- Date Of Birth: May 4, 1936
- Date Of Death: August 28, 2009
- State: Missouri
LaVera Carol Kessler Ortiz, 73, of Steelville, formerly of Chimayo, New Mexico, passed away, August 28, 2009, at her daughter Francina’s home in Steelville, Missouri. Carol was born on May 4, 1936, in St. Louis, Missouri to the union of the late Donald W. Kessler and Ina Smith Kessler. She was the younger of two siblings. She received an undergraduate degree in education from the University of Missouri at Columbia and received her Masters degree in education from the University of New Mexico. She also attained recognition with numerous awards and certifications in education. An active member of the Presbyterian Church, she moved to New Mexico in 1958, as a Mission teacher with the Presbyterian Mission. She taught first at John Hyson in Chimayo, where she met Anselmo Ortiz. She and Anselmo were married on August 9, 1964, and had been married for 32 years at the time of his death in 1996. She was then the Director and Head teacher of the Presbyterian Day school in Truchas, and eventually joined the Espanola school system. She was a teacher and long term Principal of Mountain View Elementary in Cordova for more than 18 years. In 1993, she became Principal of Los Nios Kindergarten in Espanola, where she remained until her retirement in 1997. Carol was an active member of the Presbyterian Church, sang in various choirs and played the piano. She was also an active member of Church Women United. A lifelong educator, Carol enjoyed teaching, learning and giving all children an opportunity to grow and be their very best.
Surviving her are her children: daughters, Elizabeth “Beth” Ortiz of New York City, New York, Francina Ortiz Halbert of Steelville, Missouri; sons, Donald M. Ortiz of Santa Fe and Bruce A. Ortiz of Chimayo; sister, Barbara K. Young of Kansas City, Kansas; grandson, Joseph Anselmo Ortiz; step-granddaughter, Sara Baca; daughter-in-law, Anja Baca, all of Santa Fe, and son-in-law, Kevin Halbert of Steelvile, Missouri. She is also survived by seven nieces and nephews, three sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law, several great-nieces and nephews and many other relatives and numerous friends.
