Naomi Lee Baca

On August 25, 1929, in Wharton County, Texas, an icon was born.

Now you might be asking yourself, "Icon?" The definition of an icon is a person regarded as a representative symbol, someone worthy of great respect and reverence. Naomi Rodgers Baca was an icon.

A woman who, on her very first day of school, was asked by her teacher what her name was and confidently replied, "Sweet thang," because that's what everyone always called her.

A woman who, at just nine years old, fended off a pack of hogs to save a baby goat the herd had abandoned, then spent the rest of the day doctoring and cuddling it. The rescue earned her a scolding from her dad because of the danger involved, but she simply said, "I just couldn't help it."

A woman who married the love of her life, Dan Baca, and together they built a legacy, eleven children strong. When asked what the hardest part about raising eleven children was, she would flash a mischievous smile and say, "They were all just so cute."

A woman who learned to drive a school bus so she could work a job that kept her on the same schedule as her kids.

A woman who could light up a wedding dance floor with the chicken scratch and keep square dancing well into her 80s.

A woman who, on her 80th birthday, unbeknownst to her family, climbed up and slid down a giant inflatable waterslide with her grandkids and great-grandkids, wearing a floral swim cap. And not just any floral swim cap… a full 3D floral swim cap.

A woman whose heart was as big as Texas. Icon.

But the other part of being an icon is being a symbol, and Naomi was a living symbol of family. Together, she and Dan raised eleven children and built a legacy that grew to include 50 grandchildren and spouses, 75 great-grandchildren and spouses, 10 great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and countless friends who felt like family. The pride she carried for her people knew no bounds. Boldly and beautifully, she became a representative symbol of the Baca family itself.

Naomi was also a symbol of love, Christ-like, limitless, unconditional love. She was steadfast in her faith, even through hardship, loss, and the unexpected turns life can bring. Through it all, she kept loving. She knew love, she gave love freely, and she represented love in its purest form.

If she were here today, meeting you for the first time, she would greet you with that contagious smile, maybe reach out to shake your hand, and in that moment, you would know you were standing in the presence of an icon.

Naomi was preceded in death by her husband, Dan Baca; her parents, Delbert and Bea Rodgers; Parents-In-Law Ludwig and Leona Baca; her only brother, Alton (Red) Rodgers; Sisters-In-Law Ruth Rodgers and Hope Rodgers; and her two grandsons, John Paul Baca and Gilbert Baca.

Naomi is lovingly survived by her eleven children Lisa Riley, Dan Baca (Rita), Lad Baca (Mary), Tim Baca (Liza), Ted Baca (Carrie Beth), Joe Baca (Tammy), Jack Baca, Bruce Baca, Lauren Hagan (Dwayne), David Baca (Christy), and Brian Baca (Laura); 50 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nepehws.

Services to celebrate Naomi Baca will be held at Legacy Bible Church (4818 FM691, Denison, TX) on Sunday, February 8th. Family visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m., with the service beginning at 3:00 p.m.

A burial service will be at Fairview Cemetery in Bastrop, TX, on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.