Finding a specific tribute in a city that straddles the border and spans generations isn't always as simple as a quick Google search. Honestly, if you've ever tried to hunt down el paso tx obits for a genealogy project or to find service times for a former neighbor, you've probably realized the information is scattered across a dozen different funeral home sites and paywalled newspaper archives.
It’s frustrating. One day you’re looking for a name you saw in the El Paso Times, and the next, you realize the family only posted a notice on a small funeral home’s private "tribute wall."
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In El Paso, the process is unique because our community is so tightly knit but physically spread out. From the historic West Side to the booming Far East, the way we remember people is changing.
The Digital Shift in El Paso TX Obits
Most people start their search at the El Paso Times. It makes sense. It’s the paper of record. But here is the reality: newspaper obituaries are expensive. Because of those rising costs, many El Paso families are opting for "digital-only" memorials hosted directly by funeral homes.
If you can't find a name in the daily paper, you have to go to the source. Major local providers like Sunset Funeral Homes, Perches Funeral Homes, and Martin Funeral Home maintain their own independent databases.
- Sunset Funeral Homes: They have a very robust search tool on their site covering their West, East, and Northeast locations.
- Perches Funeral Homes: Often the go-to for many in the community, their site includes a "La Paz" section and covers multiple branches across the city.
- Dignity Memorial Network: This includes Martin and Hillcrest, which are part of a larger national database but offer very specific local details for El Paso residents.
Sometimes, a name just won't pop up. This happens a lot if the person passed away in Las Cruces or Juárez but lived their whole life here. You have to broaden the search to the entire Borderland region.
Why You Can’t Always Rely on Legacy.com
Legacy is basically the giant of the industry. They partner with the El Paso Times, so if an obit is published in the print edition, it usually ends up there. But it’s not a "catch-all."
Think of it this way: Legacy is a aggregator. It doesn't "own" the records. If a family chooses a private memorial service through a place like San Jose Funeral Home, that info might stay strictly on the funeral home’s website.
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If you’re doing deep research—say, looking for el paso tx obits from the 1970s or 80s—Legacy won't help you much. For that, you need the El Paso Public Library. The Border Heritage Center at the Main Library is a hidden gem. They have the El Paso Herald-Post and the Times on microfilm. It's old school, sure, but it's the only way to find those older "notices of death" that never made it to the internet.
Real Costs and What Families Are Doing Now
Let’s talk money for a second. Placing an obituary in a major daily newspaper can cost anywhere from $200 to over $1,000 depending on the length and if you include a photo. That’s a lot of money for a family already dealing with funeral expenses.
Because of this, we're seeing a huge rise in social media memorials.
Families are now creating Facebook "In Memoriam" pages. They share the "el paso tx obits" info there—times, locations, and donation links—bypassing traditional media entirely. If you're looking for someone and the official channels are dry, try searching Facebook groups like "You know you grew up in El Paso if..." or specific neighborhood watch pages. It sounds unconventional, but in 2026, it’s where the real conversation is happening.
Finding Historical Records and Genealogy
If you are a history buff or looking for ancestors, the El Paso County Historical Society is your best bet. They don't just keep names; they keep stories.
They have archives of city directories and high school yearbooks (like those from Bowie, Austin, or El Paso High) that can help verify dates when the actual obituary is missing.
- Check the El Paso County Clerk’s office for death indexes.
- Visit the Border Heritage Center for microfilm archives.
- Search the "Texas Death Index" on sites like FamilySearch (it’s free).
- Cross-reference with the Fort Bliss National Cemetery records if the person was a veteran.
How to Effectively Search Today
If you need to find someone right now, don't just type the name into Google and hope for the best.
Try this: Search the name + "El Paso" + "Funeral." This usually triggers the funeral home's direct tribute page rather than the paid newspaper link. Also, check the El Paso County Death Records Search Guide provided by the county government. They have a specific PDF guide that walks you through how to use their public records portal. It’s a bit clunky, but it’s official data.
Nuance matters here. El Paso has a lot of common surnames. Searching for "Jose Rodriguez" is going to give you ten thousand results. You must include a middle initial or a specific year.
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Pro Tip: If the person was prominent in the local business or sports scene, check the "News" tab on search engines rather than the "All" tab. Often, a news story about their passing contains more biographical detail than the official obituary anyway.
Actionable Steps for Your Search
If you're currently looking for information or planning to post a notice, here is the best way to handle it:
- Check the Funeral Home First: Don't wait for the newspaper. Most funeral homes post the "Service Schedule" within 24 hours of the passing.
- Use the Library for History: For anything older than 2005, the physical archives at the Border Heritage Center (915-212-3218) are your most reliable source.
- Verify with the County: If you need a death certificate or official proof for legal reasons, skip the obits and go straight to the El Paso County Clerk’s Office.
- Consider "Digital Only" to Save Money: If you are the one writing the obit, remember that you can host a beautiful, photo-rich memorial on a funeral home's site for a fraction of the cost of a print ad.
The landscape of el paso tx obits is definitely more fragmented than it used to be. You have to be a bit of a detective. But by checking the big funeral home databases and utilizing the public library’s heritage resources, you can almost always find the person you’re looking for.