Obituaries

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.

It is with a heavy but grateful heart that we announce the passing of Lupe Vega, who left us peacefully surrounded by her three children (Henry, Rose, and Cynthia) on September 30 at the well-celebrated age of 90. After a brief battle with cancer, she is now in the loving arms of the One True Living Christ and reunited with her beloved husband, Alberto Vega, who she was married to for 62 wonderful years.

It is with our deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we share the news of the passing of our beautiful Eloisa E. Celaya, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend whose presence graced our lives in countless ways.

Manuela Armendariz, a cherished homemaker and beloved matriarch, passed away peacefully on September 19 in Alpine at the age of 81. Born in Mexico on December 18, 1942, Manuela dedicated her life to her family, nurturing them with love and warmth throughout

Arthur “Art” David Dreyfus III was born on October 8, 1948, in Queens, Long Island, NY, and died on August 16, in Little Rock, Arkansas, leaving behind a legacy of love and courage. He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur “Jiggs” David Dreyfus II; mother, Florence Dreyfus; sister, Joan Watson; and brother, Michael Dreyfus.

Patricia Rose Manning, loved and respected by many, died on Sunday, September 8. Patty has been described as fiercely kind, a rapt storyteller, hilarious, patient, magical, a wonderful cook, an actress, an artist, a teacher, passionate, amazing, a mentor, a friend, talented, special, an amazing listener, fair-minded, empathetic, intelligent, brave, and one of the “Moms.” She will be dearly missed and never forgotten.

Maria Antonia (Toni) Dominguez of Marfa passed away Wednesday, September 4, after a long battle with cancer. She was born on April 16, 1945, to Cresencio and Hortencia Jurado of Marfa. She was the oldest of nine children. She attended Blackwell School as a child until the family moved to El Paso. She graduated from Bel Air High School and was a member of the National Honor Society. She married Manuel Dominguez on February 13, 1965, and moved back to Marfa. She worked at Vizcaino’s Department Store for several years. Toni then worked at St. Mary’s Catholic School before going to Marfa ISD as a librarian. Toni and Manuel had two children, Aurora Hernandez (Tony) and Albert Dominguez (Lyra), both of Marfa. She had two grandchildren, Christopher Dominguez of Odessa and Coy Dominguez of San Antonio, and five great- grandchildren.