Viola Salinas Hernandez Gaytan

Viola Salinas Hernandez Gaytan passed away on Friday, October 17, 2025, in Port Arthur, Texas at the age of 94. Viola was born on April 22, 1931, in Brackettville, Texas. She was one of five daughters born to Santiago and Henrietta Salinas. Viola’s family moved to the Port Arthur, Texas area where her father found work at the Texaco refinery.

Viola attended Franklin School and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1950. She married Joe Hernandez, her high school sweetheart, on February 3, 1951, in Port Arthur, Texas. They had three children: Joel, Roxanne (Roxie) and Kristi. Viola enjoyed her children, attending their activities and being around their friends when they would come by the house. She and Joe had an active social life with many friends; many of whom they had been friends with since childhood. Every year they would rent a beach cabin for the 4th of July for family and friends to come by and visit. Viola and Joe were married for 61 years until Joe’s death in 2012.

Viola always kept busy and worked for many years at Texas State Optical in Port Arthur, Texas and later in Nederland, Texas where she kept Joel and his friends supplied with the latest style of Ray Ban sunglasses. Viola was a great cook who always enjoyed cooking for her family. If you ever knocked on her door; you were invited in, and she would start pulling things out of the fridge so she could fix you something to eat. She always kept a bowl of grapes in the fridge in case her grandsons stopped by. She enjoyed telling stories of her and her sisters growing up in Brackettville and in Port Arthur; her job at the movie theatre selling tickets; and the job at the department store where she would gift wrap packages. She was very quick witted and was always dressed to the nines. She also loved watching old classic movies and reading.

After Joe passed away, she became reacquainted with Armando Gaytan who had attended school with her. She and Armando married on February 9, 2017. Armando and Viola enjoyed a great life together. They loved riding to the beach or Galveston to go out to eat and having Sunday brunch at the Wheelhouse. Armando would take Viola wherever she wanted to go. She also enjoyed his singing around the house and sitting on their back patio watching people play golf on the course behind their house. Everyone should be so lucky to be happily married again at 85 years old.

Viola was preceded in death by her parents, Santiago Salinas and Henrietta Salinas; sister, Dora Garcia and husband, Joe Hernandez.

She is survived by her husband, Armando Gaytan; sisters, Sylvia Medina of Ennis, Texas, Helen Hammons and husband, Gordon of North Richland Hills, and Olga DeLeon of Midland; children, Joel Hernandez of Bridge City, Roxanne (Roxie) English and husband, Mark of Port Neches, Texas and Kristi Young of Austin, Texas; step-son, Andre Gaytan and wife, Jad of Pleasanton, California; grandsons Mason English and wife, Kelli of McKinney, Texas; Julian Hernandez and wife Caitlin of Nederland, Texas and Jonah Hernandez and wife, Kaylee of Beaumont, Texas. Viola is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Olivia Rose Hernandez, Brixtyn Ruth Hernandez, Jackson Joseph English and Jack Ryan Hernandez. She also leaves behind nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will forever cherish her memory. Everyone loved being around “Aunt Vi”.

The family also would like to thank Tammy Ortiz, Ayleen Zuniga and Virginia Garcia for their compassionate, loving care of Viola. They treated her like family. Our thanks also go out to her wonderful nurse Kathy Goelke and sweet aide Susie Lard with Harbor Hospice.

Viola will be remembered for her kindness, sense of humor and vibrant spirit that touched the lives of all who knew her.

A gathering of Mrs. Gaytan’s family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12^th Street, Nederland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and Shrine, 3648 S/Sgt. Lucian Adams Drive, Port Arthur, with her entombment to follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves.