Viviana Salmon Ornelas

Obituary Viviana Salmon Ornelas, 74, of N. 3rd Street, Loving, NM, passed away November 23, 2020 at Carlsbad Medical Center. Private services will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church with Fr. Pasala Hruday Kumar officiating. Viviana was born December 2, 1945 in Vado de Piedra, Chihuahua, Mexico to Espitacion and Maria Jesusita (Garcia) Salmon. Her father worked the border farmlands of El Vado de Pierda and Presidio TX. In the 1950s, the Salmon family lived in various communities in the southeastern tip of New Mexico: Artesia, Lake Arthur, Cottonwood, and Jalisco. They finally settled in Loving, NM. When Viviana was still in her early teens, her own mother passed away. She learned to care and cook for her father and her siblings, affecting the way she would treat others for the rest of her life. She began a lifelong friendship with the Ornelas girls of Loving. On June, 20, 1968, she married her husband, David Duran Ornelas. Viviana and her husband lovingly raised their three children: Jr, Nana, and Ervie, in the home they all refer to as La Casita. Here, she and her husband serenaded their children and guests for many years. She loved joining her husband for deer hunting and camping. Her tamales were everyones favorite. It was as her role as mother that she nurtured her family in so many ways and served the greater community of Loving. Viviana was employed by Draper Brantley, Jr. for many years. She acted as a housekeeper and caregiver to other families as well. Throughout the formative years of her children, she served in the Loving Little League as Treasurer and President. She was also a Cub Scout Den Mother. Alongside her sister Gregoria Martinez, she co-sponsored the Ballet Folklorico Dancers of Loving Municipal Schools and worked with multiple generations of children. Viviana was always involved in her childrens education, acting as a volunteer parent and as a founding president of the Loving Falcons Booster Club when the town first opened its new high school. Reflecting her love of children and her desire to help them, in 1989, she and her husband became certified foster parents and began taking children into their home. Up into 2001, over 150 children, ranging from newborn infants to older teens, were under her care and guidance. Years later, she continued to smile and laugh with her grandchildren. She adored her time with her first-born grandson, David de Cruz. Viviana spent much time caring for her grandson, Zach, during his illness. Her faith in God saw her through the difficult times of both her daughters and her husbands deaths. She was member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Loving, a long-standing member of its kitchen crew, a member of the church choir, and a charter member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, serving as current Vice-Regent for Court St. Maurus #2601. She prayed The Rosary every night before going to sleep. Viviana was a proud member of Mariachi Unido of Carlsbad, New Mexico. She was never so happy as when raising her voice in song. She lent her beautiful voice to performances at various functions in Eddy county and up to the State Capitol. Viviana also enjoyed watching Hallmark channel movies, laughing to her favorite TV show "The Golden Girls", The Bold and the Beautiful and listening to "Let's Trade Even" every morning on the radio, even though she never traded or bought anything. Viviana is survived by her sons: David Ornelas, Jr. and wife, Julie; Ervie Ornelas and wife, Tereasa; grandsons: David de Cruz Ornelas and Ian Young; brother, Louis Salmon and wife, Helen; sisters-in-law: Rachel Salmon and Mary Salmon; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and special friends, Hiro and Hiroe Nemoto. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, David Duran Ornelas; daughter, Diana Nana Salmon Ornelas and grandson, Zach Young. Her sons and their families would like to thank all those who stood by her side all these years. We are grateful for all her close friends and family who offered her companionship and love. We know that she is now with her husband and daughter in Heaven - singing harmoniously and gloriously. Pallbearers will be Melinda Martinez, Shayanne Limon, Raul Hernandez, Marty Martinez, David Ramirez, Jr. and Yolanda Calderon. Honorary pallbearers are Jerald Salmon, Ermelinda Fernandez and Sylvia Dominguez. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Viviana Salmon Ornelas, please visit our floral store.