Louise Ornelas Remembered at Memorial Service

TYLER — A memorial service was held Saturday at Tyler’s Green Acres Baptist Church for Louise Ornelas, a leading philanthropist in the community — but known for her down-to-earth personality. According to our news partner KETK, Ornelas’s daughter Becky Wangner said her mom “just felt as comfortable on the farm as she did with presidents and princes.” Recalling a meeting with President George H.W. Bush, Wangner recounted, “After dinner she told me she held hands with the president under the table, and…I said, ‘Mom, you can’t do that — there’s Secret Service standing all around.’ And she said, ‘Oh, yes, I can… When I pray, I hold hands.'” A son, Randy Rogers, said his last words to Ornelas were, “You’ve been a great mom.” He continued, “And she looked up at me, and she said, ‘I sure have.'” Ornelas died December 18 at 93. She was buried in her hometown of Arp.