Maria S. Ortiz

On Wednesday, September 14, 2022, Maria Elena Salinas Ortiz, loving mother of 6 children, passed away at the age of 83. Maria was born March 31, 1939 in Taft, Texas to Raymond and Maria Alaniz Salinas. Raised in a family of migrant farmers, she learned very early the importance of hard work and dedication – a value passed along to her children. Her love for her children was second only to her love for the Lord.
Maria had a passion for sewing. She absolutely loved making clothing for her children, then for their children years later. She had an amazing ability to look at a garment and know exactly how to replicate it in her own home on her sewing machine. She also had a great love for plants and flowers. In her final day of life, she reacted to receiving flowers in the same way she always had, exclaiming, “oooh!”. Maria was known for having a green thumb and had an extensive knowledge of plant types and names and could revive a dying plant like no one else.
Maria was preceded in death by her common-law husband, Alejandro Reyna, her first husband, Miguel Requenez Ortiz, her brothers Joe Salinas and Raymond Salinas, and her sister Abelia Guillen. She is survived by her six children, Marcos Ortiz (Chloe), Melinda Finch (Bill), Mitchell Ortiz (Minerva), Matthew Ortiz (Darla), Martin Ortiz (Candie), and Erika Reyna Brodhag (Justus); 4 step children born to her first husband, Michael Ortiz (Rita), Manuel Ortiz (Gina), Margaret Vanderheyden (deceased), and Marie Cupp (Michael); sisters, Elida S. Mendez (Jesse), Olivia Estudillo, Delia S. Hudson, Janie S. Campos (Paul); and brothers, David Salinas and Robert Salinas. She was also lovingly known as “mom” to numerous friends of her children.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at Corpus Christi Funeral Home, 2409 Baldwin Blvd, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Words of sympathy may be sent to the family at ortizlegacy@yahoo.com.