Obituaries (Dec. 16)

Assunta Pastore Berry

1928-2021

Assunta Pastore Berry, age 93, a resident of Jarales, passed away peacefully on Dec. 7, 2021.

She was born Sept. 1, 1928, in Camaldoli (Naples), Italy, the eighth child of Enrico Pastore and Emma Trotta. As a young woman, Assunta helped raise many of her nephews and nieces and was like a second mother to many of them.

On June 6, 1959, she married Edwin (Baca) Berry and emigrated to a new life in Adelino, where she became a favorite tía to many of her new nephews and nieces. Assunta had four sons, Dante, Romano, Ricardo and Eduardo. She later would become a grandmother and great-grandmother.

Assunta is preceded in death by her parents, and all her brothers and sisters; Franco, Antonio, Carmelina, Teresa, Concetta, Vincenzo, Enrico, Giuseppina and Armando; husband, Edwin; and his family, including her mother and father-in-law, Leocadia Sánchez and Manuel Atocha Baca; Ramón Baca, Gladio and Consuelo Baca, Crisanta and Placido Padilla, Doroteo and Carmen Baca, Filomena and José Otero and Max and Theresa Baca; also her son, Eduardo Berry; grandson, Ramón Berry; niece, Patricia Otero; and nephews, Mario Pari, Piero Malesci, Sandro Pastore, George Baca and Jacob Baca.

Assunta is survived by her sons, Dante and wife, Margaret, Romano and wife, Montse, and Ricardo and wife, Sheri; grandchildren, Leah (husband, Ryan Abraham), Anna (husband, Joey Ongaga), Marco (wife, Jill Marley), Catalina (partner, Eagle Clanton), Melania (husband, Gerald Burkhart), Dante Jr. (fiancé, Michelle Merrell), John, Christian (wife, Peña), Denille (partner, Josh Chavez) and Lenell; along with 12 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Sabina Pastore; and many loving nephews and nieces throughout Italy, New Mexico and elsewhere.

A public viewing and Rosary were held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Wednesday, Dec. 15. A final viewing will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 16, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, followed by a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Tomé Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her nephews, Edgard Torres, Roger Padilla, Ramón Baca, Mark Otero and Tim Baca; and grandson, John Berry.

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

 

Bobby Buttram Jr.

1954-2021

Bobby Buttram Jr. went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, after a long battle with COPD.

He was born in Raton, N.M., on Feb. 11, 1954, to Robert Sr. and Bonnie Buttram. Bobby was a long time resident of Belen, and graduated from Belen High School in 1972. He worked for the BNSF Railroad for more than 35 years in Belen as a brakeman/switchman.

Bobby was a loving father, grandfather, son and brother. He was very kind and generous person, who would always be there for friends and family whenever the need arose. Bobby loved the great outdoors and enjoyed camping and fishing.

He enjoyed watching old western TV shows and Chuck Norris action movies. If you didn’t know better, you might think he knew karate as his greeting might be followed by some fake karate chops.

Bobby was preceded in death by his mother, Bonnie Buttram of Belen.

He is survived by sons, Jerry Buttram, of Belen, Jesse Buttram and wife Brandi, of Albuquerque, and Travis Buttram and wife, Sarah, of Wewoka, Okla.; stepson, Steven Bell, of Reno, Okla.; father, Bobby Buttram Sr., of Belen; sister, Darlene Barr and husband, Greg, of Belen; grandchildren, James, Jason and Madison Buttram and Allie Bell, all of Oklahoma; and many loving nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held at Terrace Grove Cemetery on Sunday, Dec. 12. Pallbearers were Jerry, Jesse, Travis and Steven Bell, and James and Damien Wood; and officiated by Rev. Boyd Morerod.

Arrangements were handled by Romero Funeral Home. Please visit Bobby’s online guestbook at romerofuneralhome.com.

 

Jeffrey Shannon Kerby

1970-2021

Our precious son, Jeffrey Shannon Kerby, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 5, at the age of 51.

He was a retired schoolteacher. Jeff graduated from Belen School Schools and spent his entire career at Belen High School. He was a devoted teacher and had a profound impact on many of his students. He loved his students and they reciprocated with devotion and attention. Many students and faculty will remember him riding his bike to school year-around, no matter the weather.

He was born on July 27, 1970, in Fort Madison, Iowa, and was a devout Iowa Hawkeye Fan. He was the beloved son of Dareld and Sandy Kerby, and lived most of his life in Los Lunas and Belen. He was engaged to be married to Beverly Gutierrez, and was looking forward to their upcoming marriage.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 17, at FRENCH – Westside, followed by burial at the Vista Verde Cemetery in Rio Rancho.

Please visit our online guestbook for Jeffrey at FrenchFunerals.com. FRENCH – Westside, 9300 Golf Course Rd., NW, 505-897-0300.

 

Dorothy Louise Marler

1947-2021

Our beautiful and angelic mother, Dorothy Louise Routson Marler, was called home, where she is now clasped in the arms of the Lord and joyfully reunited with awaiting family members.

On Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, she departed this world and returned to God who gave her breath.

Dorothy had a full and happy life, and created a mountain of kind acts and words. She has three children, Gerald Marler and wife, Alicia, Denise Cannon and husband, Jeff, and Deborah Howard. Additionally, Dorothy adored and doted on her nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her brothers, Carl Routson and Edwin Routson, and many other family members and friends will deeply miss her.

Born on April 14, 1947, in Flint, Mich., her family of origin was devoutly religious and provided a strong legacy of faith. They instilled in her many moral principles that were a foundation upon which she built a successful way of living.

