Graciela Salazar

Graciela Alicia Salazar of Las Cruces, New Mexico passed away peacefully on May 28th surrounded by her family in Premont, Texas. Graciela Alicia was the mother of Emma Belen Morales and daughter of U.S. Army (ret.) David E. and Alicia Castañon Salazar of La Gloria, Texas. Graciela Alicia battled an aggressive form of neuroendocrine tumor (NET), she would have been 50 years young on July 30th.

Graciela Alicia received her undergraduate degree from University of Texas, Austin and a Masters and Post-Masters in Educational Administration and Curriculum & Instruction from New Mexico State University (NMSU).  Most recently, Graciela Alicia was employed by Zia Middle School as a special education teacher, another great opportunity in her 20+ year career in education.  She was loved by her students and respected by her peers.  As it is for the rest of the Salazar family education is the cornerstone of success and an ability to thrive, and Graciela pursued and earned postmaster's degrees. Emma Belen, 20 years of age is a college senior expected to graduate in December with her BS in Psychology.

Life for Graciela Alicia revolved around her daughter her world Emma Belen. Anyone that knew them wouldn't be able to discern where one ended and one began. They could finish each other’s sentences and were each other’s best friend. Graciela Alicia enjoyed being outdoors, in the sun specifically. The different forms of activities included, riding a motorcycle, trips to her favorite beaches in Gulf Shores Alabama and Corpus Christi, Texas as well as hiking and camping.  The most enjoyable past time Graciela Alicia and Emma enjoyed was going to concerts; small or large venues and both locally and across the country.

Graciela Alicia was also an Army Brat.  She lived the life of a military dependent traveling to North America, Central America and the Far East. It was when her father concluded his 20-year military career that the family retired to South Texas where she graduated from Premont High School in 1989.

Graciela Alicia is survived by her parents David & Alicia Salazar, and her siblings. Her brother LTC Jimmy C. Salazar his wife Michele and nieces Addison & Liliana currently stationed in Ft. Polk, LA. and sister Lupita Salazar Weeks her husband Mundy W. Weeks and nieces Celeste Regina and namesake Graciela Margarita of Premont, Texas.

Graciela Alicia is preceded in death by her older brother CPT David E. Salazar Jr. and her nephew David Parker Salazar.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, June 4th, 2021 at 2p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Falfurrias, Texas.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 reminds us - “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance."