Obituary of Zenaida Ortega

Funeral services for Zenaida "Sandy" Ortega, 87, of Lovington will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 10:00 am at 3rd and Central Church of Christ with Arthur Sanchez officiating. Burial will follow at Lovington Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Ratliff Funeral Home. Sandy was born on June 5, 1933 in Balmorhea, TX to Enrique and Eugenia (Gutierrez) Quiroz and passed away on July 11, 2020 at her residence. Sandy grew up in Carlsbad and came to Lovington when she was nineteen years of age. She loved baseball and playing card games with her brothers and sisters. She enjoyed camping at Lake McMillan and just being with her family and friends. Cooking was a joy to her and she was a great cook. Sandy liked making people laugh and was there to help others when she could. She was employed at one time as the Deli Manager for Bob's Supermarket and then worked at the Lovington schools in the cafeteria for many years. She had attended the House of Prayer Church for years and loved to minister to others. Sandy was an active supporter of her children and grandchildren, attending all their activities that she could. She loved people and was truly a "servant of the Lord". She was preceded in death by her parents: Enrique and Eugenia Quiroz; one son: Ruben Acosta; one daughter: Grace Ortega; one sister: Eulalia Garcia; two brothers: Benjamin Quiroz and Ismeal Quiroz; one grandson: Christopher Hinojos. Surviving her are three sons: Danny Ayala and wife Debra of Lovington, Ricky Ortega and wife Hermila of Lovington, and Cion Ortega and partner Randal Arena of Houston; three daughters: Bessie and husband Richard Casillas of Hobbs, Cleta and husband Pat Reina of San Angelo, and Brenda and husband Mike McDurmitt of Lovington; five brothers: Manuel Quiroz of Lovington, Henry Gutierrez and wife Karen of Lovington, Julian Quiroz and wife Grace of Roswell, Salvador Quiroz of Lovington, and Luis Quiroz and wife Julia of Arizona; five sisters: Janie and husband Ernest Doporto of Lovington, Lillie and husband Bob Harback of Roswell, Emma and husband Julio Espinosa of Lovington, Elvia and husband Joe Valenzuela of Lovington, and Yolanda and husband Eddie Fabela of Eunice; nineteen grandchildren, forty-eight great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchilden. Also, her former husband and the love of her life, Chon Ortega of Lovington. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to wwwkirbysmithrogers.com.