Gregorita Cruz

Gregorita C. Cruz, 86, died Monday, November 4, 2013 at the family ranch near Ignacio, Colo. A memorial Mass will be Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Father Damien de la Cruz of St. Ignatius Catholic Church will be officiating. Recitation of the rosary will be said also at St. Ignatius Catholic Church on Friday, November 8, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Gregorita was born May 7, 1927 in Dulce, New Mexico the daughter of Jose and Aleja Lucero. Fondly known as "Gregg", she grew up in Dulce, New Mexico. She attended boarding school called “El Rito”, graduated from secondary school and then met her future husband, Archie Cruz in Lumberton. They got married in Durango on July 22, 1946 and the couple moved to Utah where Mr. Cruz was employed as a coalminer. The Cruz' moved back to Colorado and bought a farm near Ignacio in 1962. There they raised their family and did cattle and sheep ranchwork as well as hay growing. Gregorita worked as a court clerk for the Southern Ute Tribe from 1963-1990. She enjoyed being a farmer's wife, sewing and crocheting. She was an excellent cook and liked to solve crossword and word search puzzles. Her favorite color was red and will be a fondly missed mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She is survived by Archie Cruz (husband of 67 years) of Ignacio, Colo., Jerry Cruz (son) of Ignacio, Colo., Danny Cruz (son) of Aurora, Colo., 7 granddaughters , 1 grandson, 19 great grandchildren, Bertha Blythe (sister) of Beaverton, Ore. and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her honor may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090 or the American Heart Association, 1280 S. Parker Rd., Denver CO 80231.