Araceli Rebecca Valdez, “Chaily” 23, of Slaton, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026.

There will be combined services for Araceli Valdez and Marisol Ramirez.

A Rosary Service will be at 6:00 pm Monday, January 19, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Slaton. Interment will follow at Englewood Cemetery in Slaton. Arrangements are by Englunds Funeral Service of Slaton.

Araceli was born on June 21, 2002 in Lubbock to Martin Valdez and Betty Herrera. She graduated from Slaton High School in 2020.  She went to work as a correctional officer at the Montford Unit in 2022, where she has served for  nearly four years. She had wanted to go to nursing school, with a desire to help people. She loved highland cows and country music and dancing, and she collected all things Stitch, Legos and vinyl records. She also loved going to the beach at either South Padre or Port Aransas.   

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Trinco and Manuella Herrera; her aunts, Rita, Connie, and Martha Herrera; and her uncles, Trinco, Jr., Manuel and James Herrera.

Araceli is survived by her mother, Betty Herrera of Slaton, her father, Martin Valdez and stepmother, Nancy Duvall of Wilson; her sisters, Samantha Valdez of Slaton, and Karrie Valdez of Andrews; her stepbrother, Dustin Duvall of Colorado; her grandparents, Tomas and Sofia Valdez of Wilson; and her nephews, Elijah Chavez of Slaton, and Braxton Ramos, and Maysin Ramos, of Andrews; and her boyfriend, Alejandro (Alex) Gutierrez.