Maria Ramos Escamilla, age 84, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023.

Born in Hondo, April 13, 1939, she was the daughter of Francisco and Juanita Duran Ramos.

Maria grew up surrounded by the love and laughter of her seven siblings. From an early age, she learned the importance of family and the bonds that would shape her life in the years to come.

Married and blessed with nine children, her love knew no bounds and she poured her heart and soul into raising them with strong family values rooted in faith and love for God and Jesus Christ.

For 13 years, she worked at Medina Community Hospital serving others with compassion and kindness. It was during her time at the hospital that she also achieved a remarkable personal milestone, receiving her GED.

From there, she joined James Avery Craftsman where she retired after an amazing 18 years crafting beautiful jewelry pieces that will be cherished for generations to come. Her friends at James Avery were not just co-workers, but were a significant part of her life, as she considered them her extended family.

She absolutely LOVED the Dallas Cowboys and cheering them on with unwavering loyalty and excitement. Maria also had a great love for music and dancing.  She never missed an opportunity to share these passions with her loved ones.

But perhaps her greatest gift was her ability to bring people together. Whether it was through her delicious home-cooked meals or her warm and welcoming nature, she had an extraordinary ability to create a sense of belonging and unity.

A long-time member of Primera Iglesia Bautista, her faith was the cornerstone of her life. It guided her actions, provided solace in times of hardship, and instilled in her an unwavering belief in the power of unconditional love and forgiveness.

We honor her memory by embracing the values she held dear: love, faith, family, and the joy of living life to the fullest.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Efrain M. Escamilla; son, Elias R. Escamilla; and siblings, Margarita Ramirez, Francisco Ramos, and Aurora Rios.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Efrain R. Escamilla Jr. (Mary Ann), Esmeralda "Esmie" Trinidad (Raul), Eva Dominguez (Hector), Enereida Jones, Elsa Piña (Bobby), Erlinda Escamilla Piña (Raul), Luis R. Escamilla (Esperanza), Marissa Heyen (Michael); 26 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren; and siblings, Salvador Ramos, Jose Ramos, Adelina Rupp (Dan), and Eudelia Escamilla (Efrain C.).

A memorial service will be held Thursday, Nov. 2, 7:00 p.m., at Guinn-Horger Funeral Home Chapel.

The family suggests that donations may be made to First Mexican Baptist Church.