Fidel Zarate Tamares Jr.

It is with a heavy and broken heart that the family announces the passing of Fidel Zarate Tamares Jr. (known as JR to his family), 38, on May 23,2024. He was fighting a long battle of mental health illnesses.

Fidel was born in Fort Hood, TX on May 01, 1986, and grew up mostly in Killeen, TX. He attended Vilseck Elementary in Germany, Manor Middle School, and graduated from Ellison High School in 2004. He then proceeded to complete his undergrad at Central Texas College and Baylor University and finished his BA in Finance with a concentration on quantitative analysis in 2009. His yearn for growth continued as he completed his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt while on active duty in the Army. Fidel returned to school to complete his Master of Science in Data Science at Southern Methodist University, just this year.

Fidel and Christina met in high school and instantly knew they were soulmates. Little did they know that the history between their families knowing each other dated back to before they were born, and they even ran across paths when they were younger at Chicken Fight Sparring at the ranch Christina grew up on. They were an integral part of each other’s lives for 22 years and married for 14! His dedication to his family was always his top priority. Fidel made sure to provide his daughters Kiyomi and Kora all the opportunities, love, and support that he could, while helping to form them into the individual, resilient, loving, caring, and strong-willed young women they are today!

Those that knew Fidel knew him as caring, outgoing, quirky, funny, always chasing the best, analytical, and scatter brained! He loved computer games, new technologies and software, AI, distilling, heading up neighborhood block parties, his self-built smoker and brisket, and his newest fascination, the outdoor sauna (#StormFidel)! Fidel joined the Army as an Intelligence Officer where he served his time in Germany, California, Arizona, Texas, and various deployments from 2009-2016. After he got out, he and his family planted roots in Plano, TX, where he worked as a distribution manager for Target and Northern Tools. He finally landed his current position at Xome as a Data Science personnel. Throughout his career, he was always a great coach (coaching boxing), mentor, colleague, and a vital part of every team he was on.

He is survived by his wife Christina Tamares, daughters Kiyomi and Kora Tamares, parents Fidel and Barbara Tamares, brother Robert Tamares, and sister Romelyn Aurich. Fidel is also survived by his close friends (“the uncles”) and countless other family members, friends, and neighbors, who will carry on his legacy of good wherever they go.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a monetary donation or volunteer hours to the following
organizations:
Stop Soldier Suicide: Donate (stopsoldiersuicide.org)
Plano Flags of Honor: Honor A Hero – Plano Flags of Honor
SUICIDE PREVENTION BRAIN HEALTH E-CLUB: Our Cause (suicidepreventionbrainhealthrotary.org)

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday June 29, 2024, at Allen Family Funeral Options with a reception to follow.