Mary Kirkham

October 21, 1935 - December 30, 2015

Mary Kirkham passed away on December 30, 2015, at LaVilla Grande Care Center in Grand Junction. She was 80 years old.

Mary was born in Corona, NM on October 21, 1935 to Placido Romo and Genevieve (Chavez) Romo. She grew up on Corona ranches and in Roswell.

Mary married Rueben Vigil in 1951, and they had a son, Lee. Rueben was killed in action during the Korean conflict. She then married G.R. ""Kirk"" Kirkham on September 8, 1956, and they had a daughter, Judy, in 1957.

Mary attended Mesa Junior College and obtained her nursing degree. She worked at Community Hospital for 17 years, and then she worked at St. Mary's and Home Health Care for the next ten years.

Mary enjoyed the next part of her life staying busy with her children's bands ""Reindriver"" and ""Crystal River"". She was a band driver and roadie.

Mary led a full and beautiful life and will be sorely missed.

She is survived by her children; brothers, Fred Romo and Ray Romo; sisters, Martha Savedra, Ophelia Lara, Jeannie Garcia, and Gloria Maxie, all of NM, and numberous nieces and nephews and their families. She is preceded in death by her sisters, Sally and Ruby, and baby brother, Placido Jr.

A celebration of her life will be held at the VFW Post 1247, 1404 Ute Ave., at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 9th.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to HopeWest Hospice, Roice Hurst, or St. Jude's Hospital.

Published in The Daily Sentinel on Jan. 8, 2016