Tanya Burwick, a beloved mother and longtime Blackwell resident, was the sole person who lost her life during the devastating San Angelo floods on July 4. In the days since the tragedy, community members from San Angelo, Bronte and Blackwell have shared stories of a woman known for her warmth, resilience and ability to light up a room.
As San Angelo begins to recover, those closest to Burwick are remembering her not for the tragic circumstances around her passing, but for how she lived – with a contagious smile and heart of gold.
For more than four decades, Burwick helped light up the sky in the small West Texas communities of Bronte and Blackwell. She inherited the fireworks stand that her parents, Jimmy Lee and Caroline Lee, started in 1971. When she moved to Blackwell 43 years ago, she made sure to keep the fireworks stand running, setting it up between Blackwell and Oak Creek Reservoir off Highway 70 and helping to supply the community firework show.
More than anything, Burwick enjoyed being around her children and grandchildren.
“She always just wanted the best out of (her children and grandchildren),” said Zac Burwick, Tanya Burwick’s son. “She was always our biggest fan when we did anything.”
Outside of maintaining the fireworks stand, Tanya Burwick also worked at the Neighborhood Walmart off Sherwood Way in San Angelo, where she made a lasting impression on community members for 10 years.
Colleges and community members took to social media with tributes, highlighting Tanya Burwick’s dependability and warm personality. Walmart employees shared stories of her greeting customers, always ready with a fresh pepper in hand and a kind word.
“Her dedication, warmth, and spirit touched so many of us over the years,” a Facebook post from Walmart Neighborhood Market San Angelo – Sherwood Way read. “She will be truly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with her. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. We will honor her memory and the many ways she has helped shape our store, our team, and our Walmart Family.”
Tanya Burwick was a large presence in the Blackwell, Bronte and San Angelo communities, but her family recalls the little moments and memories.
“The night before everything happened, we were all sitting around at the fireworks stand listening to music,” Zac Burwick said. “One of her favorite songs, Two Dollars on the Juke Box by Eddie Rabbit, came on and she just said, ‘I love this song,’ and started singing it.”
Lindsay Burwick recalled her dad, Glen Burwick, and Tanya Burwick making a habit of collecting old magazines filled with jokes. During a particular trip to Del Rio, Tanya Burwick and Glen Burwick were reading through a magazine filled with comics and stories. They became so amused by one joke about roping a deer that they could barely finish the story, giggling like children.
Tanya Burwick’s loss affected Blackwell deeply, prompting the community to gather for a prayer vigil around the streetlight.
“She meant a lot to a lot of people,” Zac Burwick said. “… She was loved by more people than she probably knew.”
The Burwick family expressed gratitude to San Angelo Police Chief Travis Griffith and Detective Gibson for their commitment to finding Tanya Burwick during the investigation.
Visitation for Tanya Burwick will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday at McCoy’s Funeral Home in Sweetwater. A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday at Blackwell Baptist Church.
Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at sports@gosanangelo.com. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @Paul_Witwer.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Blackwell woman who died in San Angelo July 4 flooding remembered by family and community
Reporting by Paul Witwer, San Angelo Standard-Times / San Angelo Standard-Times
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