Tito Livio Madrazo

Tito Livio Madrazo, age 82, passed away peacefully in his home on June 6, 2024. A celebration of Tito's life will be held at 4 PM central time on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque Blvd, Waco, TX 76710.

Tito was born on October 11, 1941, in wartime France to Spanish parents who had fled across the Pyrenees at the end of the Spanish Civil War. His father fought Franco in Spain and the Nazis in France while his mother held everyone together through love and faith. Tito was the youngest of 6 children, and the whole family moved to Venezuela in 1947, where his father took a job with Exxon (Creole in Venezuela).

The oil field camp in Caripito was heaven to Tito as a young boy. The jungle began at the edge of his backyard, and he and his brothers loved exploring it. The excellent Creole school helped Tito learn Spanish and opened up a world of knowledge to him. His love for learning eventually earned him a scholarship in Petroleum Engineering after the family moved to Tia Juana, in western Venezuela. He also developed hands-on experience as he worked summers in the petroleum lab and on the offshore platforms of Lake Maracaibo. His expertise in oil field materials led to a role trouble-shooting oil wells in crisis as well as to sales and management positions with National Supply and MidContinent Supply in Anaco, before becoming the Superintendent of the Materials Department with Gulf Oil - MeneGrande, in San Tomé, Venezuela.

Tito met Sally Wesley when they were both teenagers in Tia Juana. They began a 4-year mostly long-distance courtship and were married in 1965 in the Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church in nearby Lagunillas. Their daughters, Sara Marisol and Evelyn Michèle were born in Caracas while they lived in Anaco and Tito Eric, their son, was born in San Tomé during their time there. They attended the Interdenominational Union Church of Eastern Venezuela while in Anaco and San Tomé.

Tito was transferred to Houston, Texas in 1980, where he immigrated with his family, but a year later, his employer wanted him and his family to return to Venezuela. Tito turned down that promotion and resigned instead. He wasn’t sure how they would make things work financially, but he knew that he wanted his children to have the opportunity to study in American schools. God honored his faith, and all three of his children excelled in Katy ISD schools and graduated from Baylor University. He was so proud of their accomplishments and the ways in which they gave back to their communities through their careers.

Tito’s work in the United States often took him to Venezuela, Aruba, and Mexico, but he and Sally lived in Houston for 34 years before moving to Waco, Texas in 2014. Over the years, they were grateful for the support and community offered by St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church and Kingsland Baptist Church in the Houston area, as well as by First Baptist Church, Woodway.

Throughout his life, Tito loved singing and listening to music, enjoyed working in his yard, and regularly took on home repair/improvement projects, which he planned and executed with the precision of an engineer. In retirement, he was proud to support Sally as she went back to college, completed a degree begun long before, and finished out her career in education as a licensed Special Education teacher. To the delight of his family, Tito also took up gourmet cooking, finding joy in recreating many of the same Mediterranean recipes his mamá had made for him. He was happiest in his later years meticulously preparing meals for large family gatherings full of children, grandchildren, and his first great-grandchild.

Tito was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel Madrazo Piñeiro and Victoria María Madrazo Perez, his beloved brothers, Manolo Madrazo and Marco Madrazo, and his only cousin, Raúl Malonda.

Tito’s memory will be cherished by his wife, Sally; his daughters, Sara Marisol Curtiss (Bill) and Evelyn Michèle Owen (Andrew); his son, Tito Eric (Danielle); his ten grandchildren, Andy Owen (Courtney), Josh Owen, Hannah Curtiss, William Curtiss, Rachel Owen, Hayley Curtiss, Makaela Owen, Heather Curtiss, Sophia Madrazo, and Ava Madrazo; his two great-grandchildren, Lively Owen and a soon-to-arrive addition; his siblings, Cora Madrazo, Amor Gonzalez, and José Luis Madrazo; many nieces, nephews, and faithful friends.

Donations in Tito’s memory can be made to First Baptist Church, Woodway.

A livestream (and eventually the recording) of the service will be available on this page shortly before the service begins.

We invite you to leave a message or memory on Tito’s “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.