On May 14, 2024, Bernabel (Bernie Sr.) J. Salaiz. loving father, grandfather and brother went to be with our Lord peacefully in his home of Las Vegas, Nevada.  He was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico on January 21, 1939, to Jose Salaiz and Anastasia Jimenez Salaiz.  Bernie Sr. also known as "El Borrego" or "El Woollie" by his friends and family, as a young man he worked throughout the Mimbres Valley on the farms, met his wife, Lucy Ortiz Salaiz of 58 years they raised five children.  He worked as a miner in the local mines in Grant County until he moved his family in 1983 to Nevada where he found a better opportunity to provide for his family.  He was a member of Liuna Local 872 Laborers, worked with REECo at Nevada test site till he retired in 1999. 

Bernabel is survived by his sister Alicia Gonzales of Alburquerque, New Mexico and his children Velia Madrid, Bernie Jr., Susanna and Rosanna Salaiz of Las Vegas, Nevada. Also surviving him are his 13 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Bernabel had and enjoyed skills in carpentry, ironwork, etc. He not only worked on his own vehicles, but also on family and friends.  He always was ready to help, He loved and cherished the time he spent with family, his brothers, sisters, and numerous nephews and nieces.  Bernie, Sr. will be missed and never forgotten. 

Bernabel precedes in death by his parents Jose and Anastasia Salaiz, his wife Lucy, his daughter Yolanda Torrez, his sisters Clara Baca, Clorinda Vigil, Aurelia Cordova, Guadalupe Dominguez and his brothers Jose, Manuel, Gabriel and Robert Salaiz.

Bernabel will be taken back to his old stomping grounds in the Mimbres Valley.  Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at 10 am on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at San Juan Mission led by Deacon Art Gutierrez.  The Funeral Liturgy will follow immediately thereafter with Father Casmir Anozie, officiating.  He and his wife, Lucy will be laid to rest at the San Juan Cemetery.

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