Porfiria Ortiz

Porfiria Ortiz was born in a small New Mexico village in Colfax County.. Born into a family of 10 children, 4 girls and 6 boys, she was one of the youngest and the youngest girl. Her mother died when Porfie was a very young girl. She assumed the role of mothering one of her younger brothers who was ill. They often rode horses together. She grew up in Wagon Mound, New Mexico working on the farm, helping with the house and later working for a neighboring rancher. She met her husband-to-be, Alvin Tito Ortiz in Ocate, New Mexico when he returned from the war. She also liked his new car. In their lives together, they moved to the mountains of Colorado and then into Denver where Porfie worked for Presbyterian Hospital until she retired. Tito and Porfie had two daughters, Marcella (Ergun) and Betty Lou and three grandsons: Erol, Kenny, and Kurt.

Porfie's home was always a gathering place--a stopping place-- for numerous nephews, nieces, brothers and sisters and friends. She was known for sharing all she had with others and helping everyone as much as she could. She will be missed, this practical, hardworking and

determined wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.