Rosalva Alveraz Rainey

September 2, 1929 - March 18, 2020

Rosalva Alvarez Rainey, 90, of Tishomingo, Oklahoma died from complications of surgery on March 18, 2020, at Oklahoma Heart Hospital North in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was born on September 3, 1929, in Saltillo, Mexico to Rev. Antonio G. Alvarez and Juventina Alvarez Caballero. At the age of 12 she became a student at a private school in south Texas, Presbyterian Panamerica. She attended Oklahoma Presbyterian College in Durant, Oklahoma, where she met her future husband, Dr. Bill G. "Buck" Rainey. They were married December 26, 1951 and he passed away on March 19, 2009. She earned her Master's of Education Degree and was a Home Economics teacher at Murray State College for decades. She also taught English and Spanish in secondary public school for many years; her last appointment was at Sulphur High School, from which she retired in 1990. She enjoyed shopping, cooking and homemaking, and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Tishomingo since the early 1950s. Rosalva lived life to its fullest on her own terms. She was fiercely independent and passionate about the care of her paraplegic husband, for whom she was the caregiver for 19 years. She loved her children and their spouses unconditionally. She loved to travel, was a vocal and unapologetic Democrat, and spoke English and Spanish fluently. She was preceded in death by her parents, Antonio G. Alvarez and Juventina Alvarez Caballero; husband, Dr. Bill G. "Buck" Rainey; six siblings, Oscar Alvarez, Jorge Alvarez Mario Alvarez, Homero Alvarez, Rene Alvarez and Emma Alvarez Brady. Survivors include two siblings, Laura Alvarez Wheeler of Fort Worth, Texas and Yolanda Alvarez Reid of Lake Kiowa, Texas; her sons, Rex and daughter-in law Debra Rainey of Odessa, Texas, Tim Rainey of Tishomingo, and Ken Layne Rainey and son-in-law J. Michael Lee, M.D., of Indian Wells, California; grandchildren, Flash Rainey of Odessa, Gunner Rainey of Odessa Skylar Rainey Young of Marietta; great grandchildren, Randi and Weston Young, both of Marietta; her loyal pet and companion, Ladybug, now residing in Indian Wells, California; and dozens of nieces and nephews in Oklahoma and New Mexico. A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, July 17, 2020 at the First United Methodist Church in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.