Lucy Pruneda Wyatt

Maria De La Luz Pruneda was born on August 7, 1933 in Kerrville, Texas to Rosendo Martinez Pruneda & Lilia Herrada. “Lucy” was the eldest of three children raised in Kerrville. She was a happy child who learned how to make traditional Mexican meals and loved to wear the beautiful clothing her mother hand-made for her. She faced the adversity of being Hispanic in a time when being “Mexican” was unfavorable. Her and her siblings grew up during the Depression era. These hardships only made her a strong young lady who fully took on the traits of both being an East Texan as well as being Mexican-American and melding them together. As part of her cultural heritage, she learned to dance. She became a skilled dancer in Latin Ballroom Dancing and Baile Folklorico, a traditional Mexican style of dance. As an adult, she was so experienced in her craft that she’d be critiquing professional dancers on television, and was usually on point with the judges’ assessments. Lucy married the love of her life, Seth Wyatt, in 1970, in a little flower shop in Wylie. Seth loved and raised her children as if they were his own. Her children know mom was the center of the family. She raised them all to embrace their culture and respect one another. In order to help provide for her family, Lucy worked as a secretary for over 40 years for the C & W Roofing Co. She also worked hard as a waitress for the family restaurant, The Alcapulco, in Kerrville. Alcapulco was “the life line of the family”. This is where all the kids worked there, this is where they were all fed, and where they came for family gatherings. This place brought them all together. When she could, she loved dancing and listening to all kinds of music. She enjoyed classic country music, like Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings; or Tejano music, like Little Joe y La Familia, and Ramon Ayala. She also liked traditional Mariachi music and her kids say she thought Tom Jones was “the cat’s meow.” She tried to teach Seth how to dance, but he says “Okies just can’t dance right.” Whenever someone would come over to the house, it always smelled of good cooking. She loved to cook, and loved to watch people brag about and enjoy eating her food. She made sure to teach her husband and children to cook Mexican food, like tamales, fideo and menudo in hopes that they would eventually teach her grandchildren, and their children. Cooking brought her family together, as did the holidays. Christmas was significant for Lucy, as she made sure everyone had at least one gift. She shopped all through the year, and stashed the gifts around the house until the holidays came. Lucy had a larger than life personality. She laughed easily and often. She was zaney, quirky and funny. She’s known for her big and hearty laugh. Lucy wasn’t the outdoorsy type. She really enjoyed being indoors watching t.v. The family knew, if any of her shows were on, leave her alone or you’d get the “Lucy look”. Seth says, “if you got the Lucy look, you knew you were in deep trouble!” Lucy loved to read too! She has all sorts of paperback books. She has enough books to start a small library. Lucy would go to donate books, and come home with twice as many as she donated. Lucy was generous and giving. She’d donate her time to help, or provide supplies needed to the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Indian School program. This is just one example of her kind heart. Lucy was strong, beautiful & witty. She had an energy about her. She could see the brighter side of things. She and Seth used to say to one another, “It’ll all work out” or “time will tell.” She had a way about her that made everything seem better. Her grandchildren called her “Dita” or “Walita”. Her husband referred to her as “My Old Lady”. Lucy absolutely loved her husband, adored her children and treasured her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be missed immensely. On Saturday, August 2, 2014, Lucy Wyatt was called Home. She was greeted in Heaven by her parents, Rosendo & Lilia Pruneda; her infant son, Joseph Day; her sister-in-law, Nova Dean and her husband George Coulter. Her life and legacy will continued to be remembered and celebrated by her husband of 45 years, Seth Wyatt of Mesquite; her children: son, Roy Wyatt of Mesquite; son, Jesse Saldaña of Dallas; daughter, Diane Day Thompson of Dallas; son Shelby Day and his wife Denise of Wylie; step-daughter Kimberly Kay of Houston; her siblings: brother, Humberto Pruneda and his wife Delores of Kerrville; sister Ermelinda Gonzalez of Kerrville; brother-in-law, Joel Wyatt and his wife,Sue; as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and a multitude of friends. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Mesquite Specialty Hospital for their support during her final days. “…She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels, by the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees; and she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting, and I know she is smiling, saying “Don’t worry about me…”