Obituaries (Oct. 1)

Jimmy Neal Armstrong

1969-2020

Jimmy Neal Armstrong left us way too soon on Sept. 20, 2020.

He was a loving father, son and brother.

He is preceded in death by his father, Eugene; mother, Rosie; and brothers, Jerry and Paul.

Jimmy is survived by his son, Michael; ex-wife, Amanda Wright; brothers, Tom and Joseph; sisters, Rose Marie, Irene, Carol, Ruby and Rozannia Lee.

You will live on in our hearts.

Betty Jo Evans

1938-2020

Betty Jo Evans, age 82, a resident of Belen, passed away on Sept. 27, 2020.

She was a member of Belen Christian Church. Betty was born in Dalhart, Texas, but grew up in Long Beach and Huntington Beach, Calif., where she met and married her beloved husband, Dennis Evans, who preceded her to be with the Lord in 2007.

Together they arrived in Belen on Christmas Day, 1994, to spend their remaining years. She loved traveling. Her last prayer and wish was that all her family and friends would find their way to the Lord and therefore, one day join her and other loved ones in Heaven for eternity.

Betty is preceded in death by her loving husband, Dennis Evans; father, Joe Jester; mother, Velma Meeks; stepson, Dennis R. Evans Jr.; and sister, Carole Sleeper.

She is survived by stepmother, Goldie Jester; brothers, Walt Meeks and John Meeks; sister, Judee Brock; stepdaughter, Pamela Welch; stepson, Dennis M. Evans; and adopted children and families.

In total, she was blessed to have been privileged to have the role of mom, grams and great-grams to many, all of whom she loved and cherished equally.

Services are pending. Please sign Betty Jo’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.

Ersilia “Shirley” Albertina Gallegos

1935-2020

Ersilia “Shirley” Albertina Gallegos, 84, of Avondale, Colo., passed away Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Berkeley County, S.C.

Shirley was born Oct. 10, 1935, in Avondale, Colo., a daughter of John G. Sierra and Della Pando Ornelas. She retired from Presbyterian Healthcare Systems as an account manager.

Survivors include her children, Jeannean Diaz (Frank), of Montrose, Colo., Anthony Gallegos (Patty), of Albuquerque, Dominic Gallegos (Verna), of Mira Loma, Calif., Daniel Gallegos of Montrose, Colo., and Jaime Diaz (Kim), of Goose Creek, S.C.; brother, Dan Martinez (Rosemary), of Pueblo West, Colo.; and her “sister cousins,” Antionette Padilla, Rita Berumen, Eleanor Montez, Janice Baca and late Nancy Robles.

Shirley was widow of Anthony Gallegos, Homer Diaz and Theodore Dueball.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Sierra (Alice) and Della Ornelas (Jim); and her son, Andrew Gallegos.

Shirley was loved and known as “Grandma” by her 19 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be determined at a later time and held in her hometown of Avondale, Colo.

Arrangements by Parks Funeral Home, 130 W. 1st North Street, Summerville, S.C., 29483. Online condolences can be made to the family at parksfuneralhome.com.

Louie Gurule

1956-2020

Louie Gurule, age 63, a resident of Belen, passed away on Sept. 23, 2020.

He was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. Louie was a heavy equipment operator for many years. Louis loved riding his four-wheeler with his best friends, Carla, Cheyenne and Pablo. He loved being around his girls and having barbecues at the park.

Louie loved his grandchildren and loved going to Walmart to check out all the pretty women! He enjoyed hanging around Eugene’s Mechanic Shop and talking to the customers. Louie was the best daddy every girl would have loved to have. He gave his girls everything they could ever ask for.

Louie was preceded in death by his parents, Betty and Louise Gurule; sister, Lori Thomas; and nephew, Joseph Thomas.

He is survived by two sisters, Feliah and Dolores and husband, Tommy Aragon; three daughters, Nicole and her husband, Joseph Ortega, Tracy and her husband, Eugene Wroten, and Brenda and her husband, Gilbert; five nieces, two nephews; granddaughters, Samantha, Dana and Taylor; and four grandsons, Daniel, Paul, Gabriel and Eugene Jr.; and one great-granddaughter, Jewels.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., 864-4448, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.

