Consuelo Salazar Ruiz

She spent her first 91 years in El Paso, Texas, where she was born. Her last nine years were with her son and daughter in Arizona, Texas, and South Carolina.

As a member of the Greatest Generation, she lived through the Great Depression and saw many of her classmates leave for the war effort upon graduation from Bowie High School in 1943.

Always active in the community, she served as PTA president, Girl Scout Troop Leader, as well as being a member of the Rio Grande Girl Scout Council and avid volunteer for Special Olympics and American Heart Association. Her work in the successful 1965 Head Start Program launched her love of teaching. She became a teacher for Adult Basic Education (including ESOL), GED and Citizenship. Many of her closest friendships grew from these classes.

Some of her favorite pastimes included writing poems and stories, working cryptograms, logic puzzles and jigsaw puzzles, baking cookies, telling jokes, making up games for friends and family, and having parties. She was very competitive and loved watching all sports, especially baseball, and game shows such as Lingo and Jeopardy where she would say "menso" on occasion.

Preceding her in passing are her beloved husband, Francisco M. Ruiz (Honey), her parents, Benjamin and Cruzita Salazar, her sisters Carmen Salazar, Minnie Rios, Licha Diaz, Tillie Rivera, Veva Ibarra, Linda Lugo, and Viola Aragon.

She will be deeply missed by her children Frank and Becky (Steve), her grandchildren Monica (Kris), Frankie (Des), and Stephen (Laura), her great grandchildren Michael (Megan), Celina, and Solana, the extended Salazar family and dear friends.

Special thanks to the staff at Tucson's Haven Hospice and Caregivers who gave her compassionate care and became her friends, especially Janet and Sonia.

Happy Dreams, Mom. We will always carry you in our hearts.