Margaret Walter Granillo

Margaret Walter Granillo, beloved mother and grandmother, peacefully passed away on April 5, 2025, in Farmington, NM at the age of 85. She was born on January 16, 1940, in Chicago, IL, to her loving parents, Wilfred H. Walter and Margaret Mc’Cann Walter.

Margaret was known to love cheese, opera, crocheting, and (to the dismay of her children) adding everything she could find into a box of macaroni and cheese. However, Margaret had two real loves: her God and her family. Everything about her life revolved around caring for her family and trying to honor God. Everything.

Marge’s mother passed away from toxemia on the day that she and her twin brother, Gilbert, were born. Their father was a gambling addict who didn’t know how to raise kids on his own, and so he would send them to boarding schools or to family members as often as possible. Their father was hard on them, so Marge looked to her cousins’ families for nurturing and acceptance. Her brother, Gil, had an adventurous streak and struggled with anger issues. But Marge saw potential in her brother, and she often stood in the gap between him and their father—or the law, or the schools, or whoever—to make sure that Gil was safe and would reach his potential. As an adult, she would regularly brag about all the amazing things that Gil had done and was doing. She was always so incredibly proud of him, and she wanted everyone to know how great he was.

For Marge, living for others came naturally. In 1964, she gave birth to her firstborn, Richard, and shortly afterward found herself a single mom. She worked at Inland Steel in Gary, Indiana, until 1970, when she took her son and followed her father and his sister, Gertrude, to start again in a little town called Deming, NM. Her father passed away shortly after, and Gertie was the only family support that she and Richard had left.

While working as a cook at the El Toro Truck Stop, Marge met Raúl Granillo Aguilar. They were married and had five children between 1974 and 1980. The oldest, their daughter Renee, passed away from pneumonia at 6 months old. Over the years, Marge and Raúl would host many traveling family members and friends in their home. Marge’s strong heart for justice, along with her fearless temperament, led her to become an advocate for family members who were seeking help with their immigration status or were simply trying to navigate life in America. She put the needs of others ahead of her own because she saw that as the example left by Christ. Marge genuinely couldn’t understand why others didn’t feel the same way.

Raúl’s brother José moved in with them in 1978, and in 1983, his wife Leonor and their children—Isabela Cristina (Cristy), Araseli, Lili, and José Armando—joined him. In September of that year, Noemi was born while they were all living together in the expanded single-wide trailer just south of Deming, NM. Despite the language barrier, Leonor and Marge quickly became close sisters and would raise nine children together (even when they moved into different houses). Marge loved her huge family.

Marge and Raúl separated in 1984. Marge’s aunt Gertie had become unable to care for herself, so Marge took her four young children, and they all moved in with her aunt Gertie on Emerson Dr. Marge cared for Gertie as she could, and when she needed to work, Leonor would often step in to help. She and Raúl were divorced in 1988 and caring for her invalid aunt while raising her kids as a single mother on a fixed income was excruciatingly difficult—but Marge persevered for her family.

In 1993, her eldest son Richard convinced his mom to move from Deming to Farmington, NM, where he was living. Marge wanted a fresh start, and she really wanted to be near Richard as well, so she packed up her kids and moved to the other side of the state. In Farmington, Marge worked various jobs to make ends meet and eventually found herself with steady employment at the Thriftway Gas Station on W. Main St.

In 1998, with her youngest turning 18, Marge had already spent 34 years selflessly raising her babies. In 1999, her two first grandkids were born, and Marge found herself still surrounded by family and babies to help raise. Marge rarely had a house to herself. Between her children, their friends, her grandkids, and her church family at 26:16 Church, Marge found herself always surrounded by loved ones.

Having lost her own mom on the day that she was born, Marge never knew the comfort of cuddling up to your momma when you hurt; however, she certainly knew how to be that momma to anyone who needed her. She lived most of her life as a single mom and a single grandma, doing everything that she could to raise her family in a world that was often cruel to her.

She loved. She loved deeply. And she will be profoundly missed.

Margaret was preceded in death by her precious daughter, Renee Granillo; her loving parents, Wilfred H. Walter and Margaret Mc’Cann Walter; and other cherished family members who went before her.

She is survived by her devoted children: her eldest son, Richard Phelps; her sons, Raúl Granillo (wife Perla Granillo), Ray Granillo (wife Lacey Granillo), and Federico Granillo (wife Carlee Granillo); and her daughter, Reina Granillo. She is also survived by her brothers, Gilbert Walter (wife Betty Walter) and Fred Walter.

Marge’s legacy lives on through her 20 grandchildren: Daylon Wyatt Granillo, Conner Sterling Granillo, Brooklyn Elise Moore, Carson Dale Granillo, Emmanuel Emilio Saul Estrada (wife Corrie), Jacob Raul Byland, Isaiah Jerome Byland, Isabell Renee Granillo, Kayclynn MaTae Espinoza, Gabrielle Nicole Granillo, Naomi Maurice Granillo, Reyes Ezekiel Granillo, Sienna Marie Granillo, Kyle Mitchell Granillo, Kelly Marcos Tarin, Hannah Grace Granillo, Eli Bernabe Tarin, Isaac James Granillo, Olivia Elena Tarin, and Ezra James Tarin.

Marge will be honored with a funeral service on Monday, May 19, 2025, at 10:00 AM at 26:16 Church of the Nazarene, 207 E Main St, Farmington, NM 87401, officiated by Pastor Tammie Summers. A reception will follow at the same location.