Ester Ybarra

Ester Ruiz Ybarra embraced the world with her presence and love on Oct. 19, 1946 and was greeted by her parents Carlos and Juanita (Zamora) Ruiz. Born the first of eight sisters, she began her journey in caring for everyone she encountered as she guided them through their childhood. This built her matriarch status in the family and forged her into the strong woman, and mother, that she was known to be.

She fell in love and married Andres Ybarra Sr. in Lubbock on Aug. 17, 1963. Her journey in motherhood began that year when she bore the first of eight children. Ten years later as she endured the loss of her husband, she formed an insurmountable amount of strength and resiliency that influenced the way she raised her children. Growing her household, she was strict on house chores, running a tight ship, and the importance of faith and education. She taught each one of her daughters to be self-reliant, and her sons the importance of caring for their significant others and their family.

As time passed, her family grew as her children blessed her with one of the greatest loves of her life - her grandchildren and later, great grandchildren. She was always sure to be at most every event no matter how far. She was keen on celebrating every birthday and holiday, always giving thoughtful gifts and putting great effort into making each grandchild and great grandchild her infamous treat bags. A natural caregiver, she was always accepting of every child that came into her home and treated them as if they were her own family.

She is remembered by her children for her love for singing mariachi music and dressing up in heels, hoop earrings, and her signature fire red lipstick. You could always find her with quarters in her hand ready to play loteria and toma todo. Though alongside being remembered as a fierce, competitive soul, she was well known for her words of wisdom and gentle guidance - always ready to help anyone that sought her knowledge. 

She had a love for baseball that was greatly influenced by watching her children play throughout their childhood, often being coached by her oldest son. It continued throughout her life as she supported her late son Jordy through his desire to play professionally and as she watched her grandchildren and great grandchildren foster their love for the sport. Jordy’s passing greatly influenced her final years, and she could often be found watching baseball as a means of staying connected to him. She always rooted proudly for her favorite team, the Houston Astros, and favorite player, Jose Altuve. She was sure to sport a jersey on game day no matter where she was.

As the life of the party, her silly disposition, pranks, jokes, wittiness, and love for throwing gritos will be deeply missed at every family function. Her love for music and dancing paired with her fresh, homemade beans, tea, and hot chocolate were a staple of every gathering and her lovingly made oatmeal was a staple of every day. Eight o’clock on weekdays will remain sacred for her daughters as it was always devoted to watching her novelas of choice. Sundays will continue to be reserved for church as she was strong in her Catholic faith and found great joy in receiving the body of Christ and participating in mass through her final days.

She is survived by her children: Andres “June” Ybarra (Isabel), Sonia Penalosa (Anselmo), Mary Alice Ybarra, Angelica “Angel” Silva, Arnold “Boy” Silva (Rita), Judy “Missy” Estrada (Luis), and Julie Gonzales, all of Uvalde. Sisters: Linda Perez (Seledonio) of La Pryor, Genoveva Cobarrubias of Uvalde, Evangelina Delgado (Andres) of San Antonio, Sylvia Moreno of Copperas Cove, and Laura Trevino (Rey) of Seguin; grandchildren: Pilar Newberry and husband, Fred, Juanita “Nini” Andrews and husband, Tanner, Macy Briones and husband, Javier, Adaline Penalosa, Adrian Penalosa, Arianne Penalosa, Alianne Penalosa, Rylan Diaz, Andres Silva, Mauricio Silva, Emma Silva, Marcelo Silva, Alesandra Gonzales, Osiris Edwards, Io Alekxi Estrada, and Elizabeth Cartaya; great grandchildren: Victoria, Mia Grace, Chloe, and Penelope Newberry; James, Thomas, John, and William Andrews; Camilla, Amelia, and Lilliana Briones; Lagertha and Azaeliyah Penalosa; and Noah Silva.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son Jordy Lee Gonzales; and her sisters Rosa Chapa and Ramona Espadas.

Visitation will begin on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 10 a.m. followed by a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7 p.m. at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment to follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be  Alesandra “Cheeks” Gonzales, Andres “Andy” Silva, Rylan Diaz, Luis Estrada, Adrian Penalosa, Rey Trevino, Jerry Quijano, and Richard Luna. 

 Honorary pallbearers will be Io “Papi” Alekxi Estrada, James Andrews, Thomas Andrews, John Andrews, William “Willy Pat” Andrews, Mauricio Silva, Marcelo Silva, Robert “Rob” Ward, Genaro “Harry” Luna, Fred Newberry, Tanner Andrews and Javier Briones.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either Sacred Heart Catholic School or Sacred Heart Catholic Church.