Eleuterio “Lito” Contreras, 67, Birdseye

Eleuterio “Lito” Contreras, 67, Birdseye, passed away Thursday, July 21, 2016, at his home.

He was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, in Dec. 24, 1948, to Eleuterio and Zulema (Flores) Contreras. He married Jackie Hollands on Jan. 12, 1996, in Taos, N.M.

Mr. Contreras retired from the U.S. Forest Service. He was a wildlands firefighter for 35 years. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam.

Surviving are his wife, Jackie Contreras; a daughter, Zulema Contreras; three brothers, Marcos Contreras of Summit, Ill., Joe Contreras of Montebello, Calif., and Tim Contreras of Wichita Falls, Texas.; four sisters, Elizabeth Rangel of Irving Texas, Maria Rabara of Cordova, Tenn., Sara Aleman Siebenberg of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Ester Ball of Grapevine, Texas.

He was preceded in death by seven siblings.

A celebration of life will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Birdseye Mason’s Lodge in Birdseye.

Becher Funeral Home in Ferdinand is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be shared at www.becherfuneralhome.com.