Carlos Antonio Reyes Jr. Obituary (1961

Carlos Antonio Reyes, Jr., a twelfth-generation Texan and native Houstonian, was born the youngest child to Carlos A. and Alma Lee "Irish" Reyes on April 2, 1961. He liked to remind all that he "had seven brothers and sisters and was an only child!" because he was so much younger than the rest. Carlos grew up in Bellaire where he attended St. Thomas High School. He attended the Culinary School of the Conrad Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management and then set out on a professional career that involved catering and entertaining at its best. Carlos founded numerous businesses including Don Carlos Catering and Thanks-a-Million. With his then partner Steven Chrisenberry, Carlos catered events for American presidents, movie stars, and a wide variety of folks in Houston, the U.S. and abroad. Wherever Carlos was to be found, would also be found a party...lavishly catered and decorated. In the early 1990s, Carlos was diagnosed with HIV but that did not slow him down or stop him at all. He continued his work and extended his efforts to all sorts of causes and nonprofit organizations. He was a 35+ year member of the Executive Professional Association of Houston (EPAH) and served in a number of capacities on the Executive Board, including President and Social Events Chairperson. He chaired the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Black Tie event two times. Furthermore, he served on the Boards of The Assistance Fund, Lazarus House, and Out For Education. When he believed in a cause, his energy and enthusiasm were without equal. Carlos leaves behind numerous family members to cherish his memory including: his sisters Harris Kathleen Hof (Pieter) of West Olive, MI, Mary Devereaux Wilhoite of Houston, TX, Laura Olivarri of San Antonio, TX, Carole Ann "Bebe" Kasprzak, brothers Michael Anthony Reyes (Dallas) of Ferndale, WA, Stewart B. Matthews (Cindy) of Conroe, TX, Mark Andrew Reyes (deceased), cousin bro Christopher "Tippy" Fossati (Laurie) of Houston, TX, and his Uncle John Reyes (Deanna) of San Antonio, TX and many more extended family relations. Carlos made friends and family of choice wherever he went. Among those folks he leaves behind from Team Carlos, are Steven Chrisenberry, Steve Hartranft, Paul Mandell, Richard Trevino, Jim Sikorski, long time childhood friends Lynda Carnegie, Suzanne Dickinson, and Jennifer McCredie, and so many others. In lieu of customary remembrances, donations may be made to honor Carlos through the Out for Education website (www.outforeducation.org) to the EPAH/Carlos A. Reyes, Jr. scholarship for an LGBTQ student to attend the Culinary School of the Conrad Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Click on Give Now and then Give in honor of someone and indicate Carlos A. Reyes, Jr. Gifts may also be made in his honor to the Omega House Hospice (https://avenue360.org/locations/montrose) whose talented staff made Carlos' last months all the more rich and comfortable. Due to Covid-19, the date and time of a celebration of Carlos' life will be postponed until we all may gather safely. The hope is that it takes place around what would have been his 60th birthday, April 2, 2021. Carlos would not wish us to mourn his passing but rather, in honor of his life and memory in the words of his favorite song (by Charlie Chaplin), to smile!