Antonio - Age 84 - El Rito - Ortega

ANTONIO H. ORTEGA, 84, son of Adelaido and Agapita Ortega, born June 13, 1928 in El Rito, NM was called home by God on Friday, October 12, 2012. He was an inspiring man who worked with his hands all his life to ensure his family was well provided for. Antonio herded sheep in his early years. He later moved his family to Las Vegas, NV where he worked for ReeCO at the Nevada TEST Site area 51. When he relocated to his hometown he worked for the State Highway Department. Along with his zealous work ethic, he was a loving husband and father and a fun grandpa. During this time Antonio and his wife Reyes opened their hearts and home to care for numerous foster children. When you visited with Antonio you knew it was going to be laughs, hugs and black coffee. Antonio’s sense of humor, faith and love for his family had no boundaries. He had a gift for bonding with people and numerous visits by friends during the duration of his illness was a testament to his kind heart and love for people. He had a fighting spirit evident by his love for boxing. He loved old Westerns, Spanish movies and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada to visit his children when time permitted. Antonio was preceded in death by his parents, Adelaido and Agapita Ortega; respectively, two older brothers, Cpt. Ramon Ortega, US Army, Julian Ortega, brother, Pimenio Archuleta and his wife Lupe, a sister, Predicanda Gonzalez and her husband Antonio, two daughters, Frances Sharp and Annabelle Ortega. Mr. Ortega is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 64 years, Reyes Ortega. A brother, Querino Ortega and his wife Margarita of Las Vegas, Nevada, and a sister, Bernie Lucero, of El Paso, Texas, and sister-in-law, Cora Ortega of El Rito, NM. Antonio also leaves four sons and five daughters: Mary and David Roe, Lorraine and Bob Boehm, Toni Manning, Adelaido and Beverly Ortega, Raymond and Kim Ortega, all of Las Vegas, Nevada, Bernadette and Wayne Vigil, Jose and Nicole Ortega, Mario Ortega, and Stella Ortega all from New Mexico. Antonio had 25 grandchildren: Leslie and Duff Stewart, Amy and Justin Lambiris, Cory Roe, Ryan Roe, Marshall Boehm, Bobbi Hasler, Denise and Frankie Morales of Las Vegas, NV, Marissa, Alyssa, and Jolynn Martinez of Ojo Caliente, NM, Brandon Kostishak, Hunter Vigil, and Kady Vigil, of PA, Antonio and Jessie Ortega, Joshua Ortega and Jared Ortega of Las Vegas, David Sharp III and Tony Sharp of Denver, Colorado; Jesse Herrera, Samantha Herrera, Stephanie Ortega, and Melody Garcia of New Mexico; 14 great-grandchildren include Megan, Dayne, Erica, and Jamie Stewart; Emma and Hayden Lambiris, Anna Flannery, Erica and Derek Hasler, Joseph and Alexander Ortega of Las Vegas, NV, Jovan Martinez, Santana Alire, Ethan Vialpando and Senaida Vialpando from NM. Public visitation will begin on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory. A second public visitation will begin on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at the El Buen Pastor Church in Ranchitos with a devotional service to follow at 7:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Friday, October 19, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. also at the El Buen Pastor Church in Ranchitos. Burial to follow at the El Rito Community Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in the name of Antonio H. Ortega to Ambercare Hospice (505) 747-7861 or www.Ambercare.com. The family of Antonio Ortega has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477 or www.devargasfuneral.com

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