It is with great sadness that the family of Senaida Ureta González announce her death after a rapid battle with cancer, on June 27, 2023, in Kingsland, Texas. Known as “Nana” by most of her family, she was 88, and died peacefully with members of her family by her side. She was a native of Fort Stockton, Texas, and daughter of Cosme Damian Urueta (Ureta) and Josefina García Ureta. She was a fifth-generation Texan, the great-granddaughter of Fort Stockton pioneer Felix de la Garza, one of the original designers and builders of the canal system that still runs from Comanche Springs after arriving in Fort Stockton in 1867, the same year her great-grandfather, Pedro Urueta, also arrived as one of the area’s first farmers. She would come to live with her family in a home built on the same lot where he had built his original home on what is now Main Street, overlooking the springs. Her great-grandmother, Petra Rodríguez García, lived for a while with her family, in Fort Stockton’s oldest house.
She was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church since her days as a member of the Catholic Youth Organization, growing to be highly involved as a member of the Pastoral Council, as a CCD teacher, lector, collections counter, and member of the Financial Council. She was known for helping organize weddings, showers, baptisms, and retreats, and had a lifelong devotion to praying the rosary.
A proud citizen of Fort Stockton, Mrs. González, known as Sandy by most in town, lived a long life of service to the community, A graduate of Fort Stockton High School in 1953, she attended business college in Los Angeles, California, before completing a year of study at Sul Ross State College. Raising four children, she became active in the PTA in many of the schools in Fort Stockton, serving in every office in the organization and formally awarded a life membership in recognition of her valuable service to the schools. She also worked as Assistant Librarian at Ft. Stockton Junior High, and as Administrative Secretary at Butz Elementary, to then principle, Ira Lee Henslee.
Before retiring, she served as Administrative Secretary at Pecos County Memorial Hospital, as well as a part of the hospital’s Education Department, for a total of ten years. Her service to the hospital was more than just a job; she served for 37 years as a member of the volunteer hospital auxiliary, or “pink ladies,” as they were called during her service, serving in every office of the organization, taking on many committee and project-related responsibilities. For three years, she served as receptionist at the women’s fitness center. After moving to Boerne, Texas, she continued to be active there, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, as part of several ministries, and as a social organizer for activities at the senior living community where she resided.
All who knew her remember her radiant smile, her generous volunteer spirit, and her playful creative outlook to social and religious activities. Many people often called her a “very classy lady,” who always looked her best. She loved to sing and along with years singing with a variety of choirs at church in Fort Stockton, spent several years as part of a volunteer seniors choir in Boerne that performed around the Texas hill country at a variety of venues. She enjoyed music in her home, had a special affinity for birds, especially red cardinals, and enjoyed quilting and embroidery—especially for her grandchildren and children. She loved gardening and treated her plants with care, prided herself in having a beautiful patio garden that was often recognized for her holiday decorations which she planned diligently every year. She loved to cook and was known to make her famous enchiladas and arroz con pollo for the workers who helped her with one thing or another around her home.
She was preceded in death by her three brothers and three sisters, two nephews, and one grandson, and is survived by her four children, Sarah Amira “Christina” de la Garza, Veronica Linda Reynolds (David), Alex John González (Carol), and Arthur Ray González (Denisse); eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and innumerable nieces, nephews, cousins, and beloved extended family members.
A rosary and graveside service will be held in August, in Fort Stockton. She had a lifelong devotion to St. Jude, and in lieu of flowers, a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be appropriate. Those wishing to attend services are asked to contact a family member to be informed of the arrangements.