VIRGINIA FAYE MCLARRY, 73, of Santa Fe died Saturday.
"Jennie" was born in Norman, Okla., to Earl Kipling Mayo and Maxie Viola Cash. She was a loving wife and mother. She moved to Santa Fe from Durant, Okla., in 1959 and worked as a bookkeeper for the NEA of New Mexico and was a secretary in the public schools of Jemez Springs, Lake Arthur and Crownpoint. Retiring with her husband in 1985, she returned to Santa Fe and then moved to Albuquerque in 1991.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Robert McLarry.
She is survived by her children, Linda McLarry Grimes and husband Richard of Albuquerque, and Gary McLarry and wife Vicki of Mead, Okla.; six grandchildren; and many other relatives.
A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Albuquerque Presbyterian Hospice-American Cancer Society.
McGee Memorial Chapel Mortuary, 983-9151.
Dated: April 7, 2004
RUTH N. SALAZAR MEDRANO, 39, of Fairview died Saturday.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Ted "Teddy" Salazar Jr. She is survived by her parents, Ted and Theresa Salazar of Fairview; daughters, Alicia and Christina Medrano and Rebecca Salazar; companion, Andres Castaņeda; father of her daughters, Paul Medrano; sisters, Elaine Salazar and husband Ray Maestas of Las Vegas, Nev., Donna Lopez and husband Tony, and Wendy Saiz, all of Albuquerque, Connie Mora and boyfriend Robert Sherwood, and Candi Salazar, all of Fairview; and many other relatives and friends.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church in La Joya.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Espaņola Valley, (505) 747-7477.
Dated: April 7, 2004
JUAN RAMON SANDOVAL, 96, of Peņasco died Monday.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Leonides Maestas Sandoval; father, Jose Ramon Sandoval; and mother, Lucinda Rael Sandoval.
He is survived by his children, Helen Sandoval, and Joe Alex Sandoval, both of Peņasco, Ramona Cantu and husband Tommy of Santa Fe, Juan Gilberto Sandoval of Santa Cruz and Lydia Dominguez of Chamisal; brother, Teodoro Sandoval of Rio Lucio; and sister, Cora Archuleta of Evanston, Wyo.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Block-Salazar Mortuary. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Peņasco with burial to follow at the Arroyito de Agua Cemetery in Chamisal.
Block-Salazar Mortuary, (505) 753-2288.
Dated: April 7, 2004
ARDYS C. TOWERS, 75, of Santa Fe died Sunday after a battle with cancer.
"Ardy" was born in Sissiton, S.D. She worked as a secretary at Stanford Medical School and was a successful saleswoman in the automotive industry, the mobile home industry and as a real estate agent in California and in Santa Fe, where she moved in 1991. Mostly as a single mom, she raised her three sons and loved her grandchildren and family. She was a member of the congregation at Christian Life Fellowship.
She was preceded in death by her father, Albert Bubak; and sister, Audrey Beardsley.
She is survived by her mother, Clara Hanson and husband Andy; sister, Beverly Brafford; brother, Orville Bubak and wife Shirley; sons, Thom E. Elrite and wife Verna, James W. Elrite and wife Molly and David A. Elrite; nine grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Christian Life Fellowship, 121 Siringo Road, Santa Fe.
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 983-4331.
Dated: April 7, 2004
Albert 'Al' Romero
Albert "Al" Romero, a Lincoln native who made a name for himself in Santa Fe as the longtime chief clerk of the House of Representatives and also as state auditor, died Tuesday.
Romero, who passed away after a brief illness in Santa Fe, served as the House's chief clerk from 1959 to 1983. He then successfully ran for state auditor and served one four-year term in the mid-1980s.
He was remembered Tuesday as a man who was enthusiastic about his roles in public service.
"Al was a great human being... He had some tough beginnings, but he got an education and was a very professional public servant," said House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe.
Romero also worked for the city of Gallup in its finance department and in state government's Local Government Division. He served as a trustee during the early years of Santa Fe Community College and as a board member for the Space
Hall of Fame in Alamogordo.
Romero was born in Lincoln but grew up in Roswell and served as a paratrooper in World War II. He also was a certified public accountant.
Lujan said Romero helped him learn the ropes of the House of Representatives when Lujan was first elected to the Legislature in 1975.
Lujan and current House Chief Clerk Steve Arias said they both worked hard for Romero's successful race for state auditor, primarily because they admired Romero's hard-driving work ethic and his honesty.
"He was one of the most ethical, hard-working and seriously funny guys I've ever known," said Arias.
Arias, who worked for Romero for almost two decades, said Romero was a perfectionist who expected his employees to work as hard as he did.
"He was just an all-around great guy," said Romero's wife, Beatrice.
In recent years, Romero was known for his athleticism. He became an outstanding racquetball player and won many national and international tournaments in his division. He also was an avid sportsman and gardener.
A memorial service is planned at 8:30 a.m. Friday at the Berardinelli Family Funeral Chapel in Santa Fe.
Dated: April 28, 2004
JOHN H. BROTHERTON of Santa Fe died Friday. During World War II, he worked at the shipyards in California and then Pearl Harbor. After the war, he returned to Santa Fe and worked at Los Alamos, retiring from the Zia Company in 1981.
He was a 55-year member of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 412. His hobbies included farming and raising racing quarter horses. He was a family man and spent many happy hours watching his children participate in high school sports. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn; daughter, Janey; and two grandchildren; sisters, Deanne Sutherland and Jeanne Boyd of Los Lunas; and brother, Carl Cannon of Moriarty. Services to celebrate his life will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the River of Life Ministries Church on N.M. 502, west of the Pojoaque Post Office. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice. River of Life Ministries, Pojoaque, 455-0092.
Dated: April 28, 2004
LEROY "CHIC" CHACON, 63, of Phoenix died Thursday after a battle with diabetes. He was born the elder of two sons to Eugenjo and Virginia Chacon in Embudo. He spent his childhood in Mora and graduated from high school at the Menaul School in Albuquerque. He went on to earn a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico and volunteered to join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, serving in Vietnam. In 1969 he married and subsequently had three children. He is survived by his wife, Judy Chacon of the family home in Phoenix; son, Anthony Robert of Portland, Ore.; daughters, Julie Elizabeth of Santa Fe and Anne Catharine of San Francisco; brother, Robert Chacon and wife Rafaela of Albuquerque; and many other relatives and friends. A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Rogers Chapel. A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church in Mora with burial to follow at Agua Negra Cemetery in Holman. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, Ohio, 44720. Rogers Mortuary, Las Vegas, N.M, (505) 425-3511.
Dated: April 28, 2004
