Over the weekend, a rattlesnake handler was killed in Texas while performing at an event called the Freer Rattlesnake Roundup. The presentation involved the handler performing with a snake.
According to his family, Eugene Roberto DeLeon, who was 60 years old at the time, was performing at the yearly concert on April 30 when he was bitten by a rattlesnake. He was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Corpus Christi, but he did not survive his stay there.
Snake Wrangler DeLeon was a seasoned professional who was also a member of the Snake Busters Snake Handlers. Monica Dimas, his sister, mentioned on social media that he had a penchant for handling snakes and that he passed away while doing what he loved.
Watch video of Freer rattlesnake handler dies from bite at Rattlesnake
The Mauro P. Garcia Funeral Home asserts that DeLeon received his high school diploma from Freer in 1981. In addition to working as a custodian at Freer High School, he was also a volunteer firefighter for the Freer Fire Department.
Dimas wrote this letter to ask people to keep her family in their prayers as she is working to raise money to cover the costs of her brother’s funeral.
According to the information contained in his obituary, DeLeon was a devoted and loved husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle, and friend who will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.
The funeral services for DeLeon are going to be held on May 7 at the chapel of the Mauro P. Garcia Funeral Home in San Diego, Texas.