Geneva Mary (Salinas) Vasquez

OVALO: Geneva Mary Vasquez, 71, passed away on Friday, January 8, 2021, and true to her fashion, she did it in the fast lane. A chapel services will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 2:00pm at Fry~Smith Funeral Home in Tuscola, directed by Fry~Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. A visitation will be held on Monday, January 11, from 5 to 7pm at the funeral home.

She arrived into this world, with a smile on her face and a foot on the peddle, on June 7, 1949 to Herman and Juana (Castillo) Salinas. She attended Jim Ned schools until the 8th grade and then left to help her mother and father with her siblings.

She caught the eye of a young man at a neighborhood dance one evening, and it was that night that Jessie Vasquez knew he would marry her. Three months later, on June 28, 1969 they recited their vows at St. Francis Church in Abilene. Geneva and Jessie celebrated 51 years together. Geneva often reminded Jessie that he might be the boss at work, but he was not her boss. This was often delivered to Jessie after he had been aggravating her and with a hint of a smile. They were a true team that was full of love and laughter in their family and for their friends.

Geneva had the cherished role as home maker to her two children Mario and Jennifer. When her children started school, she worked in the cafeteria at Lawn Elementary, a job that fulfilled her love of cooking. When she was not cooking at school she loved to cook and bake at home, her signature dish was chicken and rice.

She loved the outdoors; she loved her vegetable and flower gardens, and she never met a stray animal. She was always up to try a new adventure, riding her bike, or riding with Jessie on his motorcycle.

Her biggest weaknesses were fast cars, extremely fast cars. There are rumors that she was drag racing her brother, in her Olds 442, on Cr 382 one night, and she might have been known for setting land speed records between Hill Top and Lawn. In those rumors it was mentioned that she might have given her autograph to one or two friends that worked for the Texas Highway Patrol. Geneva did not spend much time in the right lane when it came to driving.

She is survived by her husband, Jessie of Ovalo; son Mario Vasquez of Abilene; daughter, Jennifer Baysinger of Abilene; grandchildren, Josh Vasquez of Abilene, Lorie Vasquez and her husband Ishmel Castillo of Okinawa, Japan, Machaela Baysinger of Lubbock; great grandchildren, Roslyn and Leo; brothers, Joe Salinas of Clyde, Elias Salinas of Abilene, Israel of Abilene; sisters, Olga Salinas of Idaho, Minnie Stetson of North Carolina, Rosie Basaldua of Colorado, Nelly Chez of Minnesota, and Linda Salinas of Abilene.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brothers Jesse Salinas and Mario Salinas.

Condolences can be left at www.fry-smith.com.