Blas M. Tenorio, of Kyle, passed away peacefully at home on Dec. 23, 2015 at the age of 91. He was born Sept. 9, 1924 in Kyle, Texas and was a beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend. He is preceded in death by his loving wife Manuela Tenorio; parents Roberto and Cayentana Tenorio; four brothers and one sister.
Blas was a World War II Veteran, joining the U.S. Army at the age of 18 in April 1943. He was shipped overseas in May 1944 with the 320th Infantry and earned two Overseas Service Bars, a Victory Ribbon, an American Theater Campaign Ribbon, an EAME (European African Middle Eastern Campaign) Ribbon with 5 Bronze Stars and a Good Conduct Medal. The 5 Bronze Stars represented the five campaigns or battles he was in—Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He returned home in September 1945 and was Honorably Discharged in November 1945.
He was the first Hispanic elected to the Kyle City Council in 1965 where he served for 8 years and was recognized by the mayor and council with a Resolution Proclaiming January 21, 1972 as Blas Tenorio Day in Kyle. He served on the PEC Advisory Board of Directors for 35 years. He was a member of the Kyle Lions Club, the VFW Chapter in Kyle and a founding Member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a life long member of the Catholic Church in Kyle, first with St. Joseph’s church, which was lost when IH 35 was built, and then with St. Anthony Marie de Claret Catholic Church where he was instrumental in the building of the new church to replace the lost St. Joseph’s Church. He, along with his brother Sam Tenorio, owned Tenorio’s Grocery Store in Kyle for more than 30 years.
Most importantly, Blas was a family man. He was married to his wife, Manuela for 53 years when she passed away in 1996. He is survived by his sons Gilbert Tenorio of Kyle and Gerald Tenorio of Round Rock; daughters Olga and Ofelia Tenorio both of Kyle; grandchildren Tammy Boddy and Troy of Kyle, Lisa Tenorio of Dallas, Crystal Schaeffer and Joe of San Marcos and Celina Tenorio of Austin; and great-grandchildren Matthew Boddy, and Logan and Evan Schaeffer, with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He loved his children and his granddaughters were the light of his life. He loved and adored his great-grandsons, who brought him so much joy with every visit.
He will be remembered by his community as a distinguished leader who served his country and his community with dignity and grace.
Serving as pallbearers were his nephews – Roy, Sam Jr. and Robert Tenorio, Manuel Fuentes, Alex Gamez and David Gonzales. Serving as honorary pallbearers were his coffee-drinking buddies – Abel Tenorio, Jorge Escudero, Armando Chapa, Diego Cortez and the late Bernie Arreguin, represented by his wife.
A Christian burial mass was held at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church in Kyle on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015 where his great-grandson, Matthew Body, served as the Alter Server. Blas Tenorio was buried at Memory Lawn Park with Full Military Honors after his Burial Mass.
