Eddie Herrera

Eddie (Grandpa Buddy) was a devoted father to his 4 children Christine (Ray), Ralph (Rene’), Steven (Martha) and Michael and a doting grandfather to his 19 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Eddie went “out of his way” to mentor many children, teenagers and young adults, especially those in “crisis situations”. As Eddie grew in wisdom over the years he would share that wisdom with anyone willing to listen. He had a compassionate ear and soft heart to lend to anyone who needed it. He truly was a father to many.

Eddie was born and raised in Cokeville, Wyoming where he had many friends. His favorite pastimes growing up were hunting, fishing and horseback riding. He was the first “Life” Boy Scout in the history of Cokeville. He and his best friend Clyde would tie several railroad ties together and float down Bear Creek for 5 or 6 miles then hop the train heading back into town with a stringer full of trout. Eddie “grew up on a horse” and as a teenager, worked on a ranch feeding, herding and branding cattle and sheep. He also worked at phosphate and coal mines.

After graduating from Cokeville High School, Eddie joined the army and was stationed in Germany for 2 years. Eddie then moved to Denver and continued in the army reserves for an additional 6 years. He married the beautiful Julie Montoya in 1958. He graduated from Regis College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and began working for the Internal Revenue Service as a Revenue Agent.

Eddie and his family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming for several years then to Sheridan, Wyoming for several more years. During his years in Wyoming, Eddie took his family on many fishing trips along with trips to Devil’s Tower, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park.

In 1968, the family moved to Springfield, Virginia. Eddie worked as an IRS Branch Chief in Washington, D.C. for 7 years. During his time in Virginia, Eddie was a Boy Scout leader for his sons’ Boy Scout Troop 859, taking them on camping trips at Civil War battlefields and hikes around the nation’s capitol and numerous monuments. Eddie also helped coach his sons’ baseball teams.

The family then moved to Dallas, Texas where Eddie worked as an IRS Regional Analyst and Windfall Profits Tax Manager. While in Dallas, Eddie purchased a boat and then retired from the IRS in 1991. Eddie enjoyed many years in his boat catching largemouth bass and wipers. His children and grandchildren enjoyed many fishing and waterskiing outings with Grandpa Buddy. During this time, Eddie also mentored young boys through an inner city Dallas program.

In 2006, Eddie moved to Pueblo to enjoy the fishing and boating that Colorado has to offer. In September, 2011, Eddie moved to Broomfield, Colorado to live with his son. During this time, he enjoyed visits from family and friend along with many trips to Taos, New Mexico to see “long lost” cousins on his mother’s side of the family and to visit the museums and historic churches of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

A visitation will be at 6 pm with a Rosary service beginning 7 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at the Holy Family Catholic Church. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 am also at the Holy Family Catholic Church located at 4377 Utica Street in Denver, Colorado. A committal service with Army Honors will be held at 12:15 pm at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. A reception will begin at 1:30 pm at the Olinger Highland Mortuary Reception Room.