Daphne Becker

It is will great sadness that I write this obituary so suddenly after my late husband, David Whipple has passed. I have been fortunate enough to spend quality time with both my mother and late husband. I nursed them to their passing and most importantly, prepared them for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A true full-circle occurred as I had the honor of caring for the mother that took care of me. My mother was able to pass peacefully while I held her in my arms. A conscious death all-knowing and willing.

Daphne Anne Reynolds Becker Goldate, was named after the famous English writer Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning. Daphne was born in Tiquisate, Guatemala. She has predeceased her mother, Elvera Lily Clare Goldate Reynolds who is still running strong at 106. Her father, Douglas Miles Reynolds, died in 1988.

Daphne is survived by her cherished family: her son, Jeff and daughter-in-law, Sheran and their children, McCoy, Hutton and Georgie; her son, Darrell and daughter-in-law, Kirsten Kemp-Becker, their children, Andy and Macauley and their grandchildren, Easton, Dixon; other son Hunter, and daughter Remy, Nola and Walker; her son, Troy and daughter-in-law, Jeri, and their children, Riley, Austin and Tatum; her daughter, Ashley, and beloved grandson Miles; her sister, Desiree Buckley and her son, Darrell and his wife Marissa; her son, John and his wife Taryn; her brother, Miles and wife, Lourdes Reynolds and their daughter, Nicki and her husband, Fran; her sister, Dawn Floyd and her children Sarah and husband Felipe and children, Amanda and Grace, and Carey and Laura, their children Grant and Austin; and her nephews and niece, Doug, Tim and Susan Becker.

Daphne's father was the Superintendent for the United Fruit Company in Guatemala and a professional ball player for Guatemala. Daphne was raised with her older sister, Desi, in a lavish jungle with macaws and monkeys. The fruit of the Vida was freshly served to them in a country club setting. The very thought of leaving this paradise to return to the United States was something she could never dream of.

Daphne lived a life of creation always making things better. She worked for NASA and designed and modeled clothes in Texas. She attended Harlingen High School. She later studied interior design at the University of Houston, where she met her beloved husband, John Rohrer Becker. She welcomed her four children, her cherished sons Jeff, Darrell, Troy, and her beloved daughter Ashley.

After moving to California for her husband’s job opportunity, she continued her life as an artist and businesswomen focusing on accounting and running major corporations such as Golden West Dental and Lehman-Becker in Southern California, now known as the Becker Group. She also ran against Elton Gallegly in the 23rd Congressional District primary races.

She traveled extensively to Europe where her daughter, Ashley lived. Together they sailed with her grandson, Miles and through the Caribbean sailing the high seas on a Catamaran. Her knowledge and curiosity of traveling and aiding her family and friends remains her legacy. After a long period of diligently building corporations and living a luxurious lifestyle on the Rincon in California with her husband, Karl Heinz Lehman, she decided to risk it all and return to Guatemala.

At the age of fifty-one, passionately determined, she fulfilled her dream adventure by building one of Guatemala’s top eco-resorts, Tortugal Boutique River Lodge(www.tortugal.com).

Here, she created alone the most beautiful authentic eco-resort named Tortugal, Way of the Turtles. The ideal compound filled with joyous, kind cruisers and travelers from all over the world. She authentically and precisely designed everything from the restaurant to the marina and bungalows. She created the jungle-like atmosphere where the iguanas still rest on the vines and hopefully don’t get too fat and fall in the river. Daphne has carried and has been the foundation for so many families and especially her staff for almost 30 years.

Daphne’s love of animals and the wild will always remain. She spent many years with her beloved dog, Jefe, a Guatemalan Dogomalteca, and then later her boys “Garcia and Pablo”. Her vision was always, “if you respect the animals they will respect you. Everything has a place in this world. It is up for us to acknowledge everything and simply allow things to be.”

Many people will miss Daphne including her extended family at Tortugal, eighteen of her staff members in total: Mary, Dora, Marta, Byron, Leo, Rudy, Don Mario, Mario, Hugo, Heron, Jennifer, Angela, Camilla, Blanca, Don Vicente, Sonja, Mariano and Alberto.

Daphne spent many years driving her grandson, Miles, back and forth from Guatemala to California for a visit or perhaps traveling throughout Central America or the Amazons. Nothing could stop her from traveling. She flew often from her home in Texas to her resort in Guatemala and back to Texas to see her mother. For two years, she battled high blood pressure and arteriole vascular disease. Recently, after celebrating her mother's 106th birthday, Daphne had a major stroke. Since then, she has lived life in Texas in more of a protected environment enjoying scrumptious meals prepared by her daughter, and consciously preparing for her life beyond this world in Heaven.

On December 6, 2022, God decided to take her, a shock for all of us all. My mother, who is by far the most intelligent woman I know. We will miss her teachings of a king-like determination to complete everything precisely and correctly. I have heard through the years the famous sentence, “What would Daphne do?” This is a great lesson and challenge as she is now gone and will be missed by so many.

If you wish to send a card or flowers, please send to Ashley Becker-Whipple in care of: Hilton Garden Inn, 7010 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, Texas 78597. Healing the world one could contribute to her favorite organization – Rights Action, (www.rightsaction.org) which helps those in need when in jail or down and out especially in Guatemala and Honduras. You may choose to make a memorial donation to your local animal shelter, a loving gesture that we know would make Mom smile. However you wish to honor Mother, please remember it all as she asks in her memorial video on YouTube Ash World Peace (https://youtu.be/d7SX1aW3kLQ).

To her family and friends, in your daily lives, continue to ask yourself, “What would Daphne do?” Exactly what Jesus would do! God bless our memories - Oceans of Love Daphne’s family and friends and of course the animals.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 1015 E. Van Buren, Harlingen, Texas 78550. Daphne’s life and legacy will also be celebrated in her beloved Guatemala at a future date.

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