Maria Denise Salinas

Ms. Maria Denise Salinas of Cherry Valley, Arkansas, departed this life on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, while at UAMS Little Rock. Denise filled her life, and the lives of anyone lucky enough to have crossed her path, with joy and fierce love. Denise was born on January 29, 1977, in St. Charles, Illinois, to Alice Morris (Smith). She was a graduate of Cross County High School, Class of 1995. Denise is preceded in death by a sister, Camilla Salinas; her maternal grandparents, Dorothy and John Benefield and Jessie Morris II, and paternal grandparents Lazzaro and Maria Salinas. Denise was blessed with a brilliant mind and an endless passion for knowledge. She learned to read at a very early age and read everything in reach from that moment on. She was a dedicated student to her beloved WGU. On some of her hardest days she was able to find comfort and escape through her schoolwork and college community. Denise had a personality as big as she was small. She was a loving mother, daughter, and sister. She was a friend to all, a defender to the underdog, a shoulder to lean on, a listening ear, an artist, a music lover, a talented singer, and so much more. If you met her once, she considered you a friend for life. Her love and optimism knew no bounds. It was her superpower and greatest joy to uplift those around her, making them feel safe and seen. She will be remembered fondly not only by her family and close friends, but by every waiter or cashier she made laugh or smile, by every Facebook friend and by every child she cared for and treated like one of her own. To know her was to love her and to be loved by her. Denise’s greatest love in life was her family; especially her two “favorite humans in the whole world,” daughter, Claudia Morris Blackman (Maddie), of Portland, OR, and son, Kenden Rudell Oatis, of Cherry Valley, AR; her mother, Alice Morris Smith and step-father, Ricky Smith of Cherry Valley, AR, a bonus dad, Terry Dildine of Wynne, AR, one tall sister, Teriann Turner (Robert) of Newport, AR, and one over-achieving brother, Jorge Salinas (Tara), also of Newport. Denise found much joy in being a favorite aunt to her nieces and nephew, Audrey Turner, Emmy Burton, and Lucas Salinas. She also leaves behind best friend, Cayne Orman of Beebe, AR, honorary family and lifelong friends, John and Tara Burton of Memphis, TN, a very special aunt, Edna Cotton of Hickory Ridge, AR, many other aunts, uncles, cousins and a huge host of dear friends. A celebration of life in Denise’s honor will be held Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at The Merriman in Wynne, AR, with visitation opening at 3:00 PM and a memorial service beginning at 4:00 PM. Her family invites all who have a special memory or story about Denise to share at the memorial service.

Tributes

Maria Denise Salinas

January 29, 1977 - July 2, 2025