VINCE CRIXELL III, MEMBER OF A PIONEER BROWNSVILLE FAMILY, DIES

Darling Mouser Funeral Home
Vincent L. Crixell III


BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Vincent L. Crixell, III, died peacefully on Tuesday, the 14th of January 2025, in Brownsville, Texas. 

Born on September 10, 1934, in Brownsville, Texas, Vincent was the beloved son of Gloria Cardoza Crixell and Vicente Laulom Crixell, Jr., and brother of Adolph E. Crixell. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and brother. Vincent was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His commitment to family, community, and faith marked his life.

Vincent graduated from Brownsville High School in 1952 and from The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy in 1956. While at UT, he was a proud member of the Texas Longhorn Band. While briefly attending UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, Vincent met his future wife, Barbara Baker Crixell. The two raised four daughters: Viveca, Monique, Laurette, and Patrice.

After living in Dallas and Pharr, Vincent settled in his hometown of Brownsville, Texas. He became deeply rooted in the community and dedicated his life to improving and growing it.

His dedication to the pharmaceutical field marked his professional journey. He worked at Palm Village Pharmacy and Pfizer Pharmaceutical and later owned and operated Calderoni City Drug in downtown Brownsville. His commitment to quality care was evident as the head pharmacist at Valley Baptist Medical Center and Drug Emporium in Brownsville, Texas. Vincent’s attentive care for his pharmacy customers was well-known and appreciated.

Vincent was a dedicated civil servant, actively contributing to the development of his community and holding leadership positions in many civic organizations. Vincent was appointed to the Brownsville Housing Authority board in the early nineteen seventies where he was appointed as chairman from 1970-1972. 

In the early nineteen eighties, he was a founding board member of KVEO, Brownsville’s local National Broadcast Company affiliate. He served on the Brownsville Public Utilities Board where he served as chairman from 1986-1987. Vincent served as the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce president from 1987-1988.

He also served on the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation board in the nineteen nineties where he was chairman from 1992-1994. He enjoyed his participation in the Texas and Brownsville Jaycees, where he held various leadership positions. Vincent particularly loved the beautiful tradition held every February in his hometown celebrating the sisterhood between our two border cities of Brownsville and Matamoros. 

He enjoyed serving as part of the Mr. Amigo Association where he served as board president in 1985, and he continued to serve on this board through 2003. He was also an honorary life director of Charro Days, Incorporated. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes of many community organizations to help improve his hometown.

A devout Catholic, Vincent's faith was a guiding force in his life. He was actively involved in St. Luke Catholic Church and many other ministries within the Diocese of Brownsville.

Vincent is survived by his beloved wife, Martha Balboa Crixell of Brownsville, with whom he shared a profoundly loving and happy life for the last 32 years. He is also survived by his four daughters Viveca Crixell (Nick) Serafy of Brownsville, Monique Crixell (Roger) Keller of Brownsville, Laurette Crixell Kirby of San Antonio, Texas, and Patrice Crixell (Charles) McAllister of Auburn, Alabama; and by his grandchildren Nicholas III, Jenna, Paul (Lauren), Jason (Carla) and Clayton Serafy, Ricardo (Emily) Crixell, Haley (Andy) Mohl, Houston (Whitney) and Westin Kirby, Taylor (Ronnie) Rucker, Madison (Caleb) Fahlgren, and Chase McAllister. His beloved niece, Annette (Alex) Camacho of San Antonio, Texas and his grandnieces, Natalia and Daniela Camacho, also survive him.

His family included numerous great-grandchildren who brought Vincent immense joy: Ryleigh, Nicholas IV, Tanner, Pablo, Luka, Georgiana, Gisele, Alexander and Carlos Serafy, Julian Crixell, Jackson and Whitman Kirby, and Hadley Rucker. His family, including cousins, nieces, nephews, and numerous friends, will forever cherish his memory.

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, the 19th of January 2025 between the hours of one o'clock and five o'clock in the afternoon within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. The recitation of the holy rosary will be recited at seven o’clock Sunday evening at St. Luke Catholic Church, 2800 Rockwell Drive, Brownsville.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ten o'clock in the morning on Monday, the 20th of January 2025 at St. Luke Catholic Church. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the church.

Entombment with committal rites will be held at one o'clock in the afternoon within the Buena Vista Burial Park Mausoleum, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the mausoleum.

Pallbearers include Vincent’s grandsons Niko, Paul, Jason, and Clayton Serafy, Ricco Crixell, Houston and Westin Kirby, and Chase McAllister. Honorary pallbearers include Dr. Ford Lockett, Rey Lopez, Ralph Cowen, Joe Rivera, Nick Serafy, Roger Keller, Alex Camacho, Taurino Gonzalez, Exiquio Balboa, Emilio Crixell, and Alfredo Crixell.

In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, the family requests donations in memory of Vincent to The Love Builds Hope Foundation of the Diocese of Brownsville, 700 Virgen de San Juan Boulevard, San Juan, Texas 78589. He will be remembered as a man of great faith, love, and generosity, and his presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.