seashell collection! In the early 1980s, Tommy and Juanita started a mom-and-pop exterminating company, Rid-O-Pest.

Juanita loved her family dearly! Some of her happiest times were spent with her grandchildren and family. She also had a love for dancing, singing and playing the piano by ear. Music was always a huge part of her life. She loved to travel, and over the years she and Tommy vacationed across the United States, Mexico, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago. Many happy memories were made spending time with her grandchildren and family along the Frio River in the Texas Hill Country. Juanita loved to fly, and always enjoyed flying with her brothers in their private planes across Texas and Northern California. She also had a love of horses since childhood, and was able to relive this love through her granddaughter, Lindsay. Lastly, Juanita spent her adult life as a HUGE fan of the Houston Astros. Over the years she enjoyed attending many games at the Astrodome.

She is predeceased by her parents, husband Thomas Earl Liles, sister Elwanda Haley Enders, brothers Conrad Raymond Haley, Clay Elliott Haley, and Walter Scott Haley. Juanita leaves behind her daughter, Andrea Margot Liles and two grandchildren, Lindsay Gaffney (Reynolds) and Scott Reynolds (“The apple of her eye!”), beloved sister-in-laws, Virginia Wimberly Haley, Sylvia Liles Barnett and brother-in-laws Joe Ross Liles and Johnnie Esterak, with numerous nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved!

Juanita will be truly missed by her loving family and friends! The family extends a special thank you to Meals on Wheels and Emielda, Dr. Sarita Warrick’s office and staff, Dr. Ronald Stephens, his office and staff, Del Cielo Home Care and Harbor Hospice Team, especially Tori, Karina, and Jon who were such a huge help to Juanita and Andrea! Lastly, a special thank you to her neighbors Cole, Zeke and Rori, who were like family to her.

Juanita was a member of First United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the organization of your choice.

A Virtual Memorial Service will be held via Zoom Sunday, September 12, 2021, 2:00PM.

Zoom ID: 681 872 4504

Passcode: 1935

The video presentation and funeral discourse will begin at 2:00PM.

Guestbook available online at www.resthavenfunerals.com

Arrangements and care entrusted to Resthaven Funeral Home, Sinton.

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