Man who lost wife in El Paso shooting invites community to funeral, as he has no family left
A man who lost his wife of 22 years during the El Paso Walmart shooting has invited the public to her funeral services, as he has no remaining family.
Antonio Basco, who called his 63-year-old wife, Margie Reckard, "an angel," plans to celebrate her life with members of the community later this week. Reckard was one of the 22 victims of the mass shooting on August 6.
“When I met her she was an angel and she still is,” Basco told KFOX14. “I was supposed to be the strong one, but I found out I’m the weak one, and she’s going to be missed a lot.”
According to the mourning husband, his wife exuded kindness.
“I mean, you didn’t even have to be there to talk to her — you could just look at how she was, how she acted, how she presented herself. She was an awesome lady,” Basco continued. “You see, Margie, more or less was the brains of the family.”
"We were gonna live together and die together," he said. "That was our plan."
Perches Funeral Home, where Reckard's services will occur, shared on their Facebook page that Basco "had no other family" and "welcomes anyone to attend his wife's services."
Many people from across the nation shared their sympathy for Basco on the post. One resident, Javier Muñoz, who plans to attend the funeral wrote, "I've read all the comments from people all over the nation and I will gladly represent all of you who are out of town to show my love and respect."
Many other members of the community shared that they would be there to pay their respects.
"You’ve got a whole City worth of family now Tony... God bless you. I will be there with you. El Paso loves you Sir!!" one woman wrote.
Others who cannot attend have found other ways to pay their respects.
"Just sent flowers from Los Angeles, CA. I pray Mr. Basco knows he and his beloved Margie are in the thoughts of many, including this stranger," Gigi Graciette, a news reporter for KTTV, shared.
"I truly wish I was able to attend your wife's funeral," a woman in Pennsylvania wrote. "I want you to know that on Friday I will be lighting a candle for you and your wife."
Services for Reckard will be held on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Perches Funeral Home at 4946 Hondo Pass in El Paso, Texas.
“I know she’s looking down and she’s smiling," Basco said, according to a Facebook post shared by Beto O'Rourke, an El Paso native.
Yahoo Lifestyle was unable to contact Basco for comment.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Beauty influencer Bretman Rock on handling haters: 'I don’t read internet comments'
Stranger drives National Guard sergeant 8 hours to make it home in time for son's birth
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
