Kalil and Sada Mery Family

Kalil J. Mery Biography

Kalil Joseph Mery arrived in San Antonio in 1914 from Lebanon by way of Mexico.  He started peddling dry goods and produce on a horse and buggy and did quite well.  In 1922, he decided to move his family to McAllen, Texas, where he opened a dry goods store and peddled on the side.  He also opened a candy factory adjacent to the store.

In 1935, Kalil and his family moved back to San Antonio and opened a grocery store on the corner of Martin and Navidad Streets.  In 1939 the store was converted to Pan Tex Manufacturing Co., where Kalil’s talents as a tailor excelled in making shirts and slacks which he sold to the government and large companies.

Kalil was married to Sada Karam on July 9, 1916 at the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio.  They had eight children – Aziz, Azizi, Amira, Elvira, Maria, Janie, George, and Edward.