Nicole Balderrama

Nicole Catherine Balderrama, 36, of Hobbs, New Mexico, passed away on June 23, 2019 after a 3-year battle with cancer.
She was born in Midland, TX on April 8th, 1983. She met the love of her life, Richard Balderrama, 29, in 2012. Richard was born and raised in Hobbs, NM and, in 2013, Nicole moved to Hobbs to start a life with him. They got married on June 18th, 2016 in Hobbs. Richard supported and cared for Nicole throughout their years together, especially during Nicole's illness from cancer and cancer treatments.
Nicole graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Midland in 2001. She graduated from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She worked in multiple jobs related to the psych. field in the Midland/Odessa area, briefly turning her interests toward nursing and working as a CNA before deciding to go into teaching. Nicole loved learning and was passionate about teaching! She began her teaching career at St. Mary's in Odessa, teaching pre-K from 2012-2013. When she moved to Hobbs she enjoyed a 4-year-long career with Hobbs Municipal Schools, teaching kindergarten at Booker T. Washington Elementary for 3 years (2013-2016) and third grade at Mills Elementary for one year. Nicole was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer-a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer-in the summer of 2016. She continued to teach for one year after her diagnosis with the help and support of the staff of Hobbs Municipal Schools, including amongst them Booker T. Washington Elementary and Mills Elementary.
Nicole is survived by her husband, Richard Balderrama, their two fur babies, Benji and Banjo, her parents; Gary Mizzles and Shari and Greg Folger, her mother and father-in-law Amelia and Jorge H. Balderrama, her siblings; brothers, Ben Mizzles and his wife Ellen, Stuart Mizzles and his wife Adrianne, Kevin Folger and his wife Amber, and Stephen Folger, sister Lilly Wallace and her husband Casey, brother-in-law Jorge A. Balderrama and his wife Desarea, and sister-in-laws Patricia Luna, April Torres, and Mayra Balderrama. Between her biological family and her married family through Richard, Nicole is also survived by many aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her brother, David Folger, and Nicole's grandparents; John and Lavenia Mizzles and Daryl and Darline Smith.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hobbs Municipal Schools in Hobbs, New Mexico: The Eagle Trust Foundation, in memory of Nicole Balderrama, P.O. Box 1030, Hobbs, NM 88241.

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