Elisa Concepcion Minton

Elisa Concepcion Minton, was born on Immaculate Conception feast day, December 8, 1930. "Elisa Baby" entered the Kingdom of Heaven on November 18, 2024. Elisa was born and raised in the surrounding area of Santiago, Veraguas, Panama and passed away in Arizona.

Her life was defined as: Matriarch, fighter-survivor, lover of family, Army wife, with devotion to Blessed Mother Mary and Jesus Christ. In the 1950s, Elisa was a single mother with two boys struggling but always strived to provide for herself and her sons. She sought work worked hard to make an honest living and earned every penny she made. Elisa met and married SGM Johnny Minton, "Johnny Baby", an American soldier and Korean War and Vietnam Veteran. In 1975 she immigrated from Panama to the USA and became a citizen. Fort Huachuca and Sierra Vista, AZ became her home for the rest of her life. Elisa raised her sons and daughter and helped to raise her grandchildren in Sierra Vista. Life with the kids and grandchildren was the most cherished time for Elisa. She loved her boys and granddaughters with all her heart.

She worked at the bowling alley on Post and served the best burgers and fries to the Army "GIs". She retired as a Government Employee. Elisa loved shopping, gardening, bingo, Keno trophy, traveling back and forth to Panama, traveling around the states visiting granddaughters, and treating other people's kids to anything - food, toys and presents. She loved to cook Panamanian foods with her daughter-in-law whom she loved greatly. Her tortillas, platanos, and carimanolas were so delicious.

She especially loved Mass on Sundays and holidays. Elisa was known for her feistiness and her passion for life.

Elisa is survived by her son, Carlos Cardenas and his wife, Luisabell Cardenas of Mesa, AZ; her son, Francisco Cardenas of Tucson, AZ; her daughter, Pauline Reynolds and her husband, Scott Reynolds of Arlington, VA; her sister, Gregoria Valdes of Santiago, Panama; her granddaughters: Frances La Salvia and her husband, Michael La Salvia of Laveen, AZ, Taffee Cardenas-Scherer of Choctaw, OK, Daphne Reynolds of Arlington, VA, and Chloe Reynolds of New York City, NY. Elisa was preceded in death by her husband, SGM Johnny Minton and grandson-in-law, SSG Louis Scherer ("Lugi Baby").

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 2, 2024 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Hatfield Funeral Home 830 AZ-92 in Sierra Vista, AZ.

Services will be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at Saint Andrew the Apostle Church at 800 Taylor Drive in Sierra Vista, AZ. Rosary at 10 a.m. and Mass at 10:30 a.m.

Interment will be at noon following Mass at Southern Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery 1300 S Buffalo Soldier Trail, Sierra Vista, AZ.

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