Antonio (Tony) Biera of Merkel, passed away on Jul 16, 2021, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in Merkel, TX on April 20, 1951, to Leonardo and Ester Martinez Biera. Tony attended Merkel Schools and graduated from Merkel High School in 1969. Tony proudly served our country in the US Army. He worked for C.G. Conn, Lockheed Martin (General Dynamics), Packaging of Abilene, as well as other various jobs before going to work for TDCJ. He retired from Middleton Prison as a correctional officer (CO-V) in 2012. Tony married his long-time friend Virginia (Duran) Biera on the 26th of July 1997. He played baseball for the Merkel Tejanitos. He was especially talented at woodworking, carpentry and was a handyman in all types of jobs. His neighbor gave him the nickname “911” for always being there when she needed him. We will always remember him as a hard-working man and for his love for his family and friends. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife: Virginia Biera of Merkel; sons: Ricky of St. Petersburg, Fl. And Jason of Loxahatchee, Fl; sisters: Mary Martinez of Abilene, Carmen Acuna and husband Felix of Merkel and Esther Sayer of Washington, Il; nephew/brother: Eddie Biera of Merkel; also survived by many other nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends. He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Cynthia Duran, Cruz Ribera and Rosa Whitt; infant brothers: Jose, Margarito, and Antonio; brothers-in-law: Dan Sayer and Tony Martinez; best pal: Ruben Duran and his 4-legged friends: Pepper, Pancho and Rocky. A visitation with the family will be held from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at Starbuck Funeral Home in Merkel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10am, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Merkel with Father Emilio Sosa officiating. Interment will follow at Rosehill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tony’s memory can be made to the American Cancer Society. The family would like to give a special thanks to Hendrick’s nursing staff, Hospice Home Care and all those that expressed their love and prayers to the family.
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