RaeEllen Marie "Rae" Eskew (née Rehfeld), age 59, passed away peacefully on December 16th, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, loyalty, and quiet strength that will long be remembered by all who knew her.

Born on January 1st, 1966, in Rapid City, South Dakota, RaeEllen entered the world with the promise of a new year - and she carried that same sense of renewal, humor, and resilience throughout her life. She possessed a sharp wit and a wonderfully no-nonsense way about her - the kind of humor that could cut through life's hardest moments and replace heaviness with comfort. Her laughter was unmistakable and her presence made people feel seen, understood, and at ease. Though she sometimes appeared to have a hard shell, underneath she was a big softy - and if she liked you, you knew it by the way she interacted with you.

After making her home in Arizona, RaeEllen became a beloved fixture at the Wagon Wheel Post. There, she was far more than a familiar face - she was the soul of the room. With warmth, authenticity, and an open heart, she turned ordinary conversations into cherished memories and strangers into friends. Many came for the company, but stayed because of Rae.

RaeEllen faced life's joys and hardships with steady courage and unwavering loyalty to those she loved. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Eskew, known lovingly as Tony; her brother, David Golden; her sister, Wanda Jones; and her parents, Lola and Raymond Rehfeld.

She lives on in the hearts of her children - Richard Tyree, Meagan Eskew-Arizaga, Kevin Eskew, and David Eskew - and her grandchildren, Zoey Tyree, Audrianna Arizaga, and Nevaeh Eskew, who carry forward her humor, her grit, and her remarkable capacity to love in many ways that transcend basic understanding.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 17th, 2026, from 3:00pm to 7:00pm at the Wagon Wheel Post (6803 N. Sandario Road), where so many of RaeEllen's stories were shared, so much laughter was born, and where she met her beloved Tony.

RaeEllen's legacy is not found only in dates or places, but in the countless moments of joy she created - in every story retold, every smile she sparked, and every laugh that echoes because she once stood there. May her memory continue to comfort, uplift, and remind us all of the power of kindness, humor, and genuine connection.