Augustina Gayton Villarreal

Augustina Gayton Villarreal, 84, of Elgin, passed away Thursday, September 29, 2022.

She was born on March 30, 1938, in Taylor, Texas to Benigna Martinez Gayton and José Gayton. She was baptized and confirmed Catholic. Augustina grew up in Taylor with ten brothers and sisters. Her father passed away early in her childhood, so she and her family traveled to West Texas and the Midwest to work as farm laborers. She attended elementary school in Taylor. Later she worked at Loeffler Cleaners until she married Eusebio Gonzalez Villarreal. They were united in Holy Matrimony on November 23, 1958, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Taylor, Texas.

Augustina was a dedicated, hardworking homemaker. She was an excellent cook, and she showed her love through the delicious meals she prepared. As her children grew, she returned to work at Elgin Nursing Home and then later as a cafeteria worker with the Elgin Independent School District. She loved children and would never let anyone go hungry. She often gave her own money to children who could not afford a school lunch. She semi-retired and continued working baking desserts for the Elgin City Cafe and as a caregiver to several elderly people in her community. She fully retired to join her husband in his retirement.

She was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a member of the Guadalupana Society. She and Eusebio also liked to organize barbeque fundraisers and frequently volunteered to prepare and serve breakfast on Sundays. In her retirement she and Eusebio would volunteer weekly at the First Presbyterian Church’s soup kitchen in Elgin. She cared about her community. She and Eusebio often volunteered preparing and serving breakfast at the VFW on Memorial Day. They also helped organize and participated in clean up days at the Elgin Latin Cemetery.

Augustina’s family was her greatest joy, and she centered her life around them. She was energetic, fun-loving, and nurturing. She enjoyed going to dances with Eusebio and listening to conjunto music. She loved playing softball, staying fit by walking several miles a day, and working in her garden. She exuded grace and elegance from the inside out from how she treated others to how she dressed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eusebio Gonzalez Villarreal; her eldest son, Eusebio Villarreal, Jr.; her great-granddaughter, Angelina Falcon Villarreal; sisters, Macaria Gayton Botello and Christina Gayton Connors; brothers, Luciano Gayton, Eugenio Gayton, Tirso Gayton, and Margarito Gayton; as well as her parents and grandparents.

She is survived by her daughters, Augustina (Tina) Rangel and husband, Adrian Rangel, Patricia Turner, and Graciela Monica and husband, Philip Goetz; her sons, Joseph James Villarreal and Fabian Eusebio Villarreal; nine grandchildren; Sondra Rangel, Jacob Rangel, Leandra Turner, Philip Turner, Aleshia Villarreal, Moranda Anderson,

Anastasia Aguilar, Joseph James Villarreal, Jr., and Walter Goetz; sixteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; sisters, her twin, Maria Gayton Alderete and Ernestine Gayton-Valdez; and brothers, Apolonio (Paul) Borjas Gayton and Benito Borjas Gayton.

Serving as pallbearers are her four great-grandsons; Thomas Joshua Pritchett, Aidan Joseph Pritchett, Jayden Isaiah Houston, and Marcus James Villarreal; and two nephews, Benito Gayton, Jr. and William Gayton.

The family gives a special thanks to her caregivers who included her son, Fabian, daughter, Monica, granddaughter, Aleshia, and Lupe Hernandez.

Visitation is to be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm with the Recitation of the Holy Rosary beginning at 7:00 pm Thursday, October 6, 2022 at Providence Funeral Home, 807 Carlos Parker Blvd. N.W., Taylor.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 111 W. Rio Grande St., Taylor. Burial to follow at Elgin Latin Cemetery.