Merlinda Clara Baca

Merlinda Clara Baca, 84, of Amarillo, passed away, June 26, 2026.

A Rosary will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home. A Celebration of Merlinda’s Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Llano Cemetery.

Merlinda was born on June 15, 1942, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Emma and Teofilo Estrada. Throughout her life, she held a deep love for "the land" in Garita, New Mexico. It was the place that always felt like home to her, a place of peace and cherished memories.

On October 31, 1960, she married the love of her life, Benito Baca, at St. Joseph's Church in Hereford, Texas. Together they shared more than 65 years of marriage.

Merlinda had a successful career in sales for more than 20 years before retiring in 2015. For the next decade, she devoted herself to being a caregiver. Above all else, she was a devoted wife, loving mother, and extraordinary grandmother. Her grandchildren were the center of her world, and she never missed an opportunity to love, support, and care for them.. 

Merlinda loved taking care of herself, never missing an opportunity to have her hair and nails done. She believed everyone possessed their own unique beauty and had an incredible gift for making others feel special. She truly never met a stranger, striking up conversations and forming friendships wherever she went.

Merlinda was preceded in death by her parents, Emma and Teofilo Estrada; her brothers, Louis, Lorenzo and Lee Estrada; and her sisters, Ida Vigil and Isabelle Romo.

She is survived by husband, Benito Baca of the home; her son, Anthony Baca and wife Christina of Alamogordo, New Mexico; her daughters, Lora Baca of Amarillo and Suzette Baca-Chavez and husband Lazaro Chavez of Amarillo; her grandchildren, Zoey Baca, Jay Mason, Bennie Jerome Baca, Antinette Marez-Nevarez and husband Chris all of Amarillo, and Kelly Baca and husband Michael Vasquez of Midland; her great-grandchildren, Bennie Jeremiah Baca III and partner, Nora, Rayna Malone, Dominique Steel, Za'Kyri ‘Ky’ Steel, and King Jordan Baca, all of Amarillo; 3 great-great grandchildren, Jeriah Bennie Baca, Joeziah Alexander Garza and Asuna Nami Marez.