No Family Left After Wife Killed in El Paso, Man Issues an Invite

Antonio Basco has invited the general public to Friday funeral for Margie Reckard, 63
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 14, 2019 7:57 AM CDT

Antonio Basco lost his "angel" in the El Paso mass shooting, and now he's inviting the public to her funeral. Basco's wife, Margie Reckard, 63, was one of the 22 victims fatally shot in a Walmart earlier this month, and because Basco has no remaining family now that his wife is gone, he's asking if others might want to pay their respects at services for her on Friday, per KVIA. Perches Funeral Home posted Basco's invitation on its Facebook page. "Let's show him & his Wife some El Paso Love," read the post Tuesday. KTSM notes that Reckard herself did have family, including two sons and a daughter, and that some of them will be coming in for the funeral, but that they "welcome anyone who wants to grieve or offer support."

Son Harry Dean Reckard tells the New York Times his mother found a new partner in Basco after his father died in 1995; the couple moved to El Paso several years ago. "She was a good grandmother," he says. "She wouldn't hurt a fly on the wall." Basco, for his part, isn't sure what he's going to do without his wife of 22 years, who he tells KFOX14 was "an awesome lady ... we were gonna live together and die together, that was our plan." He adds to 12 News, "I always called her my munchkin." He and Reckard's family are grateful for the support of the local community and hope to see plenty of attendees Friday. "We want to thank the people of El Paso because without them I don't know what we would have done," Reckard's daughter-in-law tells KTSM. Services at the Perches Funeral Home's 4946 Hondo Pass location will be held from 5pm to 9pm Friday. (More El Paso shooting stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X