Basilisa Zarate Ayala was born on January 9, 1926, in Carrizo Springs, Texas to Locadio Zarate & Benita Florez Zarate. She married Marcelino Ayala Sr. on December 14, 1946 in Pearsall, Texas. She passed away on February 17, 2017 in Greeley, Colorado.

Basilisa was a retired house wife, based out of West Eaton, Colorado area from the early 1970’s at “El Rancho“. She enjoyed being house wife, loved her children to the fullest. She retired to Centennial Nursing home August 2010. Prior to that she and Marcelino lead their family to the northern U.S. states out of Carrizo Springs, Texas for migrant work, every year May through September. In the following cultivating areas picking tomatoes and other vegetables in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and picking cherries in Old Mission, Michigan. Working the beets in Colorado, picking cotton in Arizona & Texas. She enjoyed her family the most and being a great wife to her husband Marcelino whom she adored. As our dad would tell her, “I have the best job in the world as a farmer, he told her I come home to my sweetie & family, fresh meals daily every day.” Mom would always be in the kitchen, loved to cook, as always, for an army. In 1975, she became a member of Templo Jerusalem Church, Gill, Colorado. She became a church official, Women’s Ministry Leader, Missionary supporter. She loved to listen to her cassette bible, that’s how she learned the bible while she cooked. She always had her christen music playing at home, she loved to sing and praise the Lord.

She was a faithful woman, strong and determine to fulfill the Lords work. She never judged our style of living, she would testify to us, if you were willing to hear her out even sing with her and talk about bible topics/studying. Her hobbies included sewing, crocheting, embroidery, lots of crafts, gardening flowers/vegetables, raising animals (birds, chickens, goats, ducks, geese, rabbits, turtles, javelin, dogs & cats, to name a few).She was a participant at nursing home with Assembly of God Church, Greeley, CO they came to nursing home on Sundays, Tuesdays she loved to listen to violins and requested songs, especially dads favorites, “Yellow rose of Texas“ & “Streets of Laredo“.

In addition to her parents & husband, she was preceded in death by sisters & brothers Vero Zarate, Conrado Zarate, Isaias Zarate, Eliasar Zarate, Nestora Zarate Saucedo, Jose Maria Zarate, Jesus Zarate, Elizabeth Zarate (adopted cousins) Clemente Zarate, Gumacindo Zarate; Children Tony Ayala (widowed wife Marie Mendoza), Marcelino Ayala Jr. (widowed wife Vickie Roybal). Survivors include brother Samuel Zarate; adopted cousin Eva Zarate Losano. Children Margarito Ayala (Irma Ramirez), Anna Ayala, Jane Garza (Andy Garza), Armando Ayala (Gloria Gonzalez), Jose Ayala, Ida Z. Ayala-Ledezma (Bernardo Ledezma), Orlando Ayala (Teri Roluti), 30 grandchildren, 67 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren. Thank you to all our family & friends for prayers and good thoughts, n participants,

Services: Mass @ Our Lady of Guadalupe Church 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 25, 2017. Ash burial & fellowship parish following in Carrizo Springs, Texas. Thank you to all our family & friends for prayers, support & good thoughts.