Cleatis Ortiz

On January 12, 2018, Our Lord Jesus Christ welcomed Mary Cleatis Ortiz into his home. “Cleatis” “Sister” “Grandma Cleatis”, “Grandma”, or “Aunt Cleatis” as most beloved called her, was born on November 15, 1926 and was a lifelong resident of Laredo, Texas. She was 91 years old. She is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Ricardo A. Ortiz, her father, Clarence Prescott, mother, Katarina Valls, her brother, John Prescott and her aunts, Sophie Valls (Stewart), Josephine Valls (Carpenter), Evelyn Valls (Alvey) and several close cousins.

She is survived by her children, Ricardo Ortiz (Claudia), Sarah Bergoon, Maria Talamas (John), Cleatis Garcia, Rolando Ortiz (Diana), 18 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, her brother-in-law, Meme Ortiz (Joyce+) and many loving nieces and nephews.

Cleatis lived with her mother, brother, John and aunts who were women entrepreneurs after the passing of her dad at his tender age of 37. To sustain the household, her mother owned a small grocery store and her aunts created a variation of crafts in the home they all shared. Cleatis contributed by selling their art creations as young as 10 years while her brother, John assisted at the grocery store. Being self-sufficient, creating floral arrangements, making dolls, baking cakes and sewing were just a way of life for her growing up. Family and hard work were the foundation of so much of her young life. As a result, this culture solidified her love of family, her passion for crafts and her work ethics breaking women’s societal barriers long before her time because of her mother's example. She attended St. Peters, Christian Middle School and Martin High School and began working at ATT (formerly Southwestern Bell) as a telephone operator where she met her sister-in-law, Hilda Ortiz (Harwerth). Hilda would introduced Cleatis to her brother, “Riche” and the rest was history. She worked at ATT for 27 years and Richard worked as a telephone lineman until his retirement.

Cleatis was beautiful individually and literally. Her crystal blue eyes, blonde hair, and tall stature were not common in Laredo and ironically fueled her passion for the mexican/hispanic culture. She loved everything about it and preferred speaking Spanish, loved cooking mexican food and enjoyed watching novelas. This love encouraged having family cookouts which happened often and with many. Cleatis made everyone feel like the time they spent together was the time and place she was meant to be. It was her special gift of authenticity that she shared with others and so many loved about her.

Cleatis was also independent, outspoken, creative and believed in giving back to her community. She was a lifetime Hospital Auxilorian, was a Catholic Daughter, and was part of Blessed Sacrament Altar Society for many years. On her spare time and somehow she found it, she traveled with the Laredo Travel Club and enjoyed concerts, plays and festivals. One of her favorite travel memories was the Liberace concert in San Antonio, Texas. Cleatis loved “fashion, jewels and bling” and Liberace embraced all three of these area effortlessly - making him one of her favorites of all time. She was also part of a Pokino Club and the Golden Bells, a club of past SW Bell friends that got together to visit and play games weekly. To fuel her creative energy, Cleatis made crafts and participated in craft shows showcasing her sculptured holiday pieces and making ceramic dolls - an art that required delicate detail and that she shared with many in the family.

Additionally, she was passionate about family and was an incredible role model for her children. During her mother Kata and Aunt Sophie’s later years of life, both lived with Cleatis and Richard until their death. Unbeknownst to Cleatis, this would become one of her biggest contributions to her children as all of them tirelessly embraced both of their parents with tender love and care during the last years of their lives.

Grandma Cleatis will be missed but there is solace in our hearts knowing we will celebrate her life with the abundance of memories she shared with so many of us to cherish forever. As a trailblazing woman before her time, we are all blessed to say her strength, love and memories will live in our hearts forever.

From the bottom of our hearts, we are thankful for those whom God entrusted into her care: Dr. Oscar Gutierrez, the health care staff at LMS, Altus Hospice Care, her caretaker, Juany’s and her granddaughter-in-law, Mrs. Elva Canales Garcia. A special thanks to Cookie and Patsy for being our biggest blessing and her ultimate caretakers - We Love you.

The family will gather at Joe Jackson Heights Chapel (719 Loring at Cortez) on Tuesday, January 16 from 5 to 9 in the evening with a Rosary recited at 7PM.

Funeral procession will depart the funeral chapel on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 9:45 in the morning to the family plot in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

You may extend your condolences online at www.joejacksonfuneral-chapels.com.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels, 719 Cortez, Laredo, Texas 78040, 956-722-0001.