Irma Alicia Govea
In Loving Memory
July 28 1939 - October 7, 2025
Obituary
Irma Alicia Govea, age 86, of Springtown, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She had recently been diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer.Funeral Service: 12 p.m. Friday, October 17, 2025, in Mount Olivet Chapel. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Mount Olivet Chapel.
Irma Alicia was born on July 28, 1939, in Laredo, Texas. She was the oldest of her five siblings. She traveled up north in her teens to work as a housekeeper/nanny. At the age of 17, she moved to Dallas, Texas, and worked at a shrimp factory. In 1957 she met Juan at a dance hall in Fort Worth, Texas, and soon after they were married on May 25, 1957, at a small courthouse ceremony in Weatherford, Texas.
Alicia and Juan lived most of their early family years in Fort Worth, Texas, and had nine children (five boys and four girls). In the 1980s, Alicia and Juan moved to Springtown, Texas. Alicia taught her children to be independent and strong, preparing them to survive life's challenges. She had the hardest and most rewarding job as a mother. She supported each of her children in their school activities and kept them active. She enjoyed sewing, crochet, and cooking - her homemade tortillas and tamales were amazing. Alicia attended the high school baseball games for her older sons and often walked her younger children to school. She adored her girls and even had custom dresses made for them. Alicia kept the children busy with activities such as swimming and ice skating lessons as well as teaching them how to ride their bicycles, which sometimes resulted in run-ins with the cars and the garage door. As the children grew, Alicia enjoyed spending time with them at the movies, shopping, or eating out. As a family, Alicia and Juan would take summer vacations throughout Texas, out of state, like Colorado, and even Mexico.
Alicia thoroughly enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow up. She would invite the grandchildren to stay at her house during the summers. Alicia and Juan would even join family camping trips to spend time with her children and grandchildren. Alicia was affectionately referred to as 'Wella' by her numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Wella happily attended many graduations, weddings, and school events over the years. She was always thrilled to welcome all of them into her home for a visit. She would listen intently during family visits to catch up with all the achievements and life events of her many grandchildren.
Alicia was a woman of great faith as an active member of the Springtown Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. She dedicated her life to Jehovah God and symbolized her dedication to Jehovah by water baptism on October 30, 1971. She made sure that her children learned about Jehovah God and his son Jesus, encouraging them to build their own spiritual relationship with Jehovah. Alicia loved sharing the Bible truths with others and would make the effort to auxiliary pioneer in the summer months. She believed what the Bible taught and lived according to its standards. She relied on Jehovah throughout her life, in good times and difficult times - her heart surgery and most recently, her terminal cancer diagnosis - and she firmly believed in God's promise from John 5:28,29, which states: "The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out." Alicia showed no fear, standing firm in her faith that she would be resurrected and reunited with all her family.
She was preceded in death by her father, Galo Hernandez; mother, Lorenza Lopez Hernandez; siblings, Consuelo Rios and Mary Lou Roque; and daughter-in-law, Lucy Govea.
Alicia is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Juan Martinez Govea, and their children: Juan Ramon and wife, Janie; Benito; Susie Juarez and husband, Justo Jr; Blake and wife, Leticia; Pete and late-wife, Lucy; Angelina Perkins and husband, Randy; Virginia Hernandez and husband, Josias; Teresa Salas; and Fernando; 17 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and siblings, Esperanza Vera, Juan Hernandez, and Ramon Hernandez.