Amber Miles

Died 2020

Amber Miles, 32, died peacefully on Sept. 11, 2020.

She is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, serving two tours during her six years of active service in the U.S. Army as a biomedical equipment specialist.

She is preceded in death by her maternal great-grandmother, Adelina Montano; and her paternal grandmother, Donna Kamerad.

She is survived by her parents, Jeffrey and Juliette Miles; sister, Ashley; brother-in-law, Ernie; two nephews, Julian and Jayden; grandparents, Arthur and Erlinda Chavez; and aunts, uncles and cousins.

Amber is most remembered for her kind heart, a smile that can light up a room and her free spirit. She is lovingly known as “Amba,” “Amber Doll,” “Sista Sista” and “Auntie Amber.”

Interment will be at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, Calif. Sign the online register book at eastlawn.com.

Candace “Candy” Lea Sapier

1955 -2020

Candace “Candy” Lea Sapier, age 65, a resident of Belen, mother and teacher, passed away on Sept. 24, 2020, after a pulmonary airway disease that became terminal.

She graduated from Durango, Colorado High School and attended and got degrees at Fort Lewis College, University of Arizona and University of New Mexico. Candace had an MA in art education and a BA in English.

Candace was a teacher for 32 years. She taught mostly high school art for nine years in Albuquerque, and 23 years at Belen High School. Candace retired in 2012 to become a full-time grandmother.

She was understanding, loving and giving to her students and family. Candy had a magnificent relationship with God.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Grace and George Sapier.

Candy is survived by sister, Gigi Sapier; children, Nicole, Tim and Lauren Rose Zabicki; ex-spouse, Tom Zabicki; grandchildren, Juliet Sandoval, Meadow, Madilyn and Mavrik Zabicki.

Candy did not want a funeral service. Condolences can be sent to: Candace Sapier Family, 217 Mark Dr., Belen, NM, 87002, or a donation to one of Candy’s favorite charities in her memory: Roadrunner Food Bank, New Mexico PBS or Samaritan’s Purse.

Please sign Candy’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.

Cynthia M. Tafoya

1968 -2020

Cynthia M. Tafoya, age 52, our beloved wife, sister, mother and grandmother, was called home into the loving arms of our Lord on Sept. 22, 2020.

While her sudden passing was devastating to her family, friends and all who knew her, we are comforted that our beloved Cynthia has done what we can only dream of, she has put out her hand and touched the face of God.

Cynthia is preceded in death by her parents, Mary Johnson and Max Tafoya; and her brother, Irving Johnson.

Those left behind to cherish her memories are her husband, Jerome; her daughter, Levonne; grandchildren, Christopher and Lilly; brothers, Patrick (wife, Nancy), Miguel (wife, Mandy), Leon, Kenny (wife, Roseanne), Joe and David.

Cynthia graduated from Belen High School, then continuing her education earning her a master’s degree. She lived her entire life in Belen, where she met and married her beloved “Jerry.” She was employed by the U.S. Probation Office, where she retired after 28 years of dedicated service.

To those who knew her, Cynthia was a ray of sunshine and embraced all that life had to offer, even in the most challenging of times. Her warm heart, glowing smile, contagious laugh and keen sense of humor brought joy to all those around her. She was a free spirit, who lived life on her terms and was often the life of the party.

Her passion for life, and the courage and dignity by which she lived it, has been such an inspiration to us and will be forever be engraved in our hearts.

At 9 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 1, a viewing will be held, and a Rosary to be recited at 9:30 a.m. and Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. Following the Mass, Cynthia will be taken to her final resting place at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens.

Serving as pallbearers are Christopher Trejo, John Rey Tafoya, Gilbert Tafoya Jr., Miguel Tafoya Jr., Tristen Tafoya and Eloy Tafoya Jr.

May you rest in peace in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.

Please sign Cynthia’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.