Edith Escalante was born on February 20, 1942 in Tucson, Arizona. She passed away peacefully at her home in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on March 26, 2024. She was born to her parents Albert (Tony) Escalante and Manuela (Nela) Ysmael. She was their second child, after her sister Frances.

Tony married Sara Higuera when Edith was 4 years old. The girls went to live with them in Calexico, CA. She inherited two brothers from Sara and six more brothers came after that. Edith loved being around her big family in Calexico and Mexicali. She enjoyed being a cowgirl. She had a huge crush on Roy Rogers and learned to shoot a .22 rifle. She became more cautious after pulling the trigger in the house and shooting a hole in the floor.

Her dad had a restaurant in Calexico called Tony’s Round-Up. Deciding to expand, he opened up a second restaurant in another border town a few years later. And the whole family got to move! The family spent time in Tecate and Campo. Wanting a change in her life, she moved to Tucson to spend time with her mom Nela and family; which included her beloved Mama Chu, Vega, and sisters. Tucson High proved to be too large for her after small town living, so when Tony’s family moved to Port Hueneme, she joined them. She was part of the first graduating class of Port Hueneme High School.

Edith went to live with Frances’ growing family back in Tucson. Eventually, she followed them to San Jose, CA. She worked as a nanny and in a cannery. At a party, she met her future husband Edward Baltierra.

They married on September 4, 1965. Ed worked for Ford Motor Company and Edith was a Homemaker. Three years later their daughter Edwina was born.

She was a very supportive mom. Edith learned how to drive when Edwina was in grade school to get her to different schools. She wore several hats over the years. She was a volunteer mom in Edwina’s kindergarten class which led to her being a Teacher’s Aide at Meyer Elementary. There she met life long friends – Mrs. Padilla and Mrs. Soares. Later, she became a Front Office employee for a dentist. There she met her beloved friend Kitty.

After Edwina graduated from high school, the family moved to Paso Robles, CA. They lived on 2 acres. Edith got chickens and enjoyed “country life.” She went to work for Kmart where she met some of her dearest friends Verna, Terri, and Hertha. She loved being a great-aunt to her sister’s grandchildren too.

Edwina married her husband Ted and they moved to Oklahoma. In 2001, Edith and Ed moved to Tucson, Arizona. She was able to spend time with her Aunt Lola and was caregiver to Lola toward the end of her days.

In 2004, Edith had a grandson! Well, Edwina had the baby, but a whole new chapter for Edith as a “Grammy” was born. His name is Matthew, but she always called him “Mijito” or “My Grandson.” She was one of Matthew’s biggest cheerleaders, even when he was being a stinker.

In 2017, Edith and Ed moved to Stillwater to be closer to the family. She worked for the Election Board enjoying seeing people exercising their civic duty every election cycle. Edith loved to garden. She would plant seeds, perennials, add to her collection of pots to grow more things in, or rearrange bricks and cinder blocks to get her yard the way she wanted it. She loved to send and receive letters. She kept all the cards that were sent to her! All. Of. Them. She still wanted to learn to yodel and whittle. Her favorite saying was “It’s a beautiful day.”

Edith had been very supportive of Edwina’s genealogy research. She patiently listed to her daughter when a new discovery was made. They went on trips to visit cemeteries or interview cousins in Calexico. Thanks to this hobby, she did see the face of her namesake Edith Edwards Escalante, her dad’s first wife, in a photo. While she was not a fan of her first name Elia, she did learn that it came from a long line of Elias loved by family starting in 1915. Edith’s one regret was never seeing a picture of her Grandmother Rufina, for which there is still a $100 reward. This blog site has everything to do with her love of her family.

Edith passed with her sister and her daughter by her side.

Edith was preceded in death by her father Albert Escalante, her mother, Nela Ysmael Gonzales, her husband Edward Baltierra, and her brother Jimmey Escalante-Encinas. She is survived by her daughter, Edwina, her son-in-love, Ted, her grandson, Matthew; her beloved sister, Frances, all her brothers – but especially the wonderful brothers who were her friends – Alex, Arthur, and Butch, her sister, Christina Benitez; and Ted’s mother, Betty Kersten. She also leaves behind friends, her godson Randy, and many beloved nieces and nephews. We cannot possibly share all of the photos of her friends/family here. Ted called the shelves in the living room her “living ofrenda,” as all those she loved were there for her to look at, to remember every day. Thanks to all of those who visited, sent flowers and cards, or called.

Edith did not want a funeral. Her ashes will be spread with her husband Ed’s.

Edith had been having some severe back issues during the last six months of her life. On February 25, 2024, she went to the ER. She learned that she had metastasized colon cancer, the same disease that took her mother. Edith was given “up to 6 months” to live. She passed in just over one month of the diagnosis. She asked that we encourage everyone to be their own health advocate. Edith had gone every 6 months to her regular physician. She even asked for advice from her back doctor and pulmonologist about the pain she was feeling. Every one of them missed this diagnosis. If something doesn’t feel right, or your doctor isn’t listening to your concerns, find another. Discuss conditions for which you have familial predispositions. Find someone who will advocate for you. When you are an older patient, make your voice heard.