Olivia Bayarena Villarreal, age 97 of Encino, Texas went to be with the Lord on Friday, October 30th, 2020 in McKinney, Texas. She was born on March 8th, 1923 to Simon Bayarena and Maria Rita (Trevino) Bayarena.
Olivia, “Deeta” or “Buelita” as she was fondly called, was preceded in death by her father, mother and her sisters, Ofila B. Rodriguez and Otila B. Longoria and her beloved husband, Conrado Villarreal and son, Conrado (Cono) Villarreal Jr.
She is survived by her loving daughter, Viviana V. Lopez and husband, Gilberto Lopez of McKinney, Texas; daughter-in-law Janie A. Villarreal of San Antonio, Texas and their families; grandchildren, Arlene L. Perez and husband, Daniel J. Perez of Van Alstyne, Texas, Gilberto Lopez Jr. and wife, Mary of Honey Grove, Texas, Becky Rhoads of Richardson, Texas, and Romaldo Lopez and wife, Vicki of Dallas, Texas, Conrado (Sonny) Villarreal III of San Antonio, Texas, Belinda Olivia Villarreal and wife, Roni Villarreal of Helotes, Texas; great-grandchildren, Amber Lopez and husband, Joseph Hernandez of Anna, Texas, Daniel H. Perez and Matthew G. Perez of Van Alstyne, Texas, John Choon of Dallas, Texas, Sammy Rhoads of Richardson, Texas, Amber O’Connor and husband, Brandon O’Connor, Melissa Villarreal, and Krista Villarreal; great-great grandchildren, Gavin and Easton Hernandez of Anna, Texas, Peyton Timmerman, Rayne, Andrew and Logan O’Connor of San Antonio, Texas. She also is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Though she lived a long life, she lived a simple and humble one. She grew up on a ranch in Encino, Texas with her parents and sisters who all worked cattle with their father. Though she only attended school up into the 8th grade it didn’t stop her from becoming the Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 3 Place No. 1 of Brooks County for eight years. But never learned how to drive a car. She was widowed at the age of 39 years old and never remarried. The love of her life was always her handsome husband, Conrado. Another great loss was losing her handsome and beloved son, Conrado (Cono) at an early age in 1979. Though she lived alone most of her life, she kept busy with her small ranches and cattle and making extra money washing and ironing clothes. A fond memory was watching her launder the clothes in a tub and washboard, then hanging them up to dry on the clothesline. Then cooking the starch for the clothes and ironing each to perfection. She was never one to stand idle. There was always something to do to keep her busy, like tending to her flowers, especially her roses. She had a natural green thumb and nurtured her garden with patience and love.
She loved her family very much. She eventually came to live with her daughter in McKinney, Texas where she created wonderful memories. She had her rosary and prayed every day. She was our “prayer warrior” and always made sure she prayed over us individually during our visits with her. In her later years she was in a nursing home where she also prayed over the nurses who took care of her. She was “Miss Olivia” to the staff. She won the battle with cancer in her 70’s but recently had been diagnosed with breast cancer only to be stricken with the Covid-19 virus. She overcame the virus but her little body gave out. She was a fighter to the end.
We will greatly miss her and miss the “Our Father” prayers for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. We will miss the stories she told of her childhood, her marriage and the stories of her children that she adored; and the way she had a knack for remembering dates and names. In her 97 years she touched so many lives. We will be the richer for it.
A private visitation for the family will be held on November 2nd, 2020 at Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. Then she will be transported to the Howard Williams Funeral Home in Falfurrias, Texas. Visitations will be held Saturday, November 7th, 2020 at 8:00am, the rosary will be at 9:00am and then at 10:30am a gravesite service at Las Cuatas Family Cemetery in Encino, Texas.