Mary R. Ortiz

Mary R. Ortiz, 84, of Silver City passed away Thursday, April 16, 2026.  Mary was born December 30, 1941 in Santa Rita, NM to Manuel O Reyes and Margaret Shaw.  Mary was cared for and raised by her aunt Genoveva D Reyes. 

Mary attended grade school in Santa Rita, graduated from Cobre High School in 1961 and received her teaching degrees from Western New Mexico University.  Mary was an elementary school teacher and retired from Silver Consolidated Schools in 2000. Mary married her husband Benny G Ortiz of 65 years in 1961 and lived in Silver City for most of their married life.  They have two loyal and caring, wonderful sons, Bengie and Juan, and a very special grandson Estevan R Ortiz.Mary was a communicant at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, a cursillista, and belonged to various prayer and bible study groups.Mary loved listening to Christian music, piano music, and loved good mariachi music.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Manuel and Magaret, her Aunt Genoveva, and paternal grandparents Juaquin and Augustina Reyes, and brother Roberto Reyes. 

Survivors include her husband Benny of the home; sons Bengie (Nicole) of Silver City, Juan (April) of Silver City, Estevan (Bianca) Ortiz of Albuquerque, NM; Grandsons Diego Palacio, Dameon (Dimi) Palacio, Michael Deloff, and RJ Orrantia; A sister, Virginia Barragan (Candelario) of San Manual AZ; Brothers Cruz Lucero (Julia) of Chula Vista, CA, Ernesto Reyes (Eva) of Silver City, Richard Reyes (Irene) of Silver City.  Mary leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews and God children.

Mary’s love of God was the meaning of the life she lived.  Her commitment and love of the Father and her family lived in everything she did, everything she said, and everything she touched.  Mary loved the Father will every fiber of her heart and practiced, wrote in her prayers, and reminded her family of his love in everything she did.  Mary was patient, Mary was kind, Mary loved, and Mary was the cornerstone of her forever grateful family they called ‘My Wife’ and ‘My Mom’. 

Visitation will take place at five o'clock in the evening on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at Baca's Funeral Chapel in Silver City. A Recitation of the Holy Rosary led by her daughter-in-law, April Ortiz will begin at six o'clock. A Prayer Vigil will follow. Deacon Bill Holguin will officiate. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ten o'clock in the morning on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Silver City. The Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at Memory Lane Cemetery. Father Oliver Obele is officiating.

Pallbearers will be Estevan Ortiz, Ernesto Reyes, Candelario Barragan, Raymond Barragan, Rueben Barragan, and Gabriel Barragan.

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