Look like a loquat tree

A very sick loquat!

Loquats aren't crazy about weeds and small plants growing at their base. They have very shallow roots.

I agree, definitely a loquat. It's not super healthy but I think with some tlc, a lot of pruning, some tree spikes, and cleaned up around the ground, you will love it! They drop leaves as they turn brown for whatever reason. I'm in Central Texas and mine drops about 20 leaves a week, and it's healthy as a horse! The fruit is delicious, sort of a cross between an apricot and kumquat. The butter yellow blooms smell amazing. They aren't gorgeous but when mine is blooming the aroma fills the yard. I can't address water needs, as I have a sprinkler system and it's my first loquat, already established when we moved here a year and a half ago. It's an evergreen.

I forgot to mention, I'm seeing Ball Moss (not real Moss) on the dead branches. This is most likely the cause of your bare branches, according to the Texas forest service, (this can be invasive and should be pruned)

"Ball moss (Tillandsia recurvata) is a small epiphyte commonly found clinging to limbs of live oaks and other trees in southwest Texas. Ball moss is not a moss, but a true plant with flowers and seeds. It is a member of the Bromeliad family, which also contains Spanish moss and pineapple."