Estela Stanlick

On September 3, 2024 Stella Stanlick gracefully earned her angel's wings. She was born to Emma Esquibel, and raised by Emma and Frank Otero. God graced us by breaking the mold when Stella Stanlick was born on November 8, 1941, in Swink Colorado.

She attended schools in La Junta Colorado, graduating with top honors, later attending Otero Junior College, where she was pinned with her LPN license. She also worked many years at La Junta Regional Medical Center, later working for the Otero County Health Department's WIC department for forty years. She retired as one of the longest-employed county employees In Otero County helping many young families feed their children. Her favorite holiday was Halloween, and she always made it special for the young and old alike. 

As a young child, she was always found at the local Woodruff Memorial Library reading to her heart's content. Her favorite authors were James Patterson and Mary Higgins Clark. She loved her books and her favorite shows. However, Mysteries and westerns were her greatest weakness, Including Midsomer Murders and Longmire. Besides being an avid reader, she was also an accomplished artist and a highly skilled embroiderer. Stella was mainly known for her and her husband Stan the Donut Man's bakery, Stan's Short & Sweet, where she spent many hours rolling in the dough before heading to the health department to work diligently for those who needed help in her community.

There was so much love she had to share with many, especially with her three children, Desiree (Jose) Moreno Quintana, Jessica Murphy and Shane Murphy, Richard (Susan) Patterson. She will also be remembered and missed by John Lucero, her loving friend. Still, the greatest love she had to give was for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dominic Gutierrez, Kristy Ojeda, Gabrielle Ojeda, and Coleton Courtney, Joshua & Crystal Gutierrez, Serafina, Matthias, and Solomon, Brianna Eisert (Froilan Lopez), Aceley, Johny, Alayla, and Roman, Daniel & Lindsey Eisert, Daniel Jr, and Tristan, Emmalyn (Tommy) Heckmaster, Jason Gaines, Jazalyn and Jahlein Doyle, Michael Murphy, and Sandy Jaime, Colby, and Colberson. She is survived by her Brothers, Jesse, Blenche, Epifanio, Robert Nieto, Gilbert Esquibel, and Julian Otero, and her loving sisters, Mary Hedman, Christina (Timothy Dalton), and Jean (Bill) Marena. She was preceded in death by her husband Emory L. Stanlick, her mother and father Emma and Frank Otero, Irma and Julliette, Albert Guillermo, Ascension Nieto, and sister Francis Otero.

She will be missed by many and leaves behind a legacy that will live on for generations to come. All who knew her, friends and family alike, loved her with all of their hearts. May the Lord our Father welcome her into his embrace.

A celebration of life will be held September 28th at 2:00 PM at the home of Stella Stanlick at 514 East 5th Street in La Junta, Colorado.

At the request of the family, donations can be sent to the Arkansas Valley Hospice Inc., at 531 Lewis Ave, La Junta, Colorado, 81050.

Online condolences may be made at www.PeacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.