Petra Escobar Mayorga-Rawls Obituary (1943

It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Petra Escobar Mayorga-Rawls, 77, on May 3, 2020 at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital in Houston, Texas. Due to the ailments of diabetes, heart failure and 17 years on dialysis for end stage renal disease. She was the wife of David Odell Rawls with whom they shared 54 years of marriage together. Born March 30, 1943, at home in Congregacion Quintero, Tamaulipas, Mexico, she was the daughter of Augustin Escobar Luna and Florinda Mayorga Sanchez. She was the first of 12 siblings: eight girls and four boys. As a child she helped her father plant seeds and work on his sugar cane land. She was a seamstress and would later sew her wedding dress. Petra was employed at the Red Cross in Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico where she proudly worked as a nurse. She delivered babies, healed the sick, even making house calls at all hours. She moved to Houston, Texas in 1966 where she and her husband, David, raised their four children. She worked various jobs between caring for their children including, nanny, cleaning dorms at Rice University and working nights at a bakery. She also worked with blueprints at Ridgeway's and Lowry Graphics. Later, she would start her produce business at the Farmer's Market on Airline Street. She was well known throughout the Houston intercity communities of Cottage Grove, West End, Montrose, Houston's Downtown Historic Wards where she would sell produce and made so many friendships. Lastly, she worked as a home health provider until she retired at the age of 59 and return to live in her hometown, Congregacion Quintero for over a year. She was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother who treasured her grandchildren. Petra encouraged her children to attend and was baptized at West End Baptist Church. She will be remembered for her love of family and especially loved traveling to her hometown in Mexico. She enjoyed sewing, singing, dancing, working in her produce/flower gardens and simply being outdoors. She embraced American culture and proudly became an American citizen June 2000 at the age of 57. Petra is survived by spouse, David Odell Rawls; children, Augustine William Rawls, Florestela Rawls Moreno (Husband, Jose Angel Moreno), Patrick David Rawls (Wife, Veronica Escobar), Patsy Rawls Mendiola (Husband, Leobardo Carlos Mendiola Jr.), grandchildren, Jose Angel Moreno, Flora Angelina Moreno, Leobardo Carlos Mendiola III and Harlow David Mendiola. Brothers, Augustin Escobar (Virginia Sanchez), Miguel Escobar (Haydee Huipio), sisters, Rosa Escobar, Elvira Escobar, Felicitas Escobar, and Eva Escobar (Juan Jesus Alvarez). Great-Aunt Maria Mayorga Sanchez, and Lupe Mayorga Escobar, Brother-in-law, Esteban Picon, sisters-in-law Mary Ann Rawls, and Evangeline Alice Rawls. Numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews who she loved as her own. She was preceded in death by her parents Augustin Escobar Luna and Florinda Mayorga Sanchez, Paternal Grandparents, Marcial Escobar Muniz and Conception Luna Mata, Maternal Grandparents, Amado Mayorga Munoz and Mercedes Sanchez Hernandez brothers, Lazaro Escobar (Maria Isabel Picon) and Domingo Escobar (Gracia Gonzalez), Sisters, Amparo Escobar, Anna Maria Escobar, and Florinda Escobar. Great-Aunt Mirian Reyes, Anastasia Mayorga Sanchez, and Great-Uncles Domingo Reyes, Jose Mayorga, Isabel Mayorga and Julian Sanchez, Mother-in-law, Evangeline Alice Rawls and brothers-in-law, Ernesto Mancilla and Lt. Harlow William Rawls. She generously donated her body for teaching and scientific purposes to the Willed Body Program at the University of Texas Health Science McGovern Medical School. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Please light a candle in remembrance.