ALFREDO RAMON LUJAN, 84, of Santa Fe died Wednesday.
He was born to Alfredo and Amada Lujan at Pajarito Ranch. He retired from the Los Alamos National Laboratory after 35 years of service.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Lujan.
He is survived by his daughter, Debra E. Johnson and husband David and son, David Lujan; and five grandchildren.
McGee Memorial Chapel Mortuary, 983-9151.
Dated: May 14, 2005
RUTH C. ROMERO, 81, of Nambé died Thursday.
She was an entrepreneur of the Nambé Trading Post. She was a beloved wife, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was born in Breckenridge, Mich. She attended a one-room schoolhouse and graduated in 1939 at the age of 16. Following graduation, she moved to St. Louis, Mich., where she worked for her room and board while attending business school. After two years of business school, she went to work as an undercover policewoman. In 1949, she and a girlfriend took a vacation and she fell in love with the West. She returned home to Michigan, gave two weeks' notice at her job and moved to Colorado, where she lived and worked for a few months before being recruited to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she met her future husband Delfino Romero. Following her retirement from the laboratory, they opened the Nambé Trading Post, where they spent the next 26 years making many close friends. She loved to go to work every day at the trading post, and because of their love of people, many of the visitors to the trading post turned into lifelong friends. Not having children of their own, they opened their hearts and their home to many children and have an extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Martha Cronkite; brother, Ralph Cronkite; and sister, Doris Cronkite.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Delfino J. Romero "Coyote" of Nambé; nine grandchildren; brothers, Burton Cronkite and wife Bernice, and Victor Cronkite and wife Carol of Breckenridge, Mich.; close friends Florence Jaramillo of Chimayó, Mike and Cleo Sanchez of Los Ojos and Manuel and Nellie Sena of Albuquerque, the Rivera family of Nambé and Pancho Sena and wife Diana of Pojoaque; and many other relatives and friends.
A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at La Paloma Funeral Home. A memorial service by the First Presbyterian Church will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at El Buen Pastor Presbyterian Church, 30AB Camino del Mission in Chimayó.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 208 Grant Ave., Santa Fe, N.M., 87501.
La Paloma Funeral Home, 983-2555.
Dated: May 14, 2005
LUCIA MARIA SUAZO, 103, of Abiquiu died Thursday.
She was the oldest woman in Abiquiu. She was always willing to help her neighbors and was very active until her late 90s. She was always well dressed and loved her jewelry, music and Abiquiu. She loved to attend the Española Fiesta.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Sabino Suazo; son, Arturo George Suazo; brother, Jacobo and Steven Suazo; and parents, Juan Maria and Cleofes Suazo.
She is survived by her children, Nelson Suazo and wife Leticia of Salt Lake City, Paul Napoleon Garcia, Jackie Suazo and wife Olivia of Santa Fe, Sylvia Casados and companion Salomon Ulibarri of Cebolla; grandchildren she raised, Robert Fernandez and wife Delma of Abiquiu, Valerie Martinez and husband Marlo of San Pedro and Roland Fernandez and wife Beatrice of Abiquiu; 32 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. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Abiquiu with burial to follow at the Abiquiu Cemetery.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, 747-3600.
Dated: May 14, 2005
ANTONIO S. VIGIL, 79, of Dixon died Friday following a short illness.
He was a veteran of the Marine Corps, serving in World War II. He was an author of books on Hispanic culture and early settlements of the Southwest. He earned his bachelor's degree from New Mexico Highlands University and later earned his master's degree from San Francisco State University. He was also a music director and a past elementary school principal for the Española Public Schools, as well as director of the bilingual program. He was an avid horticulturist and loved caring for his garden. He was a longtime member of the Victory Faith Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, Benito C. Vigil; stepmother, Frances Vigil; mother and father-in-law, Diego and Concepcion Atencio.
He is survived by his wife, Tila A. Vigil of Dixon; children, Michael E. Vigil of Albuquerque and Katherine V. Montero of Santa Fe; five grandchildren; brother, Joe Vigil; sister, Gloria Lopez, both of Denver; and many other relatives and friends.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Victory Faith Church in Española.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, 747-7477.
Dated: May 14, 2005
FRANCES PADILLA DURAN of La Jara died Sunday.
She had a great sense of humor, and showed kindness and love to everyone she met.
She was preceded in death by her husband Tomas Duran; daughter, Ernestina Duran; and son, Ernest Duran.
She is survived by her children, Gilbert Duran and wife, Ingrid, of Edgewood; Ernest Duran and wife, Terri, of Farmington; Pat Duran and wife, Lita, of Bloomfield; Leonard Duran and wife, Julia, of Bernalillo; Tom Duran and wife, Becky, of Los Alamos; Rosemary Lopez and husband, George, of La Jara; Rudy Duran and Ruth Duran, both of Kirtland; 13 grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. A visitation will be held from 6-7 p.m. today at the Guadalupe
Hall in Cuba with a service at 7 p.m. A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the same hall with burial to follow at the Assembly of God Cemetery in Cuba.
Alameda Mortuary, 898-3160.
Dated: May 17, 2005
CLEO T. GARCIA, 72, of Mora and Las Vegas, N.M. died Friday at the Las Vegas Medical Center.
She was born in El Abuelo to the late Alfredo Romero and Antonia Armijo. She was a graduate of St. Gertrude's Catholic High School in 1949. She retired in 1988 from the New Mexico Department of Human Services as a secretary. She dedicated her life to her children and was a humble and hardworking mother who loved to sew, garden, and can food and enjoyed music and dancing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfredo and Tonita Romero; infant son, Daniel Garcia; father of her children, Levi Garcia Sr.; and brother, William Romero.
She is survived by her children, Levi Garcia and wife, Mary Lou, of Española; Rachel Kavanaugh; Betty Martinez and Armando Garcia; all of Las Vegas, N.M.; Cathy Garcia-Martinez and husband, Alvin, of Rociada, and Richard Garcia and wife, Cathy, of Mora; eight grandchildren; brothers, Rogerio Romero and Alfredo Romero and wife, Martha, all of Las Vegas, N.M.; Maclovio Romero and wife, Lupe, of Santa Fe; Cornelio Romero and wife, Flora; Rudy Romero and wife, Mary, all of Mora; and many other relatives and friends.
A funeral will be held at 9 a.m. today at St. Gertrude's Church with burial to follow at the Monte Aplanado Cemetery in Mora.
Rogers Mortuary, Las Vegas, N.M., (800) 479-3511.
Dated: May 17, 2005
PRECILIANO GARCIA, 90, formerly of Taos died Thursday in La Junta, Colo.
He was a current resident of La Junta and longtime resident of Taos. He was born in Taos to the late Preciliano and Gregoria Garcia. He was a carpenter and a farmer who raised horses.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Dolores Garcia of 40 years and Mille Garcia of two years; son, Leroy Cortzs; three brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by his special nieces, Anna and Paula Garcia of La Junta; and many other relatives and friends.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Taos. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the same church with burial to follow at Dolores Cemetery.
Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home, 758-3841.
Dated: May 17, 2005
