Rafael (Ralph) B. Carrasco, Jr.

Rafael Carrasco, Jr. of Morton, formerly of Tyler, Texas passed away on Monday, March 31, 2014 at the age of 64.  He was born January 18, 1950 in Morton to Rafael and Aurora (Bautista) Carrasco, Sr. He attended Morton High School and worked for Kelly Springfield in Tyler until his retirement. During the 1980's, Mr. Carrasco started the first Hispanic Chapter of the Royal Rangers, for La Primera Asemblea de Dios, Tyler, TX.  Through his philanthropic efforts, Mr. Carrasco supported the purchase of two Churches in Tyler, TX.  Additionally, he supported and led missions to help villages in rural Mexico.  During the 1986 Immigration Reform Act, Mr. Carrasco created a Qualified Designated Entity by the US Justice Department to administer Temporary Resident Status with Immigration and Naturalization Service. The end result was a program which provided a path to US citizenship to thousands. Ralph was a member of the Cochran County Democratic Party and was designated to announce his support for Wendy Davis for Governor of Texas during the Texas Democratic Convention on June 28, 2014. 

Ralph was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Morton.  He was formerly married to Mary Mungia Carrasco. 

Those left to cherish his memory are his former wife, Mary; daughter, Elizabeth Carrasco of Tyler; three sons, John David Carrasco of Winona, Rafael Carrasco of Haughton, LA, and Thomas Carrasco of Florence, AZ; brother, David Carrasco of Tyler; sisters, Isabel Alvarez of Morton and Linda Trinidad of Sundown; 13 grandchildren, Deaven Rafael Carrasco, Autumn Aztec Carrasco, Christian Carrigan, John Isaiah Salazar, Preston Lee Kirkland, Thomas Carrasco, Jr., Nayla Andrea Green, Alannah Maya Carrasco, John Edward Carrasco, Maria Anaize (Katrina) Ordorica, Gabriel Thomas Carrasco, Juan Carlos Ordorica, Vicente Ordorica; and three step-grandchildren, Olan Darius, Tristan Allen and Makaela Faith Hulion.

Rafael was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Samuel, John and Ramon Carrasco; and sister, Minnie Amalla.

Memorial services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 5, 2014 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Morton (105 NE 8^th Street) with Father Nahum Lopez presiding.

Memorial donations can be made to the Salvation Army of Tyler, PO Drawer 205, Tyler, Texas, 75703 or to Nicholas Pet Haven and Dog Park (http://www.nicholaspethaven.net).

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