Sydney M. Ingalls

Sydney Kay McEntire-Ingalls, 59,  passed peacefully at her home in Elgin, Texas on Wednesday February 1, 2017 .  She was born September 26, 1957 in Winters, Texas to Steve and Nancy McEntire.

Sydney Kay was a wife, mother, artist, friend, advocate, a strong willed woman who thru to the end knew what she wanted and did things her way. She passed with grace and humor, with  style and surrounded by those who loved her.

Sydney was well known in Elgin , having moved here in 1972 from New Orleans, La. She cheered for the Wildcats as a cheerleader with her best friend Charlotte in high school. Sydney moved to Alaska as a military wife in 1977 with her first husband Ronald Ramirez. After moving back to town she began waiting tables at the City Café, where she became a “Big Dog”, bringing a smile to her customers who knew her best as Syd. She was a talented artist best known for her eclectic Day of the Dead pieces. She was active at the Hogeye Festival, co-chairing the annual Dessert Contest and winning Artist of the Year for one of her pieces. When hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit, you could find her passing out waters on the highway to evacuees or at the local Catholic Church setting up temporary shelter.  And when someone was in need, Sydney was right there on the benefit committee, always ready to lend a hand.  In 2004 she met James Ingalls and marrying  arch 19th, 2005, became his Hippie Chick for life. He was a devoted husband who loved her fiercely.

She was preceded in death by her father Steve McEntire, her grandmother Nini, neice Kelli Milstead, brother in law Charlie Fruedieger, and her beloved dog Bonnie.

In addition to  her beloved husband James, she leaves behind  four children- Stephanie  Zieman, Stacey and husband Dempsey Dunkin, Veronica and husband Brad Seever, Jeffrey and wife Nancy Ramirez; eleven grandchildren, Destany, Tori, Logan, Ivy, Emil, Olive, Austin, Xavier, Allyssa, Jeffrey Jr, and Philip James; one great-grandchild Noah; her mother Nancy McEntire; her sisters Anne Fruedieger and Teri Milstead: her best friend and father of her children Ronald Ramirez; as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters and brother in laws and close friends.

A special thank you to Raychelle Schaudies and Sandy Menley as well as to the city of Elgin for the kindness they showed to Syd in her time of need. Also thank you to Hospice of Austin, the 8th floor nurses of Breckenridge hospital, and Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home for taking such good care of our mother.

A memorial service will be held in Corpus Christi in the near future, details to be announced.