Sammy Herman Ortiz January 21, 1951 ~ June 24, 2026 (age 75)

Funeral services for Sammy Ortiz, 75, of Portales, will be held at 1:00 PM, Sat., June 27, 2026 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Pete Jaramillo officiating.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Sammy Ortiz, Michael Ortiz, Jorge Montoya, Alexis Medina, Andrew Montoya and Anthony Ortiz serving as pallbearers.  Valdemar Ortiz will be an honorary pallbearer.

Sammy Herman Ortiz was born Jan. 21, 1951 in Villanueva, NM to the home of Maxine (Aragon) and Candelario Ortiz, and passed from this life on June 24, 2026 at his home in Portales.  During his early life, Sammy made his home in Clovis, where he was employed at the West Flour Mill.  In 1969, he moved to Portales, and on Oct. 17, 1970, he was married to Mary Ann Gonzales.

After moving to Portales he had a variety of jobs.  He had worked on a local dairy, been employed at Spra Green, and done construction work and handy man jobs.  For the past 10 years he had helped his son, supervising and doing construction jobs.  You could always count on Sammy to have three things in his pocket – a knife, a nail clipper and some candy.

Sammy was a devoted husband, loving father, cherished grandfather, and proud great-grandfather whose life was centered around faith, family, and helping others. To those who knew him best, he was simply the kind of man everyone wished they had in their lives. He poured his heart into his family and worked every day to be the best husband, father, grandfather, and servant of God he could be.

After a difficult start in life, Sammy made a conscious decision to become the man God called him to be. Through faith, perseverance, and love, he transformed his life and dedicated himself to his family. He became a devoted and loving husband, setting an example of commitment, strength, and unconditional love. His greatest pride was the family he built and the life he shared with his beloved wife.

As a father to his three children, Sammy was always there with a helping hand, a listening ear, and steady guidance. As a grandfather and great-grandfather, he went above and beyond, creating countless memories that his family will treasure forever. His grandchildren especially loved waking up at Grandma and Grandpa’s house to the smell of fried bologna and watching tv to watch The Price Is Right with him. Those simple mornings became some of their most cherished memories.

Sammy had a wonderful sense of humor and never met a stranger. He could strike up a conversation with anyone and had a remarkable way of making people feel welcome. He especially enjoyed giving his daughters-in-laws a hard time, always with a smile and a playful spirit that kept everyone laughing.

Known for his wisdom and patience, Sammy was always teaching life’s lessons to his sons and grandsons. One piece of advice he shared often was to slow down, be patient, and not rush through life. He believed that some of life’s greatest blessings came to those willing to wait and trust God’s timing.

A man of many talents, Sammy was truly a jack of all trades. He was always eager to teach others what he knew and guide people toward the Lord. His faith was the foundation of his life, and he was passionate about sharing God’s love with others. He was an exceptional listener who offered thoughtful advice, encouragement, and understanding. His door was always open to anyone who needed support, comfort, or simply someone to talk to.

Sammy found joy in life’s simple pleasures. He loved watching his favorite westerns, snacking on potato sticks, and keeping a watchful eye on the thermostat—something no one dared touch without hearing about it. He enjoyed trips to the casino and loved spending time playing the slot machines, one of his favorite pastimes.

Some of his happiest moments were spent around the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in hand, sharing stories and catching up on the latest news. He especially enjoyed those morning conversations and a little friendly gossip with his son-in-law, moments filled with laughter, friendship, and love.

Sammy’s legacy is one of redemption, unwavering faith, wisdom, generosity, humor, and unconditional love. He touched countless lives through his kindness, guidance, and willingness to help others. While his family will miss him deeply, they find comfort in the memories he created, the values he instilled, and the example he set as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and man of God.

He will be extremely missed and truly loved forever.

He is survived by Mary Ann, his wife of more than 55 ½ years of their home; Two sons and daughters-in-law, Sammy Martin and Anna Ortiz and Michael Joseph and Leona Ortiz both of Portales; his daughter and son-in-law, Fatima and Jorge Montoya of Carlsbad, NM; a grandson/son, Valdemar Ortiz of the family home and a granddaughter/daughter, Vanessa Medina and her husband, Alexis of Tucson, AZ; as well as seven other grandchildren, Anthony Michael Ortiz and his fiancé, Samantha Hernandez, Lynette Ortiz, Ashley Montoya, Andrew Montoya, Sean Serrano, Aric Serrano and Aubrey Serrano; six great grandchildren, Imani Carr, Zayn Ortiz and Melahni Hernandez and Vivian Medina who is due to be born in Aug, and Saint Serrano and Julianna Ortega who is due is October; and four sisters, Mary Aguilar, Tina Jones, Frances Espinoza and Sylvia Martinez all of Clovis.  He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Jerry Ortiz, Albert Narro, Richard Narro and Arnold Sotelo.

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