April 11, 1949 ~ October 16, 2025
Juan, a resident of Meadow, TX, was raised in Brownsville, Texas, and his family frequently traveled to Minnesota, Chicago, and the Texas Panhandle for agricultural employment. On May 17, 1969, he married Elida Garcia in Brownfield, Texas.
Throughout his career, Juan worked as a cotton ginner at various facilities across the Texas Panhandle, South Texas, and Alabama. He played a key role in constructing a cotton gin in Alabama and was consulted for a project involving the development of a cotton gin for Greece. He later retired from Terry County, where he contributed his expertise to the road and bridge maintenance department. During his tenure in the cotton ginning industry, Juan set several records for cotton bale production per shift and season. Renowned as a skilled mechanic, he was widely respected for his ability to repair and maintain engines, vehicles, and machinery. Juan also served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1973 and held his period of military service in high regard.
His personal interests included gardening, playing dominoes and the lottery, and supporting the Dallas Cowboys. He fondly remembered participating in recreational baseball with the Meadow Broncos during the mid-1960s. Family gatherings, particularly holiday celebrations featuring tamale-making, were sources of great joy for him. Juan took pride in watching his children and grandchildren compete in various sporting events. He loved to fishing and crabbing with his brothers in Brownsville and would visit his siblings as often as he could.
Mr. Soto is preceded in death by his father, Nieves Soto; mother, Manuela Rodriguez Soto; wife, Elida G. Soto of Meadow; brothers, Catarino Soto of Meadow, Jose Angel Soto, Margarito Soto of Brownsville; and sister, Guadalupe Lamas of San Antonio.
He is survived by his sons, Miguel Soto (Meadow, Texas), Ismael Soto (Holbrook, Arizona), Christopher Soto (Lubbock, Texas); daughter, Priscilla Soto (Alex Garza) of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren, Alyssa Soto, Michael Soto (Meadow, Texas), Adrian Soto (Megan), Tristan Soto, McKinely Soto, Prescott Soto (Lubbock, Texas); great-grandchildren, Greyson Soto (Meadow, Texas) and Elizabeth “Ellie” Soto (Lubbock, Texas); siblings, Ismael “Mayo” Soto, Alicia Infante, Irene Zurita, Erica Soto, and Ricardo Soto (Brownsville, Texas); as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to acknowledge Hospice of the South Plains and his nurse Brooke for their loving care of Juan.
A Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday, October 20, 2025 in the Agape Funeral Chapel. Arrangements are under the care of Agape Funeral Chapel & Crematory.
