Gilbert R. Valdez, Sr.

His Maternal Indian Grandmother was of Navajo heritage and his Maternal Grandfather was of German Heritage. His Paternal Grandparents were of Spanish descent. His Parents were born and married in the Enchanted State of New Mexico. On his Parents search for a better life for themselves, they finally settled in the state of Colorado. They went on to have six sons. The family resided in the very poor section of Larimer. They were extremely poor and impoverished, often going without food. When it came time to try and make a living to help his parents with monies, his jobs included shining shoes, picking fruit, and harvesting vegetables on the Western slopes of Colorado. By the age of 16 years, he entered into a notorious street gang that dominated the Denver underworld (The Heads). His salvation was when he was selected into the United States Army and went on to serve in Germany. His other salvation was when he met and married his beloved wife Aggie. Aggie and Gil went on to have four children. Eventually the family went out west to the Golden State they refer to as California. He found employment with General Motors working the assembly line. He retired at the age of 53 after 30 years with the company. After a few years of idle life style he yearned for another occupation. He was fortunate to find a job as a driver for the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, where he was responsible for the transfer of exurbanite amounts of monies. He went on to do this for another 10 years. And so it was after forty years of residency in California that he and his family made their departure back to the high country, back to the Rockies, the years was 1995, the month September. This is where he spent his last 15 years. He made a complete full circle. He was born here and now he will be buried here.

My Mother, His Children, and Grandchildren were so lucky to be blessed with this wonderful person whom we refer to as Gil, Dad and Grandpa. His only concern ever was with his family. He bent over backwards to show us what he could of California and wherever the road trips would take us. It delighted him to shower us with what he never experienced as a child. He loved to cook for us by experimenting with new recipes and such. He was a very flamboyant dresser, the vests, hats, the paisley prints and the alligator shoes. He could not be missed. He loved to read, he immersed himself with learning new words to use in his conversations. He would captivate a person with his impressive vocabulary that he learned. He could captivate a person and he in turn was captivated by the other person. He loved to interrogate people, as you all know! He so enjoyed listening to other peoples stories. He made you feel important, like he really cared, and he truly did. He was an extremely talented drawer and painter. He loved to decorate in his own unique way. He loved life!

Oh father, you will so be missed! I would give anything to hear your voice and have you hold and comfort me once again. I wish I could have made you better, you so deserved it! A part of me died with you last Friday, November 5th, my life and our lives will never be the same without you. I will speak to you every day and wait anxiously until you call upon me one day and take me home with you once again like you did in 1964.

Love, your daughter Valerie