Maria Emma Carrizales

Maria Emma Carrizales

Oct. 19, 1932 – Feb. 20, 2022

Maria Emma Carrizales, 89, passed away Sunday morning, Feb. 20, 2022, in her home surrounded by her loved ones. 

She was born October 19, 1932, in Mission, Texas, to Florencio Rios and Rafaela Gonzales.    

Maria was married to Juan Antonio Garcia at the tender age of 15. From this union she bore 10 children, Rafaela Wilson, Maria Socorro Garcia, Esther Garza, Juan Antonio Garcia, Jr., Emma Busch, Pete Garcia, Joe Garcia Rendon, Nabu Livingston, Ismael Garcia and Noe Garcia. They lived in San Juan, Texas, but would migrate to Wyoming in late spring to work in the beet fields for a few years. They eventually settled in Powell in 1959. They divorced in 1963. 

She continued to raise her family alone for the next five years. In 1967 she and Esteban Carrizales were married in Powell and moved to Emblem, where he and his son, Felix, leased and farmed land from Smokey Grabbert. Her extended family included Esteban’s six grown children, Felix Carrizales, Eustolia DeLeon, Irma Alaniz, Esperanza Flores, Florencio Carrizales and Fran Trevino. Sadly, she lost her husband, Esteban, in 1977 in a tractor accident. She moved to Lovell with three of her sons, where she continued to reside until her passing.

Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. She supported and showed an interest in everything they did. She was so proud of all their accomplishments. One of her highlights was when her great-grandson, Xavier Mangus, took her flying this past March. In September she was excited to be able to attend her great-granddaughter Kendra’s marriage to Kevin Hill and was looking forward to her granddaughter Natasha Yates’ nursing graduation in May. Natasha knows her grandma will be there in spirit cheering her on.

Maria loved roses. She planted a rose bush for each of her children and enjoyed tending them with such love and care. She was a caring soul and had so much love for all. Maria was a woman of great faith and taught her children to embrace life with a smile and a prayer. 

Her faith in God gave her the strength to endure her trials and tribulations, and she had many. A couple of days before she passed away, surrounded by her family, she informed us all that she was leaving but would continue to watch over, protect and pray for all of us. She will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved her, especially her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother; sister; children Juan Antonio, Maria Socorro and Joe; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

She is survived by her three sons, four daughters and three stepchildren, along with 22 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren and the numerous grandchildren from her extended family. 

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 3, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lovell at 11 a.m. with a viewing starting at 10. Burial will be at the Lovell Cemetery following the funeral. 

Arrangements are being handled by Haskell Funeral Home.