Cleto E. "Clay" Rodriguez

Cleto E. “Clay” Rodriguez of Corpus Christi passed away Friday, May 8, 2026. He was 69.

Born Feb. 8, 1957, in Hondo, he was the son of Atilano G. and Irene Esparza Rodriguez.

Clay was a member of Hondo High School Class of 1975 and his love of the Hondo Owls never wained, even after more than 30 years of teaching math in Corpus Christi. His collection of thousands of Owls of every type and size filled the rooms of his home and his house was also blue and white.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Maria Jesus “May” Soto and Noemi Rodriguez; and grandparents, Emilio Esparza, Francisca Ortiz, Urbano Sanchez, Anacleto Rodriguez and Antonia Rodriguez.

He is survived by his brother, Atilano “Tilley” Rodriguez, Jr. and sisters, Florence Rodriguez and Adelina Rodriguez. Clay was a loving brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and a friend to many.

Visitation will be at Guinn-Horger Funeral Home on Friday, May 22, from 6 to 8 p.m., pausing for recitation of the Rosary at 7:00.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 23, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Hondo TX, followed by interment at Hondo Cemetery, Guadalupe Section. 

GUINN-HORGER FUNERAL HOME