KERRVILLE, TEXAS – The Tivy High School family gathered at Antler Stadium to honor a coach and his family who were lost to the Hill Country floods.
Kervillle Tivy coach Reece Zunker and his wife, Paula, were killed. Their two sons are reportedly still missing.
At Wednesday night’s vigil, the community leaned on each other. They embodied a spirit the told Zunker family lived every day: ‘Tivy Fight Never Dies’.
“To Coach Reece Zunker, his wife Paula and their two children for what they meant to us personally as a part of Kerrville ISD and a part of our Hill Country family… We pray to the lord,” community members said in prayer.
The loss of a family swept away by floodwaters, leaving a hole in an already grieving community.
Now, Kerrville is honoring their memory.
“Not only did him, his family, his wife love others; they loved each other,” said Tivy High School Coach Bryan Estes.
The crowd prayed to restore what’s broken.
“It’s a struggling time right now,” Estes said. “It’s a devastating time but having that deep in your heart you’re able to bounce back. You’re able to fight back and use each other.”
Everyone, remembering Coach Zunker’s dedication as a head boys soccer coach.
“He cared about the kids and the kids knew it. It didn’t matter if he was getting on to them, if he was praising them, the kids felt his love. He represented that each and every day,” Estes continued, also commenting on the Zunker’s strong sense of faith and community.
“They cared about other people and being there for them, just creating that atmosphere that there are other things more important than just yourself,” Estes said.
Coach Zunker spent roughly 12 years here at Tivy. His wife, also a former teacher for the district.
People have said there’s nothing the community can physically do for them, adding this situation just takes time to heal from. But the did say they’ll take all the support they can get.