GABRIEL MATTHEW PARSON, 1 month and 3 days old, of Las Vegas, N.M., died Wednesday at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. He was born the third infant son of Calvin B. Parson and Joann Mondragon. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Michael James and Adrian Mark Parson. He is survived by his parents, Calvin B. Parson and Joann Mondragon, both of Las Vegas, N.M.; sisters and brothers, Amberly Parson, Calvin Parson Jr., Wayne Parson, and Kaitlyn Mondragon, all of Las Vegas, N.M.; special aunt and uncle, Irene and Larry Garcia of Mora; special cousins, Krystal Mondragon and fiancee Chris of Albuquerque; and many other relatives and friends. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at the Immaculate Conception Church with burial to follow at the Mora Cemetery. Rogers Mortuary, Las Vegas, N.M., 1-800-479-3511.
Dated: April 29, 2005
JESUSITA ARAGON, 97, of Las Vegas, N.M. died Tuesday at Alta Vista Regional Hospital following a brief illness. She was born in Trujillo. She was a pioneer San Miguel County resident who had lived in Las Vegas, N.M. most of her life. She became a midwife at the age of 13 and practiced for 84 years. According to a family spokesman, she delivered 45,943 babies. A book authored by Fran Buss titled "La Patera: A Story of a Midwife" was written about her. She loved to dance and sew. She was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Tomas and Antonio Otero Aragon; sisters, Soledad Trujillo, Ramona Aragon, and Jodie Miranda; and brother, Matias Aragon and wife Louisa. She is survived by her daughter, Dolores Benavidez of Las Vegas, N.M.; sons, Ernesto Aragon of Las Vegas, N.M. and Ben Aragon of Denver; brothers, Willie Aragon and wife Maria of California, Antonio Aragon and wife Carolina and Pete Trujillo and wife Margaret, all of La Junta, Colo.; sisters, Erlinda Nabor and Maria of California, Esabella Lucero and husband Lonnie of Denver, Margarita Sanders and husband Duke of Pueblo, Colo., Elena Mascarenas and Mary Lou Trujillo, both of La Junta, Colo., Antonia Campbell and husband Harry and Socorro Sena and husband Roger, all of Las Vegas; six grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. today at Our Lady of Sorrows Church with burial to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Billy G. Rogers at Gonzales Funerals & Cremations, 425-9319.
Dated: April 30, 2005
LORENZO MIGUEL "SITO" GALLEGOS, 31, of Las Vegas, N.M. died Tuesday. He was born to Mary Elaine and Daniel Lorenzo Gallegos. He was a star musician, singer and composer. His voice had been heard on radio stations locally and in many states. He started his singing career at the age of five with encouragement of his father and mother. He was one of the founding members of Sangre Joven. During his music career he had worked and recorded with other music legends, from Al Hurricane, Jerry Dean and Roberto Griego. His CD "Vuelve de Vuelta" was a hit. One of his great releases included "El Corrido De Daniel," a corrido written by his Tia Inez to which he put lyrics. He dedicated the song in memory of his father, Daniel, whom he loved so much. Other releases included "El Carrito Chevy— El 55" "Un Carino," "Como Quisiera," "El Papaloteê," "Tu Carcel," and many others. He was preceded in death by his father, Daniel Lorenzo Gallegos. He is survived by his mother, Mary Elaine Gallegos-Lucero and husband Mike of Albuquerque; daughter, Amberly Martinez; sister, Simonita Daniella Flor Gallegos; brothers, Ralph and wife Audra, Daniel, Vicente, Rey, Francisco and Antonio; and many other relatives and friends. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. today at the Immaculate Conception Church with burial to follow at the Gallegos Family Cemetery in Maes. Rogers Mortuary, Las Vegas, N.M., 1(800)479-3511.
Dated: April 30, 2005
IRENE GARCIA, 83, of Pecos died Wednesday. She was born in Lower Colonias to Meliton and Luciana Roybal Garcia. She was a faithful member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church where she was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Altar Society. She was also a Hermana of the Nuestro Padre Jesus of the Morada in Colonias. Through most of her adult life, her line of work included being a nanny and mentor to many children whom she took care of and loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her mother, Luciana Roybal Garcia; father, Meliton Garcia; sisters, Rosalie Garcia, Senaida Garcia Aragon; and brother, Melisendro Garcia. She is survived by her close nieces and nephews, Rita Aragon of Pecos, Sylvia Garcia of Phoenix, and Denise Packard and husband Keith of Las Vegas, N.M., Desi Aragon and Pecos and friend Barbara Abeyta of Santa Fe, Joe Aragon of Pecos, Luciano Garcia and wife Letticia of Las Vegas, N.M.; and special "kids," Lilly Pierpont Love of New Orleans and Allen Roybal of Santa Fe; and many other relatives and friends. A visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Pecos followed by a rosary to be recited by Our Lady of Fatima Alta Society at 7 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at the same church with burial to follow at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery in Pecos. Billy G. Rogers at Gonzales Funerals & Cremations, 1(888)525-9319.
