Juanita Escamillas

Juanita "Juanie" Escamil-las was born Feb. 8, 1931, in Lordsburg, N.M. She attended school in Duncan before her family moved to Morenci. Juanie graduated from Morenci High School in 1950. She worked as a nurse's aide at the Morenci Hospital.

She married Jesus "Chuey" Escamillas on July 16, 1955. In 1961, they and their three children moved to California and four years later moved to Ontario, Calif. They lived there until the mid-1980s.

Juanita Escamillas

Juanie was a devoted homemaker during her children's young lives. When they all started attending high school, she became a teacher's aide for the Ontario-Montclair School District. Juanie loved children, and this was an opportunity to continue with that love.

She and Chuey moved to the outskirts of Duncan to a small ranch they had purchased a few years earlier. Juanie loved being the "inside" farmer while Chuey was the "outside" farmer.

She was a very caring and loving person. She was always there to offer a hand whenever asked and even when she was not asked. Her family is going to miss her many jokes. She was constantly coming up with nicknames for people and things. Her enormous love of family, God and friends will be greatly missed. She will be remembered as a loving mother, wife, grandmother, sister, mother-in-law, comadre and friend.

Juanita is survived by her daughter, Roseanna (Jess) Lopez of Pomona, Calif; sons Jess Escamillas of Tucson, Larry Escamillas of Duncan; sisters Millie Lopez, Martha Sierra, both of Tucson; Catherine Sierra of San Bernardino, Calif.; brothers Paul Sierra of Chandler, Ray Sierra of Port St. Lucy, Fla., and Greg Sierra of Indian Springs, Nev.; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Saturday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Duncan. A rosary was recited Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. at the church. Interment was in the Duncan Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Caldwell Funeral Chapel.