George Quesada

George Quesada, a pillar of the international transportation industry, passed away on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 in Laredo, Texas at the age of 89.

He was born on May 26, 1933 in Laredo, Texas, to Frank A. Quesada and Anita Haynes Villarreal.

After completing his high school education in Laredo, he volunteered to join the United States Navy and served during the Korean Conflict, where he was decorated and then transferred to the United States Naval Reserve and was honorably discharged in 1960.

He inherited a strong work ethic, a trait he instilled into his children and one which he fostered with his siblings whom are still involved in international trade.

His dream was to be part of the effort to make Los Dos Laredos the international hub of business and transportation on the border. As a young father, he imparted his yearning to make Laredo the vibrant inland port that it is today. He worked tirelessly to convince entrepreneurs on both sides of the boundary to consider the prime location of Laredo as the hub of this binational endeavor. He pored over maps and imagined routes that would enhance this vision.

By 1964 he had assumed management of his family’s business known as Gateway Transfer Company, Inc. and expanded its fleet to serve the entire continental United States culminating with the recognition of Gateway Transfer as one of the nation’s largest 500 Hispanic owned businesses by Hispanic Business magazine in 1993. The same magazine recognized Gateway as one of the fastest growing companies and as the nation’s fourth largest Hispanic owned transportation firm.

As he grew older, his dream came to fruition and he was able to see family members thrive in the trade industry as well as bear witness to the legend that became of the name Quesada, which is still respected in the trucking industry today.

Even with this commitment to his vision of developing Laredo into an international hub, he found time to be actively involved in community affairs by serving as Deputy Commander and member of: the American Legion Post 59, life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Interpreter & United States Representative of the Nuevo Laredo Motor Carriers Association.

He served as an Advisory Director on the Board of Directors of the Union National Bank. He was appointed to serve as a member of the board of the Border Region Mental Health Community Center. He was also a member of the Divine Mercy Catholic Church of the Laredo Parish Council.

He was preceded in death by his father, Frank A. Quesada; his mother, Anita Haynes Villarreal; his daughter, Hilda Quesada Valadez; his son, Jose Angel Quesada; and his siblings, Frances Quesada, Ruben Haynes, and Francisco Quesada, Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Bertha Quesada and their children, Mario (Nora) Montemayor and Luis Raul (Anissa) Quesada; and grandchildren, Kanya (Jason) Hardy, Mario Montemayor, II, Alegria, Amelie, and Anissa; and great-grandchild, Jason Hardy, Jr. He is likewise survived by his children with Martha Quesada †, Dolores “Lola” Quesada, Maria Teresa Quesada, and Frank (Ana) Quesada; grandchildren, Ashely (Daniel) Osborne, Frank George (Kristie) Quesada, Philip Quesada, and Julian Benjamin Quesada; and great-grandchildren, Daniel Osborne, Dean Osborne, Dawson Osborne, and Miles George Quesada. He is also survived by his daughter with Carmen Quesada †, Carmen (Anthony) De La Vina.

He is further survived by his siblings, Maria del Refugio (Salvador) Rosillo, Ramona Q. McCarthy, Jose Angel (Irene) Quesada, and Melquiades (Laura) Quesada.

The family will be receiving condolences on Thursday evening, May 11, 2023 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 1410 Jacaman Rd.; where a Vigil for the Deceased and Rosary will commence at 6 p.m.

Funeral Services will be conducted on Friday morning, May 12, 2023 departing at 10:30 a.m. from Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels to San Agustin Catholic Cathedral Church for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11 a.m. Full Military Honors will follow Mass, Honors will be provided by the Laredo Veteran’s Honor Guard and Presentation of the US Flag by the United States Navy Honor Guard.

Pallbearers will be: Frank Quesada, Luis Raul Quesada, Mario Montemayor, Mario Montemayor, II, Frank George Quesada, and Phillip Quesada.

Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at the family plot of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery on Friday, June 2, 2023 at 12 noon.

You may express your condolences, share your favorite memories, and sign the guestbook online at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 1410 Jacaman Rd., Laredo, Texas 78041; (956)722-8850.