Annie Ortega, 79, of Laramie, WY passed away peacefully after a long fight with dementia. She was born March 14, 1941 to Joseph R. and Rachel Salazar. She was raised in Wheatland, WY along with her seven siblings, (Abel, Julia, Esther, Susan, Viola, David, and Raymond). At only 14 years of age (she thought she was 16) on January 26, 1957, in Laramie, WY, she married the love of her life, Tony (Anthony) Ortega Jr. They had 3 children together, but through their hearts of gold, raised as many as 10 other children as their own.

Annie started working at a young age, in fact she only had an 8th grade education since she had to work to help make money for her family. She was strong and never gave up.  We were so proud of her when she got her GED.  The majority of her years were spent working at the University of Wyoming Custodial Department and helping with their family-owned construction company Ortega Excavation and Construction.  She loved the people she worked with and many became like family to her. After retirement, she and Tony spent many summers living in their fifth wheel in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. They made many friends during their travels and loved to take their grandkids to show them off and of course, take everyone swimming and rock hunting. When they were done with their travels, they moved to Wheatland, WY.

Annie’s love in life was Tony, her children, and her grandkids. She was a wonderful cook and her Mexican food was known far and wide. Anyone who knew Annie and Tony could attest to the fact that they treated everyone like family. Their house was an open door to anyone who needed a warm hug or a good meal.  She loved to cook for everyone in the neighborhood and everyone who walked through the door was greeted with warm food and a big smile. She always had the most beautiful garden and was even able to grow large watermelons. She spent hours teaching her grandkids how to make enchiladas, tortillas, sopapillas, and green chili. She was happiest when her house was full of people. At Christmas, presents stacked as high as the Christmas tree, and she would host 40 or 50 people.

She was a born-again Christian and was a prayer warrior. Everyone knew that if she said she would pray for you, she would, and she had the upmost faith that God would help her in every situation. She had a heart of gold and spent her entire life giving and doing for others. She enjoyed going to church and singing old hymns, going to bingo with her sisters, canning fruit from her garden, and most recently learning to facebook with family.  She didn’t know how to “like” and would just write “Annie likes” below every photo or post.

Annie is preceded in death by her husband Tony (Anthony) Ortega Jr., and her children Ruth D. Arthur, Ernest L. Ortega, and Norma J. Record, her parents, Joseph and Rachel Salazar, her sisters Julia Castaneda and Viola Lemus, and her brother Raymond Salazar.

Annie is survived by her sisters Susan Martinez and Esther Nava and her brothers Abel Salazar and David Salazar.  She is also survived by her son-in-law Steve Arthur (Regina), daughters: Robin Riegel (Ted) and Renee Gaddis (Troy) and grandkids: Christina Hiegel (Trevor), Jamie French (George), Elizabeth Arthur, Tallia Maly (Micah), Rory Record (Stephanie), Rachel Abrahamson (Gus), Kayla Ortega, Rusty Record (Sadie), and Tony Ortega along with many other grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren (also many not by blood and too numerous to count).  We will miss her kind heart, warm hugs, warm smiles, and perfect advice for every situation.  Until we meet again on those heavenly shores….te quiero mucho.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 29, 2020 at Greenhill Cemetery.