Maria “Skippy” Esquipulita (Salazar) Encinias January 20, 1933 ~ June 2, 2026 (age 93)

The Rosary for Maria Encinias, 93, of Portales, will be recited at 9:00 AM Monday, June 8, 2026 at St. Helen Catholic Church, and will be followed by a Communion Service at 10:00 AM with Deacon Paul Benoit officiating.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Anthony Encinias, Phillip Encinias, Ray Madrid, Alfredo Encinias, Matthew Encinias, Brad Encinias, Christopher Ortiz and Jonathan Tenorio serving as pallbearers.  All of her other grandchildren and great-grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Maria Esquipulita Encinias, known to family and friends as “Skippy,” was born Jan. 20, 1933 in Las Vegas, NM to the home of Filomena (Sena) and Antonio Salazar, and passed from this life on June 2, 2026 in Portales, NM.  She grew up on a ranch in Aurora, NM. Before she was married, she worked for a time as a baker at the Flying C Ranch truck stop on I-40.  In Villanueva, NM on Jan 21, 1956, she was married to Casimiro Encinias.  In 1961, they moved to Portales to make their home.  She was a stay at home until her children were grown.  She began taking care of the elderly when she was caring for her parents prior to their deaths. She continued caring for others by going to work at the Community Center Adult Care Unit, and finally retired at the age of 85.  She was known to be an excellent caretaker, but was not a good patient herself.

Mrs. Encinias was an excellent cook.  Among her family’s favorites was her peanut brittle.  She enjoyed making ceramics and doing all sorts of crafts.  She was a very loving lady, and was always ready to give someone the benefit of the doubt.  Mrs. Encinias was devoted to her faith.  She was a member of St. Helen Catholic church, and each evening had her time of prayer and devotions.

She is survived by three sons, David Encinias of Portales, Pablo and Josie Encinias of Portales and Faustin and Lydia Encinias of Clovis; four daughters, Antonia and Stephen Schaubroeck of Dayton, OH, Helen and Steve Gonzales of Portales, Luann and Joe Harragan of Gurnee, IL, and Terry and Andy Ortiz of Edgewood, NM; a daughter-in-law, Gloria (Mrs. Phillip) Encinias of Leyba, NM; 25 grandchildren and numerous grand-children and great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Armando Salazar of Aurora, NM and Jimmy Salazar of Moriarty, NM; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Petrolino and Tomas Salazar; three sisters, Benigna Romero, Polly Trujillo and Deluvina Encinias; a son, Phillip Encinias; and by her beloved husband, Casimiro Encinias, who died Jan. 18, 2013 only three days short of 57 years of marriage.

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