Rebecca "Becky" Herron

Rebecca Sue Flores Herron, 56, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Friday night, Dec. 23, 2011. Becky, of Pflugerville, Texas, was the legislative liaison for Government Affairs for the Texas Department of State Health Services. She is survived by her loving son Jacob Shane Herron of Pflugerville and mother Laura E. Flores of San Antonio. Born in San Antonio, Becky was preceded in death by her husband Patrick Herron, father Ned. A. Flores, and younger sister Lisa Flores.

Becky worked for DSHS for 15 years, where she prepared and promoted the legislative advocacy agenda, worked in coalition with both House and Senate elected officials and other groups to promote changes to state and federal laws and regulations. She served on DSHS Bioterrorism Workgroup and on emergency assistance groups during hurricanes in the state. In 1997, she was commissioned A Yellow Rose of Texas by Gov. Ann Richards. Becky’s job also included community advocacy, working with low- and moderate-income individuals and citizen advocacy groups to address consumer health, environmental, insurance, agricultural, education and neighborhood issues in communities throughout Texas.

Becky earned her bachelor’s of science degree in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin in 1980 and was a life member of the alumni group. She graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in San Antonio in 1973. Over her career, Becky worked as director of government relations for the American Lung Association of Texas, and as the government relations manager and then local government outreach specialist for the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.

A loving mother, Becky was very involved in her son Jake’s life. She was a board member of the Pflugerville Piranhas Competitive Youth Swim Team, the first president of Dessau Middle School PTO in 2002, and past president of Dessau Elementary School PTO. She received the Spirit Award from the State Science Olympiad Tournament in 2001. She was active in Jake’s Scouting life, supporting him as he earned his Eagle Scout honor. Becky and her husband Pat were founding members of St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, Austin. She was a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, the League of Woman Voters, Travis County Democratic Women and Women in Communications, Inc., a board member of the local Goodwill, and was a founder and past president of the Copperfield Neighborhood Association. She was former chair of the Democratic Party Precincts 108 and 218. She worked on the Clinton-Gore campaign in 1992, and attended the 1993 Inauguration and the Texas State Society Black Tie and Boots Inaugural Ball.

Other survivors include her nephew Adam Quintana of San Antonio, niece Alyson Quintana of Houston, aunt Rosemary Sandoval Roberts of Scottsdale, Az., uncle Tom (Bobbi) M. Sandoval of San Antonio, sister-in-law Philomena Herron (Edward Hryniewicz), nephew Chris (wife Melissa and daughter Nicole) Esparza, and nieces Briana and Paige Hryniewicz, all of Elgin, Tx. Also surviving are her cousins Maren Roberts Raccuia and John D. Roberts of Gilbert, Az., Laura Roberts Keefe of Gaithersburg, Md., Nancy Roberts La Jeunesse of Scottsdale, Az., and Rubee Sandoval of San Antonio.

A Mass of Celebration will be held at 10:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 1520 N. Railroad Ave., Pflugerville. The family will receive visitors at the church beginning at 10 a.m. and a reception will follow in the church social hall after Mass.