Mary Lou Mojica

Maria De La Luz "Mary Lou" (Moreno Ruiz Ramirez) Mojica, 78, of Lubbock, TX, passed away on May 13, 2024. She was predeceased by her parents, Jesus Moreno and Maria Consuelo Ruiz Lamas Ramirez; her sister, Elena, who passed away as a child; her maternal grandmother, Maria Del Rufugio Lamas Barrios Ruiz; and her maternal grandfather, Vicente Ruiz. She is survived by Vicente G. Mojica; Velma G. Mojica-Ramirez and her spouse; Xavier R. Mojica and his spouse; two grandchildren, Xochitl R. Mojica and Rodolfo M. Alaniz IV; and two great-grandchildren, Ava and Jenesis.

Mary Lou was born in Sain Alto, Zacatecas on May 16, 1945. At the age of 2, she moved to McAllen, TX, where she lived until she was a teenager. From there, she moved to Lubbock, TX, and attended Matthew's Jr. High and Lubbock High School with her future brother-in-law, Chris Mojica, and sister-in-law, Natalia Salazar , and graduated in 1966. She worked for Sears, Roebuck and Co. for a few years. Mary Lou civilly married Blas Mojica Jr. on August 21, 1972, and later through the Catholic Church at St. Patrick's in Lubbock. She moved to Vallejo, CA, and started working with Social Security Administration. After a couple of years, she transferred to the Lubbock field office, where she retired in 2009 after 36 & 1/2 years of service. She also worked in Plainview and the surrounding areas.

During her time with Social Security, Mary Lou periodically wrote a column for El Editor, a local Spanish newspaper, and spoke on a local Spanish radio station, answering questions and providing updates on new policies and legislation. In 1980, she was involved in processing the Marielitos—Cuban refugees—in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

After retiring, Mary Lou became a caregiver for her mother, Maria Consuelo Ramirez, who had dementia-Alzheimer’s, until her passing in 2014.

After being diagnosed with dementia-Alzheimer’s herself, Mary Lou lived in a Veterans memory care unit with her husband, Blas Mojica Jr., until her passing.