Marguerite Carlene Read

Marguerite Carlene Read, 88, passed away on May 2, 2023. She was born in Kingsville, Texas on September 25, 1934, to Carl and Leota Meyer. Carlene was raised in Kingsville, graduated high school from Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio, and returned home.

It was while in Kingsville that she met and married Duane Read, a young electrical engineer with CP&L. They moved to Corpus Christi and began their family. Duane’s work took the family to Victoria, Uvalde, and finally to Portland, Texas.

Carlene’s passion was for education. She started teaching in a parochial school in Victoria and substituted in Uvalde. As a working mom, she completed course work to graduate from Texas A&I with a B.S. in Elementary Education in 1975 and go on to teach in Ingleside and Portland public schools before retiring in 1993.

Carlene loved to sew. She made clothes, stitched on vestments, and loved to make quilt tops. Her quilts were award winning, created for friends and loved ones to be given as tokens of love and friendship.

She was a devout Catholic and active member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Portland. Her church activities included a variety of religious education classes, participating in the preparation and serving bereavement meals, and 28 years of scheduling for the Church’s Adoration Chapel. In addition, she was a charter member of the Catholic Daughters, Court of Angels, as well as a participating member of the Theresians.

She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl (Ray) Johnson, grandson Branden (Hannah) Johnson, great-grandchildren Kinley and Kade Johnson, her sister Florence Jicha and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Leo Farias, Alvin Saathoff, Brad Warner, Beto Martinez, Fred Ruiz and Ramiro Ochoa. Honorary pallbearers are Gregory Young, John Moses and Bill Reeves.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Sunday, May 7, 2023 at Winsteads’ Funeral Home in Portland with a Rosary to be recited by the Catholic Daughters at 7:00 that same evening. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 8, 2023 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Portland with a graveside service to follow at 11:30 a.m. at the Seaside Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Corpus Christi.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity or church of your choice.

Arrangement are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Winsteads’ Funeral Home. (361) 643-6564 www.winsteadsfuneralhome.com