The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

A memorial service for Joshua D. “Josh” Cruz-Salzillo was held Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School gymnasium in Hartley. Pastor Michael De Jong officiated. Honorary pallbearers were Josh’s teammates and classmates at H-M-S High School. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Joshua Daniel “Josh” Cruz-Salzillo, son of Noe and Anna L. (Salzillo) Araiza, was born Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, in Mexico City, Mexico. In 2011, 4-year-old Josh, along with his family, relocated to the United States, spending the next seven years in the Pacific Northwest at Irrigon, Ore. They made another move to Alamogordo, N.M. before settling in Hartley in December of 2020, calling it “home” ever since.

Josh began his education at H-M-S and has been part of the “Hawk Nation” since sixth grade. Once the bookwork and homework were handled, Josh focused his attention on the best part of school – athletics! Spring and summer were devoted to track and baseball; football and basketball kept him busy through the fall and winter. No matter which sport he was involved in, Josh always gave his best effort on the playing field. While winning was a lot more fun than losing, it was the camaraderie with teammates and the lasting friendships he made at H-M-S that Josh valued most.

When school or sports weren’t on the schedule, Josh liked spending his free time outdoors, just doing some fishing or going swimming with his sister, brothers and friends.

Josh passed from this life on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at the age of 16 years. Waiting to greet him was his aunt, Kayleen Marie Salzillo.

Keeping his memory close at heart are his parents, Noe and Anna Araiza; one sister, Anna Cruz-Salzillo; brothers: James Cruz-Salzillo, Jr. Araiza, Samuel Araiza and Caleb Araiza; one nephew, Noe Cruz; his grandmother, Anna Goff; other relatives and a host of friends and classmates.