Eloy Salazar

Eloy A. Salazar, a resident of La Mesilla, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 28, 2024, at age 82 with his family at his side. He enjoyed many years spending time with his family, always smiling and making himself available to help his children and grandchildren after retiring from the Penitentiary of New Mexico. 

He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 56 years, Mary Lou Salazar, children, Joseph Eloy and Jennifer Diane Salazar; parents, Joe I. Sr. and Ramoncita Salazar; parents-in-law,Bernardino and Maria Juanita Ortiz-Herrera; brothers,Napoleon (Helen), Leroy, Dennis and John Alex Salazar Sr.; sisters, Mary (Benny) Serrano, and Carolina Salazar; brothers-in-law, Lee Padilla, Roy Romero, Kevin Joseph, Alfonso, Samuel and Frank Herrera, and Tate Hall, and sisters-in-law, Agnes (Antonio) Montoya, Genevieve Baca, Michelle (Ernie) C de Baca, Gloria (Miguel) Trujillo, and Betty and Frances Herrera; God children, Mary and Benny Serrano; Niece, Patricia Montoya-Ulibarri, Yvonne Romero, and Aspen Salazar.

He is survived by his children, Carol Anne Salazar of La Mesilla, James Salazar and wife Jennie of Ohkay Owingeh, and Noelle Maestas and husband Brian of Hernandez; grandchildren, Crystal Lopez, Kimberly (Eddie) Lucero, Jamie and Isaiah Salazar, Brianna Porter and Darren Calvert, and Katelyn Maestas; great-grandchildren, Christopher, Nathaniel, LeiLianna, Jeremias and Azellathea Lopez, Trinity, Zachary, Kaleb and Kaylahni Lucero, Jeshua and Taliah Porter, and Addilynn and Kamden Calvert; brothers, Joe I. Jr. (Isabel), Raymond (Therese) and Daniel (Claudine) Salazar; sisters, Julia (Archie) Jaramillo, Betty Salazar, Teresa Romero, Lucy (Loren) Abercrombie, Annette Joseph, and Judy (Leroy) Martinez; brothers-in-law, Edmund and Benny Herrera, and Pete Baca; sisters-in-law, Mable Salazar, Evelyn Hall, Olivia (Johnny) Roybal, Joanne, Viola and Aggie Herrera; God children, Gerald Salazar, Julia and Archie Jaramillo, and Josephine Martinez, and numerous nephews and nieces.

A public visitation will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 10:30 am, followed by a rosary at 11:00 am, and the Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 noon at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Santa Cruz, NM.  Burial will take place at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church cemetery in Espanola, NM.

The Pallbearers will be Isaiah Salazar, Zachary Lucero, Gerald Salazar, Danny Ray Salazar, Kyle Joseph, and Glen Vigil.

Honorary pallbearers will be Brian Maestas, Eddie Lucero, Darren Calvert, and Carlos Padilla.

A very special “Thank You” to everyone that supported our father during his illness and final days, which brought a smile to his face and happiness to his heart. May God Bless you for your kindness and love.

The family of Eloy Salazar has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley.   www.devargasfuneral.com   505-747-7477