Evelia "Vel" Esqueda Cantu, 79, of Hereford, Texas passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025, Amarillo, Texas, surrounded by her family. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. at San Jose Catholic Church in Hereford with Father David Contreras officiating. Burial to follow at St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery in Hereford under the direction of Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home.

Vel was born on May 13, 1945, in Dilley, Texas to Urbano and Antonia (Ayala) Esqueda. She was married on September 19, 1960, in Littlefield, Texas. Vel worked 39 years as a bus driver for the Hereford Independent School District and ironed on the side. She was a member of San Jose Catholic Church and in her younger years served as a Cursillista. Vel enjoyed Taekwondo, earning her second-degree black belt and she loved riding motorcycles, traveling to many places on her bike. Vel also enjoyed crocheting and dancing to Tejano music. Vel was an adventurous, stern, independent and ambitious woman who was always on the go and who loved her family dearly.

Those left to cherish her memories are her children Ernest "Jack" Cantu and wife Florinda of Amarillo, Texas, Sandy Cantu of San Antonio, Texas, BreeAnn Cantu Rhodes and husband Troy, Jr. of Hereford, Texas, and Chris Cantu and wife Maria of Amarillo, Texas; fourteen grandchildren, forty-two great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren on the way; ex-husband and father of her children Jesus Cantu; brother Nacho Esqueda and wife Olivia of Hereford, Texas; sister Selda Esqueda Rosales of Amarillo, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents Urbano and Antonia Esqueda, daughter Debbie Cantu, grandsons Eric Michael Cantu and Brandon Jesse Munoz, brothers Noel Esqueda and Jacinto Esqueda, and sisters Pauline DeLaFuente, Jesusa E. Diaz, and Modesta Malagon.