Frank A. Vigil

Frank A. Vigil Jr., (Kiko) was a resident of El Rito, NM, born on October 12,1934, and passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on December 22, 2023. He was 89 years old and passed due to natural causes.

Frank is preceded in death by his father Frank A. Vigil Sr., his mother Rosalia R. Vigil, sister Tive Lopez, brothers Pete Vigil, Hernando (Ernie) Vigil, and Vianes Vigil, and his father-in-law Waldo Maestas and mother-in-law Carlota Maestas.

Frank is survived by his loving wife Martha Vigil of 57 years; his son Joey Vigil (Naomi) of Guachupangue, NM; his daughter Rosie Vigil of El Rito, NM; his granddaughter (raised as a daughter) Mikella Vigil of El Rito, NM; a grandson Ezekiel Vigil of Guachupangue, NM; his stepdaughter Prescilla Gonzales (Salvador) of Fort Worth, TX, and her children Angelica, Julian, Valerie, Kayla, Estevan, and Maria Elena; his brothers Elfego Vigil (Ida) of Clovis, NM, Santiago Vigil (Debbie) of Anaheim, CA, and Albert Vigil (Inez) of Albuquerque, NM. In addition, he is also survived by sisters-in-law Elsie Vigil of Espanola, NM, Bennie Vigil of Granada Hills, CA, and Sandy Vigil of Englewood, CA, as well as nieces, nephews, and extended family.

As a young man Frank worked in Wyoming with the sheepherders moving their camps. He then moved to Colorado to work on the potato farms where he picked and sacked them. Years later, he became a private contractor school bus driver with the Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools. He held seasonal employment with the Gila National Forest where he fought fires for 25 plus years. Lastly, he would be readily available to the Carson National Forest when a fire crew would get called out and he would go as a crew leader.

He loved taking rides to Española with his wife and going to gamble at the local casinos. In addition, he looked forward to watching football on Sundays with his granddaughter. During piñon season, he would love going to the mountains to sweep piñon and on a good day he would bring back pounds by the hundreds.

He will always be remembered as a man with strong beliefs. He was not afraid of hard work. He was a quiet man but would do anything for anybody in time of need. He had pride in his family. He will be dearly missed.

A Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 10:00 am at the El Rito Catholic Church in El Rito NM, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am.  Burial will follow at the Placitas Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Ezekiel Vigil, Eusebio Chacon, Donald Alire, Andy Terrazas, and Felipe Martinez.

Honorary Pallbearers: His nephews, the late Alfred Lopez, Tomas Vigil, and Johnny (Brown) Lucero.

The family of Frank A Vigil (Kiko) has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley.   www.devargasfuneral.com   505-747-7477