Al was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico on March 21, 1934, to Manuel Maestas and Marianita Scott-Ramirez. He was raised in the adobe home built by his father and uncle with no indoor plumbing and heated by the wood burning stove used for cooking in the kitchen. The home, now with indoor plumbing and the same wood stove, still stands today.
He left school in the 8th grade and left home shortly thereafter, running from the school truancy officer, and eventually making his way to Colorado as a very young man.
He served in the Colorado National Guard from September 1953 to September 1956, standby reserve until he was Honorably discharged in 1961. During his service, he married the love of his life, Frances Vela on September 3, 1955, and started a family in Longmont. He worked for many years as a crane operator for Stanley Structures and then in various jobs until his retirement. He was a loving caregiver for his wife in the final years of her life.
Al and Frances raised their family in the catholic faith and were active members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Longmont. His dream was to own a small farm which they purchased in 1979 in Berthoud where he lived until his death. His favorite things to do was to raise his farm animals and sit on his back porch, enjoying the peace and quiet. In his younger years he was active with his neighborhood community, always one to help someone dig out from a recent snowstorm to cutting a neighbor’s field, he had many close friends on their road over the years. The work was hard, but he was happy. The property allowed Al and Frances to host many family and church gatherings over the years, including one very large family reunion. He raised many farm animals from horses, to chickens, pigs, and cows. The cows all named Daisy.
Never one to be visibly upset with his family there were only a few memorable times when dad was mad. The first was when one of granddaughters, in self-defense, ended the life of his favorite rooster. Never-mind that the rooster was crazy, he eventually forgave her, but the subject came up often. The second was when his daughter-in-law changed the kitchen clock to the correct time. From that point forward, she never changed the time again, yet she was the only person who was allowed to order for him off the menu in restaurants. He secretly loved the fact that if any of us needed to go out into the field, he had to go with us, otherwise the cow would chase us out. His TV was always on the western channel, probably watching those same movies hundreds of times.
Family vacations were always road trips somewhere until 2014, his children got a wild hair and decided to take him to Hawaii. A stubborn man, his daily wardrobe consisted of jeans, t-shirt, and work boots, he couldn’t understand why he was now required to wear shorts and sandals. He had sand in places you shouldn’t, he sported a sunburn on legs that hadn’t seen the sun in decades because he refused to use sunscreen, took a fishing trip where they literally caught nothing, but he ended the evenings with his grandson sharing stories of life, cowboys, and the old west. Though he would never give us the satisfaction of admitting it, he enjoyed himself.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Frances Maestas, his sisters Mary Rita Phillips and Tina Larson, brothers Rodolfo Maestas and Phillip Maestas, one very crazy rooster and one mad cow.
He is survived by three sons, Manuel Maestas of Longmont, Mitch Maestas and wife Nancy of Longmont and Martin Maestas; a daughter Marcia Cahill and husband Steve of Longmont; a stepbrother David Montoya and wife Susan of Albuquerque, NM; seven grandchildren, Nicole Curtis and husband Seth, Jesse Barela and wife Sharlene, Amber McKee and husband Tony, Devon Cahill, Serenity Cahill, Taylor Maestas and Jordan Maestas; and six great-grandchildren: Kaylee, Dillon, Taylor, Daxton, Emmelina, and Logan.
Memorial contributions may be made to Tru Hospice of Boulder County who took such wonderful care of him in his final months. Fond memories and condolences are appreciated and may be shared at www.ahlbergfueralchapel.com for the Maestas Family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17