Dated: April 30, 2005
ROBERT J. MARTINEZ, 51, of Santa Fe died Wednesday following a long illness. He was born in Santa Fe to the late William and Celia Martinez. He was a beloved father and grandfather that loved his family, friends and his customers. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He had a kind, generous heart and was a man of his word. He owned and operated RJM Mechanical and was a member of the American Legion and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is survived by his son, Che Martinez; daughters, Celia Martinez, Amy Chavez and husband Ray; three grandchildren; sister, Mary Dean and husband Joe; and many other relatives and friends. A visitation will be held 3-5 p.m. Sunday at Berardinelli Family Chapel. Another visitation will be held at 7 p.m. with a rosary to follow at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Francis Cathedral. Mass will be celebrated at noon Monday at the same cathedral with burial to follow at Rosario Cemetery. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 984-8600.
Dated: April 30, 2005
JAIME RICARDO ORNELAS III died Thursday.
He will join all the little angels in heaven.
A rosary will be recited at 12:30 p.m. Monday in the chapel of La Paloma Funeral Home with burial to follow at Rosario Cemetery.
La Paloma Funeral Home, 983-2555.
Dated: April 30, 2005
WILLIAM L. RICHMOND, 70, of Santa Fe died Thursday after a brief illness. He was born in Roswell and attended Roswell Senior High, graduating in 1952. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict and was honorably discharged in March, 1957, with the rank of Petty Officer Second Class (Radioman). He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1961 with degrees in journalism and psychology. He was a general assignment reporter for the Clovis News Journal (1961-1962); police and medical reporter for the Eugene (Oregon) Register-Guard (1962-1963); and was a Capitol correspondent in Santa Fe for the United Press International (1963-1966). He joined the staff of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, later Los Alamos National Laboratory, in May 1966 as a news media relations officer. He subsequently served as assistant group leader, deputy group leader and group leader of the laboratory's Public Information/Public Affairs Office. He later transferred to the graphic arts group and was deputy group leader for printing. He retired from the laboratory in February, 1990 as printing plant manager. He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Kelly. He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Richmond Lopez and husband Joseph and their daughter, Catherine of Pojoaque. A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. McGee Memorial Chapel Mortuary, 983-9151.
Dated: April 30, 2005
PATRICK H. SANDLIN, JR.,, 86, of Santa Fe died Tuesday after a six-year struggle with congestive heart failure. He was born to P.H. Sandlin, Sr. and Grace Widner Sandlin in Decatur, Ala., very close to where a fifth great-grandfather had settled five generations earlier. An avid tennis player, he became president of his senior class. When he wanted to go to college, times were hard, in the middle of the Depression. His mother found a paying job to help finance his education, which was unusual for Southern ladies at that time. He worked at three jobs during college and was inducted into the honorary engineering society, Theta Tau. He graduated from the University of Alabama as a civil engineer in 1940. His first professional job was as county engineer for Lawrence County, Ala., which was interrupted by his being drafted into the Army. He married Sherry, whom he had met in college, and they went to Alexandria, La., where he had basic training at Camp Claiborne. He was sent to live in a tent at an army post in Seward, Ala. He and his wife were there when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Six months later he was recruited for Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Va. He remained at Belvoir after receiving his commission, to teach explosives for the staff and faculty of the Engineer Officer Candidate School and soon became a captain in the U.S. Engineering Corps. After World War II he worked for the Corps of Engineering in Vicksburg, Miss. A promotion took them to Hot Springs, Ark., where he helped build Blakely Mountain Dam. Another promotion took him to the Air Force Research and Development project in Tulla-homa, Tenn. Then he was chosen to help build the Air Force Academy. The family moved to Colorado Springs where he worked every acre of the Academy area. His promotions coincided with different areas of construction, so that as the building rose, so did his role. Seven years later he left as the highest ranking civilian, deputy director. He then went to Washington, D.C. and the family moved to McLean, Va. After a stint as director of construction for the entire postal system, he took early retirement "to play golf." He had three "holes in one," and was happy that at his age he still had a five handicap. The Postal Service insisted that he come back as a consultant which he finally did, until an international environ-mental engineering firm lured him away and eventually brought him to Santa Fe in 1982. He loved golf, Santa Fe, the mountain scenery and, most of all, his family. He was a wonderful life companion and devoted father. He is survived by his wife, Sherry; children, Sara Scott Sandlin of Albuquerque, Sherry Ann Sandlin, M.D. and husband Will Wooding of Richmond, Va. and Patrick Henry Sandlin of Fortuna, Calif. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 984-8600.
Dated: April 30, 2005
HELEN G. VALDEZ, 80, of El Guache died unexpectedly. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jose Bartolo Valdez; parents, Candido and Carolina Gallegos; sister, Josephine Rothman; and brothers, Juan and Antonio Gallegos. She is survived by her children, Antionette "Toni" Montoya and husband Jerry and Mary Alice Garcia and husband Robert, all of Española, Armando "Peter" Valdez and wife Pamela of Santo Niño, Mary Louise Garcia and husband Robert of Alcalde, MaryAnn Maestas, Eddie Maestas and companion Priscila, and Valerie Maestas, all of California; brothers and sisters, Rosina Montoya and husband Rubel of Española, Johnny Lourdes Gallegos, Mary White, and Isabel Vigil, all of California, Joe Rothman and wife Linda of Texas; 11 grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at the San Jose Catholic Church in Hernandez with burial to follow at the San Jose Catholic Cemetery in Hernandez. DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, 1(877)747-3600.
Dated: April 30, 2005
PETRITA VIGIL, 76, of Santa Fe died Thursday.
A visitation will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday with a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. at Berardinelli Family Chapel.
Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Francis Cathedral with burial to follow at Rosario Cemetery.
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 984-8600.
Dated: April 30, 2005
