Estella Doyal

Estella Doyal passed away Friday, January 16, 2026. She was born in Sinton, Texas on June 17, 1953. She was joined in the birth by her twin sister Esther (Batts). Her Mother and Father, Robert and Rachel Quintanilla now had 3 daughters. This little family would eventually grow to 4 daughters and 8 sons.

Estella’s mother and father moved their growing family to Seminole, Texas. As Estella and her twin sister Esther entered Seminole High School they came under the watchful eye of Mrs. Price (Dora Price), a high school biology teacher. Mrs. Price guided them through high school and church life at West Side Church of Christ.

In Estella’s senior year, besides being in Honor Society, Future Teachers of America, she was also a Football Homecoming Attendant.

Upon graduation from Seminole High School in 1972, Estella and her twin sister Esther went to Lubbock Christian University. Estella majored in Education Secondary Level with teaching fields in Biology and Spanish as well as Elementary level Education.

While at LCU she was in the LOA Social Club. It was while she was at LCU that she began dating an accounting student named James Doyal. Estella became officially engaged to James on November 9, 1975.

Estella was an outstanding student at Lubbock Christian University graduating with honors in December 1975. Estella was also the first child in her family to graduate from college. This set a pattern that would continue for all twelve children in the Quintanilla family, many graduating with advanced degrees.

Estella and her twin sister Esther were both accomplished seamstresses. They made many of their clothes while in college. Estella even made her own wedding dress.

On June 19, 1976 Estella Doyal and James Doyal were united in marriage before their friends and family in Seminole, Texas.

Estella began her career as an elementary classroom teacher. She touched hundreds of children’s lives teaching 2nd through 4th grade in Lubbock Independent School District. She retired after 27 years of teaching. During this period, she also became a Certified Libarian which she earned at Texas Tech University.

But retirement was not for her. She began teaching at Hope Lutheran Church and School as a Kindergarten Prep teacher from 2005 till 2013.

In 2013 she would join Christ the King School as their Librarian, a position she would hold for the next ten years touching even more children.

The next several years she would enjoy her home and being a grandmother and traveling with her husband. She was an active member of South Plains Church of Christ.

Estella was preceded in death by Her father Robert C. Quintanilla and her mother Rachel Quintanilla and her oldest brother Robert (Evelyn) Quintanilla, Jr.

She is survived by her husband James, and two children Starla Doyal of Boulder, Colorado and her son Reagan Doyal and his wife Jaclyn and two wonderful grand granddaughters Ailey and Violet. She is also survived by her three sisters Jessica (Rusty) Ragsdill, Esther (Don) Batts, Rally (Joe) Flores, and her seven brothers John (Veronica) Quintanilla, Reuben (Monica) Quintanilla, Roy (Minnie) Quintanilla, Ramiro Quintanilla, Ren (Anna) Quintanilla, David (Elena) Quintanilla, Rudy Quintanilla, and a host of nieces and nephews.

The family suggests a memorial to:

Lubbock Christian University

LCU.edu/education/give

5601 19th Street

Lubbock, Texas 79407