Maria Gaytan

Maria Gaytan, 64 of Mountain Home, Idaho, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Feb. 10, 2016, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Visitation will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church, located at 3850 Airbase Road, Mountain Home, Idaho from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 12, 2016. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Feb. 13, 2016, at Emmanuel Baptist Church with her son, Pastor Juan F. Luna, officiating.

Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home. Accent Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

Maria was born Sept. 19, 1951, at her home in Alamo, Texas, to Luis and Juanita Rodriguez. She lived in "The Rio Grande Valley," known as the "Land of Two Summers" during her childhood years.

She came to Idaho at the age of 13 with her migrant worker parents. She married Roberto Macias Gaytan on Aug. 25, 1971. They enjoyed 45 wonderful years of marriage.

They lived in Glenns Ferry until 1986 and moved to Mountain Home in 1987. She worked for the Idaho Migrant Council for seven years and later became part of the Tiger Team at the Mountain Home School District.

Maria traveled to all the schools in the district as the Migrant Family Liaison. She provided outreach and assistance to children of migrant families.

In 2014, she was awarded by The State Board of Education Idaho Migrant Liason Coordinator of the Year award. Maria was well known in the community because of her volunteer services with the Hispanic community. She was also a silent partner, accountant, secretary, logistics manager and director of operations for Gaytan Trucking.

Maria loved cooking for her children and grandchildren, always finding ways of getting them together after church on Sundays to make memories. She loved to serve. She was every grandchild's greatest cheerleader, win or lose. She attended her grandchildren birthday parties, sports, musical and graduation events.

Teaching was a passion of hers. She knew Jesus Christ as her Saviour and was a faithful member of Emmanuel Baptist Church. She enjoyed teaching her Sunday School Class at Emmanuel Baptist. Maria also looked forward to teaching at the yearly Vacation Bible Schools for Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel and Emmanuel Baptist Church.

"Mama, thanks for all the pizza parties you provided at VBS. We will miss you at VBS."

Maria Luisa Gaytan is preceded in death by her parents, Luis and Juanita Rodriguez; her brother, Gilbert; and her sister, Martina.

She will be missed greatly by her loving husband, Roberto Gaytan and family. Maria is survived by her husband, Roberto Gaytan; her children, Juan F. (Aleida), Yolanda (Eddie), Nelda (Hector), Maria Luisa (Loren), Roberto Jr. (Susanna) and Lucinda (Pablo); her brothers, Jose Luis and Ramon Rodriguez; her sisters, Hilda and Rosalinda; and her grandchildren, Juan F. Jr, Daniel Eli, Matthew Allen, Priscilla Ashley, Johnathan, Julio Cesar Jr., Jennifer, Ana Karen, Clarissa Marie, Tallon Logan, Kenna Marie, Autumn RaeAnn, Isabel Eneida, Elisa Maria, Sophia Bobbie, Analiyah Makaila, Pablo Ernesto Jr., Luciyah Eva and Kamilyah Rose.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Treasure Valley Hospice for their care and the Mountain Home School District for their support and understanding during this time.