Mr. Eliazar Salinas

Eliazar Salinas was born on June 23, 1934. He was 86 years old. Having lived all over the United States, his final residence was in Waxahachie, Texas. He died on December 31st, 2020 at home surrounded by his family, of Degenerative Alzheimer's Disease. Eli was born in Tienditas, Texas where he was raised on a small farm.

He is proceeded in death by his parents, Rosando and Tomasita Salinas, and siblings Marzulema Canales, Rosando Salinas and Victor Salinas. From that farm in Tienditas, Eliazar first moved to Kingsville, and then finally wound up in Corpus Christi, Texas. It was there he joined the United States Air Force, and actively served during the Korean War from July 1953 to 1957. Eliazar received an Honorable Discharge in June of 1961. After service he began his pursuit in higher education. While in Corpus, he also began employment at Crockett School in 1960 through 1966, teaching Industrial Arts as well as coaching Pee Wee Basketball, Football and Track. As he was putting himself though college, he met his beloved wife, Elida Lopez. They married in 1958. He worked hard for his family while he put himself through college, as did his wife Elida (which was unusual for women to do in this era.)

Eliazar graduated from Texas A & I University in 1962, with both a Bachelors and Master's degree eventually locating to San Marcos, Texas and began employment in the Gary Job Core, teaching communication skills to vocational students. In 1967, he began employment with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as an Investigator. Moving to Fort Worth in 1969, he joined the staff of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the Chief of Contract Compliance. From there he eventually hopped back to the EEOC Field Office as Deputy District Director in 1971. It was during this time they moved to Desoto, TX. His job during these years with EEOC eventually shifted to Dallas, then Oklahoma City, and finally landing him in El Paso, Texas as Director for the El Paso Area Office.

He worked until his retirement in 1996. During his career, he and Elida raised three children, whom they loved very much. Throughout all of this, he and his wife, Elida were very active in politics and civil service, where they joined the American GI Forum in 1963, and wore many hats with that organization. Eliazar became the Vice-Chairman in of the American GI Forum 1969. He also served on the San Marcos school board from 1967- 1969, and over the decades that followed served on the Hispanic Advisory Committee, the National Coalition for Better Housing for Hispanics, the El Paso Federal Executive Association, and the Candlelighters of the El Paso Area. He and his wife, Elida were especially proud to march with and for American labor leader and Hispanic civil rights activist César Chávez in the late 1960's and 70's. He is survived by his wife, Elida Salinas, and his children, Leticia Kane (husband Rich Kane), Melissa Morning (husband John Morning), Marco Salinas, honorary son Jamie Schield, as well as grandchildren Logan Adel Kane, Ethan Morning and Evan Morning.

In addition to many loving relatives in Corpus Christi, Austin and California, he also leaves behind many beloved friends from Dallas to El Paso, including Steve and Cristen Beauchamp and many others, including their good neighbors of their Waxahachie residence that have given support, assistance with chores, and many other things. Eliazar loved to make jokes, and had a wide variety of them that he never failed to trot out to make us laugh. If you heard a joke once from him, you were destined to hear it many more times, as they never failed to amuse him and satisfy his quest to make you smile.

He was a social creature, and love to strike up conversations wherever he went, so making friends was easy for him. He was active right up until the end, mowing his lawn and tending to the upkeep of his beloved home that he shared with the woman he adored and was happily married to for 62 years. He will be missed, deeply.

A private family funeral service will be held for Eliazar Salinas and any memorial contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association; and floral arrangements may be sent to Laurel Land Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas.