Amalia Gonzales

Amalia "Yaya" Gonzales lived her life to the fullest. She loved her family, friends and her dogs. Her passion in life was to mold and shape young minds. She would often take money out of her own pocket to buy school supplies and gifts for her students. Just before she passed she bought stockings for her students.

She was born on March 30, 1947 in Alpine, Texas to Jose and Felipa Arispe. The family had deep roots in Alpine, Marathon. Big Bend and Terlingua where her mother where born.

She was raised with her two sisters, Marie Torres and Anna Vejil. While born in Alpine she grew up in Odessa and attended Ector High School.

After high school she dedicated herself to raising her two daughters Grace Gonzales and Rebecca Lopez. She met the love of her life, Santos Gonzales. He says the moment he saw her he knew she was the one. They married two months after they met. She passed on the day of their 50th wedding anniversary.

While working and taking care of a family she attended Odessa College where she did her basics. She then received her B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Spanish at UTPB. A few years later she got her Masters in Counseling. She said school was in her veins so she went back and got a mid-management certificate from Sul Ross.

She taught for many years in ECISD and retired as an assistant principal. Despite retirement she couldn't stay out of the classroom and went back to teaching. She loved working with all the teachers and staff at Milam Elementary.

She loved to travel with her husband and only grandchild, Jacob Lopez. They traveled the world together from Italy, Canada and all over the United States. She often told people her most expensive hobby was her grandson.

Her life revolved around her family and her dogs. And anyone who knows her knows she loved to dance to her favorite music by Tom Jones and well anything with a fun beat.

There was no slowing down for Amalia, she and her sisters opened a business together The Purple Leaf. The business brought her family even closer together.

She is survived by her husband, daughters, sisters, grandson, niece Karissa Torres and brother in laws, Ponciano Torres and Adam Vejil.

Public viewing will be Tuesday, December 29, 2020 from 1-9 PM with the Rosary at 7 PM at Frank Wilson Funeral Home, 4635 Oakwood Dr, Odessa, TX 79761. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 30th at 2pm at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, 7601 N Grandview Ave, Odessa, TX 79765. Burial will follow at the Los Angeles section of Ector County Cemetery.