Mario P. “Buddy” Moreno, passed away February 21, 2026 at home after a long battle with cancer.
He was born to Reynaldo and Trinidad (Perez) Moreno on August 30, 1956 in Beeville, TX. He is survived by his loving wife Terry (Castillo)Moreno, brother Rey (Kaye)Moreno, sister Linda (Les) Carter, a host of nephews and nieces, and brother of choice Cris Brown.
Buddy went to Texas A&M Kingsville on a golf scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelor in Business from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Golf and business were a lifetime focus of enjoyment for him.
He met Terry at a country western club in Corpus Christi where they shared a love of dance…. and then a love for each other. They married in Forest Park, GA on June 13, 1992. They were married 33 years.
Buddy loved to golf. He was known to be a great story teller, and if the joke was especially corny, he would tell it often and laugh about it more and more. He had a gift as a salesman: a passion for finding a treasure and making good deals. He was an entrepreneur by trade. He inherited his mother’s green thumb and enjoyed spending time tinkering with the plants in his yard. He also loved his fur babies. He loved people and would help anyone that he saw in need.
Buddy will be greatly missed by all those who encountered him and knew him well.
Mario’s Celebration of Life will be held Saturday May 16, 2026 at 2:00 pm at The Greens at North Hills banquet room. 7400 Hwy 107, Sherwood, AR 72120.
Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com
4 Comments
I didn’t know, Buddy well in high school, but got to know him better through Facebook. I am so grateful I had that opportunity. It was always a delight to converse with him. Terry, I’m so glad you were with him through this and my thoughts are with you and all who loved him.
Buddy was my cousin—our mothers were sisters. Every Thanksgiving, when the family gathered at Grandma Eloisa’s home in Beeville, those were special, fun times.
One visit stands out. Buddy was bored—really bored. He found an old coffee can, cut out the bottom, and nailed it to the garage like a basketball goal. Then he started shooting—layups, bank shots, all of it—with rocks. That can stayed there for years. Every time I went back to Grandma’s, I’d take a shot or try a layup with a rock. It became one of those simple traditions, one of many good memories made at her home.
That’s how I’ll always remember Buddy—soft-spoken, down to earth, a simple man in the best sense, always full of ideas. I’m going to miss him very much.
Buddy knew how to be a good friend and was one to me since sixth grade. He was a natural at it. He excelled at it.
Buddy was always very competitive and had great natural coordination, which led to his life-long success playing golf. In later years he had great golf stories. His favorite golf memories were from when he was a kid playing with his dad.
Bud loved and was very dedicated to his parents, siblings, cousins, and nieces/nephews. He greatly admired them all and they gave him pride.
Buddy knew and often expressed that he had hit a home run in marrying Terry Castillo. He had that figured out way before he was ill in his later years and was especially appreciative of Terry in his difficult journey towards his end. Buddy deeply loved Terry.
Buddy and I shared many great life experiences. I am lucky we met those many years ago. He was always a friend. I miss my friend Buddy Moreno.
I met Mario less than 6 years ago through work. I quickly found out that he was someone we could rely on for emergency jobs throughout the night. One night after a job to Houston he stopped by at our office. We visited for around 1 hour and we quickly became friends. We went on and worked together a couple of years. Unfortunately he got sick and couldn’t continue but we remained friends and continued to stay in touch. Fortunately I was able to visit him a couple of times at his home in Sherwood. I got to meet Terry, his wonderful wife. Mario said this to me about her “I’m so lucky to have Terry by my side”, and I certainly agreed with him. And Terry, after my first visit to your home, you told me that Mario told you that I was just like you guys. That meant a lot to me. I miss my friend Mario.
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