Jesse S. Perez
Jesse S. Perez, 84, a longtime resident of Dickinson, Texas, passed away on May 16, 2026. He was born on July 14, 1941 in Dickinson, Texas to parents, Ignacio R. Perez and Grace Segura.
Before retiring, he worked as a roadway inspector for the Texas Highway Department. Following his retirement, he worked as an independent consultant supporting the Texas Highway Department.
He enjoyed his road trips and frequently visited friends in Jasper, Texas. He was a caring man, with love for his family, and he will be missed by all those whose lives he touched.
He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Manuela Perez and sisters, Minnie Garza and her husband, Robert, and Grace Mendez.
He leaves behind to treasure his memory, son, Mike Navarro (Denise); sister, Carmen Silva (Max); grandchildren, Michael Navarro (Jessica), and Erica Navarro (Kiko); five great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and companion and caregiver, Paulina Alejandre, her children, George Senteno (Andrea), Daniel Senteno (Brittany), Alex Chavez (Susan Gonzales), Angel Chavez, and jason Chavez, and her grandchildren.
In his honor, a visitation will be held Wednesday, May 20, 2026 from 9:00-10:00am with a funeral service at 10:00am in the Crowder Funeral Home Chapel, Dickinson, Texas. Followed by interment at Mt Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Dickinson,Texas.
May your soul rest in peace with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
May God comfort your friends and family that you have left behind
to carry on your legacy.
Praying for my Cousin Andrea Mendez for the loss of her Uncle
may God give her comfort during this difficult time.
RIP Jesse. Praying for your family, especially your son Mike who means the world to me, you are surrounded by the Angels in Heaven.
May you rest in peace compadre. We will always hold cherished memories of our time as family and neighbors. Wish we could be there to accompany to your eternal rest. Prayers from San Antonio
In Jesse, I had a coworker of over 30 years and friend for life. Jesse retired from Texas Highway Department, State Department of Highways and Transportation, and TxDOT.
I first worked with Jesse in 1996 at Raytheon Engineers and Constructors where he worked as an inspector on HCTRA Airport Connector. After this project completed, I conned him into working on a METROs Townsend Park and Ride. Once the Park and Ride was completed, we joined Othon to work on a light rail project LS-4 Main Street Midtown.
Jesse was never afraid to work hard. He shared great stories of how he learned to play the game, especially when others were working against you, not saying he could be ornery in his younger days and cause issues for his supervisors… One of my favorite stories about his work abilities shows his smart response to situations. HCRTA wanted minimum impacts to traffic so lane closures were to be picked up by 5 a.m. I headed to work one day, which took me through a project Jesse was managing, I saw that the lane closure was not picked up and it was 6 a.m. I called him to ask why. He replied to me that they only had 100 ft to go, and he said he thought it would be great to finish so they would not have to have another lane closure that night. He was great at making sensible decisions!
Jesse was a good teacher of work and life. I use these lessons daily to help improve myself. Jesse was a very good friend and I will miss him.
Heartfelt condolences to the family of Jesse Perez. Will keep Jesse and his family in my thoughts and prayers. RIP Jesse.
Jesse was a very special part of my childhood and growing-up years. From the time I was young until I left for college, he treated me like one of his own. Mike and I grew up together playing sports, getting into trouble, competing, laughing, and making memories I still cherish today.
Some of my favorite memories were Jesse taking us to get BBQ or burgers before Houston Astros games, spending weekends watching Houston wrestling, and cheering for our hero Wahoo McDaniel. I’ll never forget when he took us to the Astrodome to watch Wahoo fight Dory Funk Jr. — to us kids, it was the greatest thing we had ever seen. Another great memory was when Jesse and Manuela took Mike and me to see Elvis Presley perform at the Houston Rodeo in the Astrodome. Those are memories I will carry forever.
As I got older, Jesse taught me the value of hard work and responsibility by helping me get my first summer job working highway construction while he worked as a DOT Highway Inspector. Those lessons stayed with me for life.
What I remember most was the kind of man Jesse was — funny, patient, steady, and fair. He always treated me with respect, never raised his voice, and he and Manuela were always there supporting us at our baseball and soccer games.
Life eventually took us in different directions, and sadly I had not seen him in many years. But I will always remember Jesse with gratitude and affection. He was a genuinely good man who made a lasting impact on my life.
Rest peacefully, Jesse.
He was more than my Godfather — he was someone whose words changed my life.
When I was a rebellious teenager, I remember him stopping me one day at his mother’s house. He looked at me with seriousness and love and told me I needed to straighten up and get it together. He reminded me that I had a good life, good parents, and a great family, and he told me I better realize it now before it was too late.
Those words stayed with me.
I remember walking home afterward thinking deeply about what he had said, and for the first time, I truly understood. When I got home, I apologized to my parents for being their rebellious daughter.
That moment became a turning point in my life.
Even today, I still carry his words with me. That was the kind of man he was — someone who cared enough to guide you, correct you, and love you honestly. I will always be grateful for that conversation and for him.
His voice, his wisdom, and his love will stay with me forever.