Rosalio "Ross" H. Samaniego

Mr. Samaniego was born to Reyes and Aleja Samaniego on April 7, 1924 in Carlsbad, NM. At the age of 7 his mother passed away and he then went to live with his older brother Hiram and sister-in-law Mary Samaniego in Los Angeles, California. He attended school there and graduated from Lincoln High School. He took several classes at NMSU. While in high school he studied the vocation of upholstery and later started his own business. He moved back to Carlsbad and was lucky enough to be introduced to the love of his life, Elizabeth S. Samaniego, by his niece, Ciena. He married Elizabeth and was blessed to have eight wonderful children. His family was the pride and happiness of his life. Ross supported, and encouraged his wife's wishes of going back to school to finish her high school education. Knowingly, he encouraged her to go on to college and continue her education. He knew it would be hard on their children, but Ross had never been afraid of work. He lived in an era where men wanted their wives to stay at home and tend to the family, but Ross was way ahead of his times. He kept the home front going while his wife went to school. He knew that when his wife finished college she would set a new standard for their family. One of the proudest mile stones in his life was when his wife, Elizabeth, received her Masters Degree in 1976 from ENMU. Ross and his wife were very involved with PTA at Puckett Elementary while their children attended there and continued to stay active as their children advanced through AV, CHS and through college. He helped coach the Panthers Football team at Puckett Elementary and would sew tags for them to play flag football. They were also Boys Scout Masters for several years. They would open their house to scout meetings, take the boys on camping trips, and to the Carlsbad Caverns, and participate in parades. Ross loved to take pictures and film everything they were involved with, with his 8mm camera. He worked at IMC for 43 years and was very happy and proud of his job. He made it a point to volunteer every year to help get the North Pole ready for Christmas at Mid High, attend the annual BBQ at Willow Lake and getting the opportunity to meet up with all his co-workers. He was president of the IMC Credit Union. He was very involved with the Carlsbad Cavemen Wrestling Team, which all his sons participated in. He was the founder of the wrestleretts so his daughters would have a place on the mat also. He attended Hillcrest Methodist Church and made it a point to make sure he got his children to Sunday school. Later he attended Mt Sinai United Methodist Church. He co-owned an upholstery shop with his brother Reyes and later branched out on his own naming his business Ross' Upholstery Shop. He took pride and was very particular about his quality of work he did for the public. Some of his work is still around today. Ross always believed a person should be a responsible hard working citizen. He engraved that idea in his children. He also was an avid reader, had a love for cooking, and enjoyed listening to the music of Lawrence Welk. Ross never met a stranger and always had a good joke for anyone that would listen. He would give anyone he got to know a nickname. He loved to travel and would say you should take every opportunity you have before you can't do it anymore. Some of the places he was fortunate to visit and enjoy were the national parks from New Mexico to Montana and all the west coast. He got the opportunity to visit Crazy Horse Monument. He said doing this he would be taking part in history. While visiting his family in California he was able to return back to his Alma Matter and tell the current students and administration stories of his time at Lincoln High. While there the Lincoln High School Band honored him by playing and dedication their music to him. Ross along with his grandson Daniel spent last summer visiting his granddaughter in Washington, D.C. in addition to this Ross also took many trips to Arlington Texas to visit his son and daughter Ronnie and Shirley and to Iowa to visit his son, Danny. He loved his children and made sure they were provided for. He was proceeded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Samaniego; one son, Barney Samaniego; his parents Reyes and Aleja Samaniego; four brothers, Hiram and wife Maria, Hazan and wife Josefa (Chepa), Hubert, and Reyes Jr., two sisters, Etel Orosco, and Elsie Urquirez and husband Mosses, His nephews, Hiram Jr., Danny, Ruben Samaniego and niece Terry Armendariz He is survived by his sons, David, Ronnie, Danny, and Jerry Ross, Jonathan and Christopher Samaniego, daughters, Shirley Miller, Linda Ramirez, and Lisa Espinoza. Nephew, Eliseo Samaniego. Twenty-six grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren. Sisters-in-law: Sixta Samaniego, Emma Samaniego, Celia Rojo, Aurora Ruiz, Manuela Soto, Julia Soto and Margie Soto; brothers-in-law: Ted Villa, Solomon Soto and David Armendariz. Pallbearers will be Daniel, Dillon, Chris, Jon, David Samaniego, Ray Parraz, Ray Parraz Jr., Issac Bell and Jeffrey Miller.