Anita Anaya Ramirez

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of an icon resident of McAllen, Mrs. Anita Anaya Ramirez on Monday, June 27, 2022. Anita was born in Torreón, Choahuila, Mexico to Guadalupe Pethan Anaya and Aurelio Anaya, December 24, 1926. She migrated to the United States in 1940, married to Baldomero “Lefty” Ramirez, who was a professional baseball player for the Union League of McAllen. Lefty was on tour in Mexico when he met Anita and the rest is history. Anita worked for JC Penny for 25 years, where she took an early retirement, and proceeded to open a flower shop, Anita’s Flower Shop on 20th and Fir, where she ran a very lucrative business. Anita loved to travel the world, from the Taj Mahal, Australia, Egypt, throughout Europe and most of the Continental United States. Anita was very much involved with politics, with beautifying the City of McAllen, with her Church and most of all with helping people. She never met a stranger and was always kind and loving to all. She was Comadre to most, and Madrina to their kids. Anita was a self made businesswoman, lifetime member of the Chamber of Commerce, Police Officer’s Wives Auxiliary, McAllen Community Development, McAllen Health and Welfare Committee, City of McAllen Beautification Committee, McAllen Memorial Library, American Caner Society, United Fund, American Heart Association, Pan American Round Table, LULAC (United League of Latin American Council) where she rapidly climbed the ladder to become a director. She was instrumental in the birth of the program SER, sponsored the LULAC, a program geared to hispanic women to encourage further education for a better life. Among her accomplishments, Anita was awarded Outstanding Citizen Award by McAllen Chamber of Commerce, Woman of the Year multiple times, Women of Distinction for the State of Texas, Extraordinary Business Woman and many more. Anita is survived by her children Gloria Ann Gonzalez, Roberto Ramirez and Grace Clark, 11 grand children, 18 great grand children and 8 great great grand children. She is preceded in death by her husband Baldomero “Lefty” Ramirez, parents, Aurelio and Guadalupe Anaya, Sisters Amanda Anaya and Celia Anaya and by her son Ricardo Ramirez. Visitation will be Sunday, July 10, 2022 from 6-8pm with a rosary at 7. Funeral mass will be Monday, July 11, 2022 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church with burial to follow at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

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Anita Anaya Ramirez

June 27, 2022