Nora Silva

Nora Mackey Silva, 92 of Capitan, was called to her Heavenly home on May 25, 2020. Born right before the Great Depression to John and Senaida Mackey in San Patricio, NM, the family experienced many trials and tribulations struggling to make end meet. Nora married Trankie Silva from the Tucson Mountains. To this union they had three children - Becky, Frank, and Janice. Nora and Trankie spent three and a half years in Mexico to help their government eradicate the hoof and mouth disease. Along with her husband, Nora owned and operated the school busses for Capitan Municipal Schools for over 50 years. Nora retired after 44 years of driving the school bus. Many former students fondly remember the simple yet delicious meals she lovingly prepared when she was not able to return them home due to inclement weather. She scrubbed their clothes and hung them to dry by the fireplace, making beds for them on the floor. Her hobbies included sewing, quilting, doing embroidery and reading, especially reading and studying the Bible. When she became a born again Christian, she made it her mission to share the Gospel. She was a friend to all, but mostly she was an evangelist to all those she encountered. She loved her family dearly. She made many sacrifices to ensure that they had everything they needed. She was not afraid of hard work. Besides being a bus driver for all those years she also had other part-time jobs- driving her neighbors to Dr. appointments and helping her husband on the family ranch. Her grandchildren were also her pride and joy. They loved listening to her stories, watching her make tortillas and sharing her words of wisdom with them, They enjoyed playing beneath the shady willow trees in her big yard. Nora was predeceased by her parents, her husband of 54 years, and granddaughter, Janelle Ware Cargo. Surviving her are her three children, Becky Featherstone, Frank Silva, and Janice Burris and their spouses, sisters, Margie Serna of Carrizozo and Lupita Borrego of Tucson, AZ; five grandchildren, Jaylen Ware, Ashley Dubose, Jared Taylor, Melanie Gilbraeth, and Maribel Silva and four great grandchildren, Alec, AJ, Bella, and Zoey and numerous nieces and nephews.