Maurita Hernandez

Maurita Hernandez ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Hawker Funeral Home - Blackfoot on Mar. 16, 2026.Maurita Rae Hernandez (Jones) 1969 - 2026Maurita Rae Hernandez, 56, of Paris, Texas, died peacefully in her sleep on March 7th 2026.Maurita was born in the summer of 1969 in Logan, Utah. She always shared that her birthday could have been 6/9/69 but her mother waited too long in the parking lot! She arrived shortly later in the wee morning hours of June 10, 1969, leaving the 9th reserved for a later grandchild. Maurita was the 6th daughter of Daniel and Charlotte Jones. Her parents would go on to have one more child, a younger brother.They lived in Wellsville, Utah until 1975 when they moved to Blackfoot, Idaho where Maurita began elementary school. She was a very bright child and excelled in whatever she attempted. During her high school years she was a part of the rifle team where they won many competitions and awards.After graduating with honors she attended Utah State University with a scholarship. For a time she worked as a nanny in Connecticut but then came back to resume her studies at Utah State University where she met and married the father of her children.After creating seven beautiful children Maurita's life took a hard detour from her original plans. As a single mother of seven she went back to school, first in Missouri and later graduated with a Master's degree in chemistry in 2008 from Idaho State University. Her children have fond memories of playing in the lab while she worked. Her strength and perseverance as a cancer survivor and single mother were an example to us all.In the wake of the economic crash she found herself working as the Sewing Department Manager in Brady's. She taught many classes there and touched many lives through her love of creating. Her sewing and handwork can be found in every single home in the family.Eventually her career took a shift to teaching and it was a love she never left. She first taught at Blackfoot High School and has taught in Texas for the past eight years. Although she taught many different ages and subjects, her heart resided with her high school chemistry students. On her summers off from teaching she spent her time loving on her grandchildren and writing. She was the proud author of two published novels and was working on a third. With many more ideas in the works.Maurita met Carlos Hernandez and they were married June 17, 2017. They lived in Needville, Texas and later moved to Paris, Texas where she was currently teaching chemistry at Paris High School.When memories are shared of Maurita they never fail to mention her intelligence and spirituality. Her connection to the other side was strong. She had the "golden touch" and found hundreds of names in her own family history efforts. She indexed several cemeteries and was known at the library in Hamburg, Iowa as "the genealogist" when people made inquiries in the search for family members. Her help was invaluable to many people. And, her kids all remember growing up around and learning to drive in cemeteries because, you can't hurt anyone there, she would say.Maurita Hernandez was preceded in death by her father Daniel Arthur Jones and grandson Wyatt McCammon.She is survived by her spouse, Carlos Hernandez, her children Sharlee (Sean) Hill, Sarah (Chase) Evans, GJ (Teresa) Baines, Selena (Mitchel) McCammon, Luke Baines, Matthew (Sydnie) Baines and ShaeAnn (Jayce) Dills; her Grandchildren: Bowdree Hill, Henry Hill, Ellen Evans, Jesse Evans, Rosie Evans, Jameson McCammon and Weston McCammon. Twin granddaughters are expected soon. She is also survived by her mother Charlotte Jones and her siblings, Ronnalea (Steve) Taylor, Jeanna (Jay) Miller, DeAnne (Brian) Muchow, Charlyn (Winfield) Anderson, Danette Berry and Daniel (Erica) Jones.A funeral service will be held at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 S. Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot, Idaho, Saturday March 21st at 11am.The family will meet with friends on Friday evening, at Hawker Funeral Home from 7-9 and again, Saturday one hour prior to the service.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.