Mary A. Sandoval

Mary Sandoval was born in Roy, New Mexico February 5, 1918 and departed this life on March 6, 2020 at the age of 102. She traveled to Rocky Ford, Colorado with her mother Eduvjen Castillo and stepfather Victorio Gomez at the age of two and her family planted roots in the Arkansas Valley. She married Johnnie E. Sandoval October 25, 1935 and they were married 65 years and reared 8 children in La Junta, Colorado.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband Johnnie, sons Edwin and Kenneth, and grandchildren, Henry Miller, Aleiylu Dellinger and her many brothers and sisters.

Mary is survived by her children, Joan (Ernest) Gomez of Florida; Deborah (Arthur) Valdez of Pueblo; Sonya Carroll of California; Veronica Sandoval of Pueblo; Rhonda Sandoval of Pueblo and Stephan (Valerie) Sandoval of La Junta; 25 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Mary loved music, laughter and singing and spending time with her family and preparing large family meals. She was a seed saver and planter of a large family garden; she canned her own food and collected fresh eggs from the chicken coop in their first house. The cornerstone of her skills was her cooking. In the kitchen, she created a strong family bond and memories which rippled through generations of her family as they also became good cooks.

The family all worked in their concession trailer for over 30 years and were a familiar site at Potter Park baseball games, The La Junta Kid’s Rodeo and Rock Ford Fairs selling cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones and other treats. This helped provide for her large family as well as extra funds that allowed her to build a china and glassware collection for her special meals.

In addition to being a mother and homemaker she was employed by Griffith Cleaners as a seamstress and upholsterer; the La Junta Pickle Factory; and in retirement she ran her own babysitting service caring for many children in the La Junta community as well as her own grandchildren. Other skills and hobbies were sewing, quilting, crocheting, and knitting, skills she passed on to her children and grandchildren.

She was a devoted parishioner to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church; a Eucharist Minister for the sick; Circle 5 President and loved to sing, make tamales and crafts with the ladies for the church bazars.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, March 13, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe/St. Patrick Parish with Father Henry Wertin officiating. Interment will follow at the Calvary Cemetery in La Junta.

In lieu of flowers may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe/St. Patrick Parish direct or through the Funeral Home.

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