Nina Tortilla

Nina tortilla, 85, was born on September 12, 1937, to Eloise and Lee Antonio in the Elk district of Mescalero. She went to school at Elk Silver Day school and Carrizo day school until the 6th grade. She attended Albuquerque Indian school from 7th grade until she graduated high school in 1955, she stayed in Albuquerque to attend and graduate Browning institute.
Nina worked at Bernalillo Indian hospital. She returned home to Mescalero in 1962. She worked for the Mescalero Apache Tribe beginning as a Tribal Court Clerk. She became a secretary for the tribe then later a secretary for the Education Department. She was asked to be director for the Mescalero Elderly Program where she stayed until her retirement in 1983. She later became an Associate Judge with the Mescalero Courts as well as a Mescalero Gaming Commissioner until she passed on April 2, 2023, at her home in Mudd Canyon in Mescalero, NM.
Nina is survived by her husband of 47 years, Ellis Tortilla her children Michael Antonio; Sandra Tortilla; Bevan Tortilla; Edith Kaydahzinne; Theresa Tortilla; Regina Shields, 16 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandson. She is preceded in death by her parents Eloise Wilson Shields and Lee Antonio. Sisters; Hilda Magooshboy, Letitia Balderrama, brothers; Willeto Antonio, Dewy Shields Sr., Harold Shields.
A prayer service will be held on April 4, 2023, at 6PM at the Mescalero Reform Church, Mescalero, NM. The funeral service will be held on April 5, 2023, at 10AM at the Mescalero Reform Church Mescalero, NM. Burial at the Mescalero Cemetery.