Mary Rose Escamilla Graham, age 73, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2020 in her home in Santa Fe, surrounded by loved ones.

She was born August 28,1946 in Marfa, Texas, to Jose Sierra Escamilla and Francis Garza Escamilla. On January 11,1969 Rose married Michael Lynn Graham, her husband of 51 years. Rose served as a teacher in Alamogordo, New Mexico, then moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1988. It was there that she joined Temple Baptist Church (now Harvest Baptist Church) and began her service and ministries to the Lord. Rose taught Sunday School, participated in Bus Ministry with her husband Mike, and taught at Temple Baptist Christian School. . The Lord gave Rose many children over the years through her ministries that she shared her great love of Jesus with. Two of these children were her nephews Corey and Justin Roberts. When their mother Becky (Rose's sister) became ill, Rose and Mike took them into their home and loved and raised them as their own. It was a privilege and a joy for Rose and Mike to do this. They loved their "boys" as they called them, and brought them up with a selfless love, sharing laughs, and all the duties and learning that comes with parenting. The "boys" are a wonderful loving part of Rose's legacy. In addition to her ministries through the church, Rose also had great joy for music and developed a children's choir called "Los Mini Mariachis De Dios". She took them to various nursing homes, other churches and facilities to sing, both in Spanish and English. Rose served as a cook and a Camp Counselor at Temple Baptist Wilderness Camp in Pecos, New Mexico each summer. Over time she began to be known as "Mama Rosa" to the children. Rose also had a ministry with the elderly and worked for 7 years as activities director in Assisted Living for Rosemont (now Pacifica) and for Sierra Vista in Santa Fe. She gave the same selfless love and devotion to her "ladies and gentlemen" giving tea parties and exercise classes, games and crafts, and music festivities. Her co-workers appreciated her faithfulness and dedication to the people she cared for. How does one put into a few words the life of this beautiful lady? She loved the Lord with all her heart and soul and strength! She was a shining torch for Jesus! Although she had no children of her own, she was a mother to the motherless and fatherless, a dedicated teacher, a dear friend, a good listener, and a godly gracious advisor. She dearly loved her husband Mike, whom she always called her "sweetie", and they were always together and never apart, loving music, children, church, and friends and most especially the 51 years they shared together. Right up to her last breath Rose was thanking her husband, thanking her friends, and praising Jesus and giving hugs and thumbs up to those around her. She blessed those who she saw, and thanked God for His goodness to her over and over. Her favorite bible verse was: Psalms 91:11, "FOR HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER THEE, TO KEEP THEE IN ALL THY WAYS. Rose is survived by: beloved husband Michael Lynn Graham, brother Manuel Escamilla and his son Joey Escamilla, half-brother Jorge Escamilla, stepsisters Corrina Webb and Josie Solsberry, brother-in-law Gene William Graham nephews Corey Roberts (and his wife Rae) and Justin Roberts children of Becky Escamilla Roberts (deceased) and Greg Roberts neice Sheila and her husband Beto Bejarano and children, and Sheila's sister Candice, and nephew Keith Escamilla children of Rose's brother Jose Escamilla (deceased) [NOTE: This obituary of Mary Rose has been edited for this class website. For a complete version, please go to Santa Fe Funeral Home Obituaries]