John Urenda Sr.

John Ronald Urenda, Sr., 77, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on September 9, 2026.

A Rosary will be held at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 1210 SE 11th Ave., Amarillo. Interment will follow at Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

John was born on August 5, 1949, in Amarillo, Texas, to Manuel Urenda, Sr. and Cordelia Madrid. On May 19, 1973, he married the love of his life, Beatres, in Levelland, Texas. Together, they built a life centered around family, love, and many years of treasured memories.

John studied chemistry at West Texas A&M University and began his career at Pantex. He later joined Southwestern Bell, where he enjoyed a long career as a Communications Technician before retiring.

While John was devoted to his work and family, music was one of the great passions of his life. He picked up a guitar at just five years old, beginning a lifelong love of performing and sharing music with others. In the early 1960s, John became the founding force behind a young Amarillo band called The Undertakers. The band recorded the record “Unchain My Heart” / “It’s My Time” and performed at dances, school events, and local shows.

Decades later, in the 1990s, John brought The Undertakers name back to life alongside his dear friend Andy Solano and a group of talented friends and musicians. Together, they performed on numerous stages throughout Amarillo and the surrounding area, including the memorable opportunity to open for Cheap Trick at Rocktoberfest. For John, however, music was about much more than the stage. It was about the people beside him, the friendships formed over a lifetime, the joy of playing for a crowd, and the family who proudly watched him do what he loved. His legacy will live on in the songs played late into the night, the stories shared by those who knew him, the friendships he made both on and off the stage, and most of all, in the family he loved so deeply.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Cordelia and Manuel Urenda, Sr.; and his brother, Manuel Urenda, Jr.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Beatres; his daughter, Anita and husband Cade Harris, of Fort Worth, Texas; his sons, Manuel Urenda III and wife Adrianna, and John Urenda, Jr., both of Amarillo; his grandsons, Tristen Urenda and wife Brittani and Andrew “AJ” Urenda of Amarillo, and Christian Urenda, of Kansas City, Missouri; his sisters, Sylvia “Moona” Urenda and Melissa Urenda; and his brother, Simon Urenda, Sr., all of Amarillo.

He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Janie Castro and husband Nabor, and Olivia Castro, both of Amarillo; sister-in-law Olga Paredez, of Levelland; brother-in-law Fred Gonzales and wife Margaret, of Levelland; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, fellow musicians, and dear friends.

John leaves behind a life filled with family, friendship, and music. Those who loved him will remember the sound of his guitar, the music he shared, and the joy he found in playing for others. The music may have ended, but the memories, the stories, and the love he gave will continue to play on in the hearts of his family and friends.