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Manuela “Nellie” Escobedo Ortiz, 90, of Kearny, AZ was called to Heaven on Aug. 14, 2020. Nellie was born in Morenci, AZ on June 15, 1930 to parents Julian Escobedo and Dolores Beltran Rios. She grew up near Casa Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico. Her family moved to Sonora, AZ when she was 13 years old.
At age 20, Nellie married Blas Guzman. They had 3 children, Eliza Guzman Brunner, Carmen Guzman Everett and Patricia Guzman Smith.
Nellie lived in California briefly and returned to Arizona in 1955 following her divorce. She moved to Superior, AZ and met her husband Modesto Ortiz. They had 2 children, Honorable Victor Manuel Ortiz (Patricia) and Belinda Rodriguez-Ortiz (Bud Constant). Modesto and Nellie moved to Ray, AZ where they raised their five children.
Nellie and Modesto lived in Ray until 1967 when they moved to Silver Creek (Battleaxe) and then settled in Kearny. Nellie was a homemaker. She was famous for her great cooking and her delicious tamales. She enjoyed visiting with friends, cooking and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Nellie is preceded in death by her husband, Modesto Ortiz; daughters, Carmen Guzman Everett and Patricia Guzman Smith; her grandson, Eric Salas; and her six brothers and sisters.
Nellie had 5 children, 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 4 great great-grandchildren. She was loved by her family and many friends and will be greatly missed.
Graveside Services will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. She will be laid to rest next to her husband Modesto at Kearny Memorial Cemetery.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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