Obituaries

Brandon Michael Espy, 23, of Fort Davis, passed away on November 28 in Helotes. He was born on December 23, 2000, in Odessa. He attended Permian High School, where he participated on the flag crew, “The Crew”! After graduating in 2019, he moved to Fort Davis, where he began working on the family ranch while attending Sul Ross University, then moved to Hale Center, where he also attended Texas Tech University Fall Semester 2021 and Spring Semester 2022. He then returned to Fort Davis and graduated from Sul Ross in December of 2023 with his Criminal Justice degree. Brandon moved to Helotes in August 2024 to pursue his dream of becoming a DPS Officer. He met an amazing circle of friends with whom he shared many great times.

Bob R. Spence, born in Clyde on September 13, 1937, passed away on October 31 in Alpine.

Nellie Allen Rice celebrated her heavenly reward on November 10, when she passed away peacefully from this life. Nellie was born to Clyde and Mertie Bell Allen on July 9, 1927, in Comanche. She was preceded in death by her brothers Joe, Bill, George, and John Allen and sisters Eulene Morgan, Grace Sparks, Minnie Allen, Neva Howard, and Edna Buckmaster. Nellie was active in the Hamilton Community, including the Extension Homemakers, for over 40 years and a member of the Providence Piece Makers Quilting Group. She was a member of Providence Baptist Church and Littleville Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school for several years.

“Luceo non uro” Alpine lost a good one in October. Stu Palmer died peacefully on October 10.

Alfredo L. Espinosa, 80, from Odessa, was born February 12, 1944, in Alpine and passed away on July 3 in Odessa. He attended high school in Alpine, and after high school, he joined the Army. Once he completed his service to our country, he returned to Alpine to attend Sul Ross State University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree. His teaching and coaching career began in Crystal City, and he later moved to Odessa and taught at Ector High School and Ector Junior High as a Spanish teacher and coach for over 30 years. There are not enough words to describe how wonderful of a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, teacher, coach, neighbor, etc. he was. No matter how anyone knew or addressed him by either Alfredo, Firo, “Es,” Maestro, Compa, Mr. Espinosa, and last but not least, as Dad… he was someone special to everyone. Anyone he would visit or run into, he could easily

Earl Henry Elam, age 89, of Hillsboro, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 13. A Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 18, at Holly Hills Memorial Park in Granbury. A visitation will be held from 5–7 p.m. Thursday, October 17, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro.

Becky was born on June 2, 1953, in Alpine to Francis Patrick “Pat” Rooney II and Shirley Smith Rooney. She grew up in Marathon and the outreaching surrounding areas of the Big Bend, alongside her sisters Francene and Betty. The girls spent most holidays and every summer on the ranch with their loving grandparents, Mimi and Tata (Mr. & Mrs. F.P. Rooney I). Their days were spent riding donkeys so they could learn how to ride, eventually graduating up to a mule. Once Becky mastered the art of mule riding, Tata gave her the nickname Bec-a-Roo. Mimi was always at arms-length with camera in hand, snapping pics of the girls on every adventure. Each trip was sure to include a picnic, packed by Mimi early that morning, and afternoons spent hunting arrowheads in the wide West Texas terrain. Each of the girls would spend the rest of their lives attesting to how they had the absolute best childhood growing up as a Rooney girl. Pat had three daughters, and he made sure to tell everyone that he was raising

On Sunday, October 13, we said goodbye to William Sidney Walker, known by many in the area as “Wild Bill.” He was a father, a brother, a friend, and a proud former Marine. Though he was born on August 1, 1950, at All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth, he spent most of his youth in South Brewster County and graduated from Alpine High School in 1969.

It is with heartbreak and deep sadness that we announce the passing of Estella Garcia Reyes of Alpine on September 20, at age 83, surrounded with love by her family in El Paso. As we all weep in this time of pain for our Beautiful Mom and Matriarch, Mother-In-Law, Grandma and Great Grandma whose love and presence we will always feel as she looks upon us from above.

Life is eternal; and love is immortal; and death is only a horizon: and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. -Rossiter Worthington Raymond, “A Commendatory Prayer” Patty Kingston Towler passed away quietly at the Regency House in San Angelo on October 5 at the age of 97.