Nieves Salinas Samora

Nieves Salinas Samora

Nieves Salinas Samora, 96 formerly of Richmond/ Newgulf, TX, died on March 12, 2024, in Richwood, TX.  She was born Maria de las Nieves Salinas in Louise, TX on May 8, 1927, to Mauricio and Bartola Salinas, the youngest of 13 children.  At the age of 9 the family moved to Palacios, TX where she attended school.  In her teen years Nieves worked a variety of jobs including cleaning shrimp, picking pineapples, and packing spinach.  She also picked cotton for the local farmers.  In WW II Nieves worked at Camp Huelen and a military camp in San Antonio folding linens in the camp laundry quarters.  Upon returning to Palacios, she worked at Ben Franklin Variety Store until she met her husband Guadalupe Samora Sr.  On March 28, 1948, they were married and began their life in Newgulf, TX.  Shortly after moving to Newgulf, their family began to grow and was completed with 7 daughters and 2 sons.  In 1960, she began her career in education at “La Escuelita” to help preschoolers who spoke limited English prepare for public school.  Before the end of the program Nieves classes were integrated and contained up to 40 students each year.  She prided herself in knowing that her students excelled above average.  During this time, she also taught CCD, was a girl scout leader, part of the PTO and managed the co-ed softball team Scarlet Garters, along with her husband.  In 1971, when her teaching career ended, she was employed by Boling ISD as a cafeteria worker at Boling High School.  When her husband retired in 1986 from Boling ISD they moved to Richmond, TX where she was hired as a cafeteria monitor.  She later retired at the age of 83 from Jane Long Elementary in 2010.  In 1998, she took on a second job at Wal-Mart as a door greeter, later retiring in 2011.  After her retirement, Nieves enjoyed spending time with her adult children, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren playing loteria, celebrating birthdays, holidays or just a simple family gathering.  She shared several family recipes with her children including Ranch Burgers and Pecan Puffs, who often made them with the pecans that she picked well into her 90s.  Nieves never slowed down.  Up until the last days of her life you would still see her enjoying a sip of her “Little Coke”.  The most important things to Nieves were family, faith and hard work.

Nieves is preceded in death by her mother and father, her siblings, her beloved husband of 48 years Guadalupe Samora Sr, daughter Nanie Samora, granddaughter Doreen Rodriguez, grandsons DJ King, Rene Samora, Trever Burleson Jr and Lucas Samora and her son-in-law Eddy Coto.

Nieves is survived by sons Guadalupe Samora Jr and Cindy of Wharton and Robert Samora Sr. of Baytown, daughters Diana Rodriguez of Boling, Rosie Samora of Rosenberg, Norma Navarro and Tony of Van Vleck, Maria Coto of Hialeah FL, Victoria Ardoin and Herman of Freeport and Christi Padron and Rigo of Houston.  She is also survived by her sister-in-law Angelica Salinas, 24 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren with 1 on the way and 7 great great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 22, 2024, starting at 5 p.m. with a Rosary recited by her daughter, Diana Rodriguez at 7 p.m.  A Funeral Mass will be Celebrated on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church with Father Antonio Perez officiating.  A Rite of Burial and Committal will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.  Serving as Pallbearers: Guadalupe Samora III, Dorien Samora Rodriguez, Rigo Garcia Jr, Mauricio Guadalupe Samora, Robert Samora Jr and Jared Jackson

The family would like to thank the staff of Creekside Village and IPH Hospice for their care and compassion.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home of Wharton. Condolences for the family can be left at whatonfuneralhome.com