Elizabeth Madge Bray

Elizabeth Madge Bray passed away on June 19, 2025, at her home in Eddy, Texas. Elizabeth was born on August 19, 1947 in Sonora, Kentucky to Tommy and Melva Buckles. The eldest of 7 sisters, she was known as Liz to all who knew her and as Midgie to those closest to her.

Growing up in her 20s and early 30s, she moved often and even lived overseas in Germany for a couple of years. Her young adulthood was the quintessential experience of a young woman growing up in the 60’s: listening to the Beatles and driving a 1967 Camaro.

In the late 70s, she moved to Houston, Texas and met the love of her life, Hershel Bray. After meeting at work, they began dating and married on June 10, 1982. They celebrated their honeymoon at Disney World in Orlando, Fl.

Liz found joy in taking care of creatures, big and small. Over her life, she tended to many furry companions, most recently Duffy, her ever-constant, tail-wagging companion over the last decade.

As the eldest of 7 girls, she also tended to her younger siblings, helping them whenever they needed the wisdom and strength of a big sister.

Liz stepped into the biggest caretaker role of her life in the early 90s, when she and Hershel welcomed Shasta Partida, Tavo Partida and Vincent Walker into their homes and raised them as their own children. To them, Liz and Hershel were not just simply an Aunt and Uncle — they were Mom and Dad.

Together, they lived a quiet life on 10 acres of their land, which was a safe haven for Tavo, Shasta, Vincent as well as Liz and Hershel. They spent weekends working on projects across the property, treasure hunting at yard sales and taking care of all the stray animals that found their way to the family.

In the last several years of her life, Liz was cared for by her son, Vincent, who spoke to her every day, multiple times a day and family members James “Jimmy” and Robin West and their daughter Lindsay.

In the years after Hershel’s passing, not a day went by where Hershel was not on Liz’s mind. Nothing was more important to her than honoring his memory by living her life in the home they built together. In life, Liz and Hershel were always together, never apart, and now they are forever joined as one heart, reunited at long last.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 36 years, Hershel C. Bray; sisters, Beverly Kessinger and Sharon Partida; and son, Tavo Partida.

She is survived by her children, Vincent Walker and Shasta Maria; 7 grandchildren; sisters, Beth Culver, Angela Menchaca, Rosa Menchaca, Conietha Zapfe; and extended family members, Jimmy and Robin West and Lindsay and Larry Waldrop and son, Evan.