Mary Arana

Mary Cuellar Arana, 90, of McCamey, Texas, received her ultimate healing when she was welcomed into God’s embrace on Friday, September 15, 2017. Mary had resided for six years under the tender-loving care of her daughter and family—Rose Mary and Domingo Luna—and granddaughter and great-grandson—Nicole Padilla and Zayne Rathbun. Mary was born on May 19, 1927, in El Paso, Texas, to Julia Cuellar Sanchez, and was raised in Ft. Stockton, Texas.

As a young girl, Mary attended schools in Ft. Stockton, and possessed a compassionate, nurturing, and selfless nature. These unique characteristics led her to the healthcare profession, where she worked as a practical nurse and nurse’s aide. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed starting her day in the Word of God, followed by her News Fix on the world around her in the Odessa American—she maintained a subscription to the OA for 57 years (if the newspaper carrier didn’t deliver Mary’s daily edition, her grandkids would tease that they needed to run fast back to Odessa to get a copy of Grandma’s News Fix). Mary especially liked the Bible’s book of Esther, because the story of a humble, hard-working girl who loved her family and the Jewish people, deeply resonated in her soul. Her mornings were also routinely complemented with coffee and, in her later years, she took a shine to steaming cups of cappuccino. Mary poured over articles about healthcare and medicine and kept the Family Medical Guide nearby because she maintained a regimen of nutrition, fitness, and vigorous counter-attacks on illness. Mary’s bookshelf was continuously stocked with reading material—about the life of a Christian, How-To remedies, politics and government, and leadership. She eventually lost sight in one eye, but it didn’t reduce her reading time when she put to good use a sturdy and decades-old magnifying glass.

She was a meticulous organizer and kept copious notes on a variety of topics. She was a profound thinker and was told by family members that she would be a wise and erudite judge in the new Heaven and the new Earth. Mary’s sister and husband, Edna and Sabas Marquez, of Austin, shared that Mary lived a Holy life and treated everyone with respect and kindness, and was a Saint with a beautiful spirit. Mary was a stickler for balance and partook of simple, yet meaningful, pleasures such as spending time daily in the courtyard outside, taking in the sun and communing with God and her buddies: a white dove, a flitting red robin, small sparrows, and neighborhood animals that brought joy to her days.

She married Jose Morales Arana in 1952, and thus began a partnership of 59 years, 11 children, 17 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, and residencies in Rankin, Ft. Stockton, Lubbock, Alpine, and McCamey. Mary enjoyed Pentecostal tent preachings, and regularly watched TBN’s Paul and Jan Crouch, Joyce Meyer, and Jimmy Swaggart. Two of her favorite charities, which she supported, were St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, several ministries, and Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, to mention a few. This pioneering spirit of a woman valued propriety, justice, core values, and righteousness. She provided lectures to the grandkids about being kindly affectioned toward one another (Romans 12:10-21, KJV) about the Lord, Jesus Christ, and about being a good person. “Don’t forget about Jesus, He Loves YOU,” Mary would tell the children.

Mary also relished a rousing discussion about politics, the economy, and patriotism. She is survived by her children: Rose Mary Luna (husband Domingo); Joe Arana, Jr. (wife Nellie), Martin Arana (wife Betty), Mary Martha Arana, Mary Lou Cherry (husband Alan), Robert Arana, Mary Lupe Arana Brownlow (husband Kevin), Mary Eva Perrin (husband Joe), and, Adam Arana (wife Tonya). She is also survived by 17 grandchildren: Nicole Padilla, Roman Padilla (fiance’ Maggie), Analeicia Arana Dance (husband Ian), Crystal Gasdaska (husband David), John Gabriel Arana, John Arana Cook, Rebekah Cook, Lauren Cherry, Thomas Arana, Esther Arana, Luke Arana, Kristen Arana, Lauren Katherine Arana, Robert Arana, Jr., EJ Perrin, Jordan Perrin, Isaiah Arana, and Alex Arana. Mary is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, who were a joy to her: Zayne Rathbun, Kya Arana, Jaden Arana, Zoe Gasdaska, Levi Gasdaska, Brock Cherry, Jozlyn Esparza Arana, and Ziana Arana.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Joe Morales Arana; son, Raul Arana; daughter, Mary Margaret Arana; grandsons, Joshua Arana and Martin Anthony Arana; and, granddaughter, Rachel Arana.