Dorothy was a musical prodigy and had numerous skills and talents including being promoted in 1997 as the first female vice president of NM Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Mom is irreplaceable, and her memory will always sing in our hearts and minds.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of more than 50 years, William Floyd Marler; her sublime sister, Connie Routson Peck; her precious baby son, Dennis Marler; and her cherished parents, Carl Albert Routson and Dorothy Chatfield Routson.

 

Phyllis Marie Palmer

1943-2021

Phyllis Marie Palmer, age 78, went home to Jesus on Dec. 9, 2021.

She was born to Richard and Jesse Mills on Sept. 19, 1943, in Coolidge, Ariz. Marie met her loving husband, Oliver B. Palmer, in 1998 and they married on March 15, 1998. She had three children, Diana, Donny and Tamera, with her late husband, Gary Daniels.

Marie was a dedicated, loving mother and wife. She loved working in her garden, caring for her animals, and staying involved in the church. Throughout Marie’s life, she held an unwavering faith on God, which she shared with those around her.

Phyllis was awarded the New Mexico Truck Driver of the Year by the New Mexico Truck Drivers Association. She was very proud of this honor because she was the first woman to ever receive this award. Phyllis retired from Yellow Freight Line in 2011.

She is survived by her current husband, Oliver B. Palmer; children, Diana and her husband, Ray Orr, Donny and his wife, Maria Daniels, Tamera and her husband, Gilberto Salazar, Tia and her husband, Robert Holifield, Darin and his wife, Danielle Palmer, her honorary daughter, Joyce Ann Gaston, honorary son, Robert Wheeler; sister, Beaulah Holcombe; brother, Otis Mills; 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Jesse Mills; husband, Gary Daniels; two sisters, 10 brothers; and son, Devin Palmer in heaven.

In lieu of flowers, Phyllis would have wanted you do donate to the Paws and Stripes at pawsandstripes.org.

A public viewing will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 17, at the Romero Funeral Home Chapel. A celebration of life will follow at 2 p.m. Phyllis will then be moved to McCoy Funeral Home, at 401 E. Third St., Sweetwater, Texas. Visitation will be from 12-2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 20, and the graveside service will follow at the Sweetwater Cemetery.

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

 

Suzanne Mary Pierce Romero

1951-2021

Suzanne Mary Pierce Romero, a resident of Austin, Texas, and Belen, passed away at her home in Austin with her husband, Dicky, and youngest son, Sky, by her side, and her son, Craig, and daughter, Melanie, by her side in spirit.

It was 2 p.m. in the afternoon and the sun brightly shining through her west-facing windows when she peacefully slipped away, bathed in life giving sunlight to join her father, Phillip (Muggins, Gran Gran) Pierce, and her mother, Hazel Faye Lovelady (Granny) Pierce; maternal grandparents, Mary Elizabeth (Ma) Poke Lovelady and James H. Lovelady; paternal grandparents, Vaudie Pierce and Inez Tig Pierce; uncle, Buck Pierce; and aunt, Virginia (Sis) Pierce Freeman; two special aunts, Bonnie Seeds and Nola Carter; and uncles, Dan Carter, Eugene Lovelady amd Pat Gant; father-in-law, Arno Romero; brother-in-law, Ben Romero; and sister-in-law, Olivia Romero.

Suzanne, known to her closest friends as Suzana, was known for her brilliant smile, lighting up a room when she walked through the door, gentle charm, and her kind, forgiving nature.

She was co-owner and CFO of Romero Funeral Home and has held a funeral service intern license since 1992. Suzanne was also the founder and CEO of Sunshine Flower and Gifts of Belen, which she operated for 26 years with many loyal employees.

She took pride in campaigning and winning a seat on the Belen City Council and becoming mayor pro tem in 1992. She was known to family and friends as a wonderful cook. Suzie’s kitchen was the place to be anytime she donned her apron.

Suzanne (Suzana) is survived by her loving husband of 52 years (53 years on Dec. 20), Richard Dicky Romero; three adoring children, Richard Craig and his wife, Amy Elizabeth Hall Romero, of Snowmass, Colo., Melanie Suzanne (Madoo) Romero and partner, Billy Rebelez, of San Diego, Calif., and Gabriel Sky and partner, Christina Halliday, of Sayulita, Mexico; sister, Shari Allen (Dick); three nieces, who she loved and thought of often, Robbin Brazil (Tom), Shawn Lohcamp and Stacy Lucero (Kelly), all of Albuquerque; mother-in-law, Barbara Hightower Romero; brother-in-law, Nick Romero, of Belen; sister-in-law, Julie Dunstater, of Houston, Texas; two very special cousins, who she said, “They are the brothers I never had,” and who had dubbed her the matriarch of their family after their mother/grandmother passed away, Tom Carter and his wife, Connie of Calimesa, Calif., and Robert (Rob Dog) Carter and his wife, Danna, of Flowermound, Texas; Suzanne’s aunt, Neta Gant, of Clovis; and several other cousins on the Pierce, Lovelady, Gant and Freeman sides of the family, whom she would have loved to have known better had it not been for location. Also surviving is her special cat, Bella, whom she rescued from the ASPCA adoption program.

Suzanne’s wishes were to be cremated, and due to COVID and the flu season, services will be held at a later date at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. Please watch the Romero Funeral Home website for date and times.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Saint Mary’s School, 10th and Church St., Belen, NM, or to any cancer charity of your choice.

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

 

Chris Sanchez

Died 2021

Chris Sanchez, 92, a resident of Belen, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, at her residence in Belen.

Services are currently pending.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., 505-864-4448, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.