Ruben Salazar

Ruben Salazar, 96, a pioneer resident of San Miguel County and a resident of Las Vegas, NM, passed away on Tuesday following a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his wife, Donicia; his parents, Miguel and Juanita Medina Salazar and a daughter Angela Salazar..
He is survived by three daughters: Linda Purdy and husband Robert of Los Alamos, NM and their children Robert, Marquita Donicia, Patrick, and Kaelynn; Juanita Fraizerand husband Ron and their daughter, Adriana Quintana of Rio Rancho, NM; DoloresSalazar and her companion Richard of Las Vegas, NM and family April Chavez, and Wayne Peralta; four sons: Jim Catalinich and wife Libby of Seattle, WA and their family; David Salazar of Las Vegas and children John David, Gabriel, and step-daughter Felicia; and Ruben Salazar and companion Ida Sena of Sapello, NM and children Abran, and Alisa Salazar and Diana and Sammy Sena; a special niece, Beatrice Jaramillo Lucero of Clovis, NM 15 great-grandchildren;a brothers-in-law, Juan Jaramillo and wife Cecilia and Casey Jaramillo and wife Florida all of Las Vegas, NM; a sister-in-law, Cecilia Montano of Las Vegas, NM; and several nieces and nephews.
He was born and raised on his father's ranch in Maes, NM on June 18, 1916 and educated in a one room school house up until the 7th Grade. In the 1950's he married the love of his life, Donicia Jaramillo. During the Great Depression, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps which was a public relief program for unemployed men age 18 to 24. This was part of the "New Deal" proposed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Under this program the young men were
trained in reforestation, building public roads and general construction. It was conceived as an alternative to military service. In the 1960's he worked at Ft. Union National Monument and in the 1970's he worked as a custodian at the West Las Vegas Schools and retired in 1977. Shortly after he built his own home on Valley Street. He and a partner were instrumental in founding the San Miguel County Sheriff's Posse assisting in law enforcement efforts throughout the county and was an active member of American Legion Post 12. He was a life long member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church and served as an usher at the church for many years.
A visitation will be held from St. Francis Chapel at Gonzales Funerals & Cremations, 2315 Hot Springs Blvd. On Friday, October 12, 2012 from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. Services will be held from Our Lady of Sorrows Church with a rosary on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated on Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. Father C. John Brasher will celebrate the Mass. The interment will follow in the catholic cemetery in Los Vigiles, NM with the following grand children serving as casket bearers: John David and Gabriel Salazar, Wayne Peralta, Abran Salazar, and Robert and Patrick Purdy. Honorary bearers will be the rest of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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