Lori Jo Valdez

Lori Jo (Blandin) Valdez, 52, has passed on to a better place without disease or illness after a lifelong battle with diabetes. Lori was born in Pueblo on December 22, 1959 to Jimmie Lee and James Huff, both who preceded her in death, as did her maternal grandmother, Marie Homan, paternal grandfather, Gordon Huff, and mother-in-law, Jean Valdez. Lori graduated East High School in 1978 and married the love of her life, Carl J. Valdez on December 22, 1979. While Lori had a variety of administrative and secretarial positions, her most proud professional contribution was in 1990 when she started “Tender Lovin’ Care” daycare. She ran the daycare for nearly a decade and loved raising the daycare kids alongside her own. Personally, Lori was a strong, creative, and funny woman who loved to shop, garden, read, watch movies and cook (but wouldn’t let anyone but Carl into her kitchen). She was a cat lover, and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was a beautiful, loving, and proud mother and wife. Lori is survived by her husband, Carl J. Valdez; her daughters Andrea Marie “Andi”, Carli Jade and Samantha Paige Valdez; her grandmother Esca Dean huff; stepfather Raymond (Criss) Blandin; brother Randy (Sloan) Blandin; and “the kittens” Hillary and Tori Jo. All will dearly miss her. Special thanks to the nurses and staff of Fresenius Dialysis Services and the doctors of Southern Colorado Nephrology. Following Lori’s wishes, there will not be a funeral service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org). “i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it” – EE Cummings