Dolores Eleanor Gonzales Urioste

     Dolores Eleanor Gonzales Urioste passed away in Albuquerque, N.M. on July 27, 2022 of natural causes at the age of 85.

     Born in 1937 into a coal mining family during the Great Depression in Trinidad, Colo., she grew up in Cokedale, Colo.; Kaylor, N.M.; and finally, Raton, N.M.

     Dolores and Marcus Oliver Urioste became high school sweethearts at Raton High School. After both graduated in 1955, Marcus completed Navy recruit training and they were married in August. They left New Mexico on a 23-year Navy career which took them first to Kodiak, Alaska; to San Diego, Calif.; to Pensacola, Fla.; to Norfolk, Va.; to Newport, R.I.; to Gaeta and Naples, Italy including trips to Barcelona and Venice; and finally, to Metropolitan, Wash. D.C. Throughout their naval career, Marcus was often deployed with limited contact for up to six months, and once deployed alone for an entire year to a Cold War Caribbean communication listening post; leaving Dolores to be both mother and father to their small children.

     Marcus and Dolores retired from the military on the last day of 1977. In 1979 they left northern Virginia and returned to New Mexico where they lived in Las Vegas for the next 38 years until moving to Rio Rancho. Dolores — “Dolo”— and Marcus were married for 67 years.

     Dolores took great pride in her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and their successes. As a real coal miner’s daughter, she was proud all of her children and many grandchildren achieved college and professional degrees, many advanced. Her two sons followed their father into the Navy, a daughter became a career teacher, and another became a hospital emergency room charge nurse. She was mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, daughter, wife, and friend.

     She is preceded in death by her daughter Patricia Sena, RN; granddaughter April Sena; brother  Edwin Gonzales; sister Clara Mascarenas; and parents, Manuel and Dolores Bueno Gonzales.

     Dolores leaves behind her husband of 67 years, Marcus Oliver Urioste; her children, Marcus Manuel Urioste and wife Annette (Berlin, Maryland and Philadelphia); Jeoffrey Urioste (Pojoaque, N.M.); Lynette Vallejo and husband Jerry (Las Vegas, N.M.); and Cindy Valdez (Las Cruces, N.M.); her siblings, Luis Gonzales (Las Vegas, N.M.); Mercy Swanson and husband David (Raton, N.M.); and Jim Gonzales (Palm Springs, Calif.)

     10 grandchildren:   Elena Urioste and husband Tom Poster (London, England); Anica and Joshua Urioste (Pojoaque, N.M.); Gary Vallejo (Rio Rancho, N.M.) and Naythn Vallejo (Albuquerque, N.M.); Jessica Sweet and husband Matt (Chandler, Ariz.); Christina Sanchez and husband Marco (Avondale, Ariz.); Bianca Wayne and husband Jacob (Gilbert, Ariz.); Amanda Sena (San Clemente, Calif.); and Taylor Sena and wife Lizzie (Albuquerque, N.M.)

     11 great-grandchildren:

Shade Vallejo (Las Vegas, Nev.); Jaxon Vallejo (Rio Rancho, N.M.); Tico Urioste-Poster (London, England); Jared Moreno and Makaila Sweet (Chandler, Ariz.); Adrian Gomez, Isabella Sanchez, Joshua Sanchez and Selena Sanchez (Avondale, Ariz.); Matteo Garcia (Gilbert, Ariz.); and Roman Bear Sena (Albuquerque, N.M.).

     Dolores will be cremated and her ashes preserved in a companion urn until such time as her husband Marcus Oliver passes. Their ashes will be interred with military honors at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in recognition of their service to our Nation. In memory of our Mom, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Wife, Sister, Daughter and Friend, may she rest in eternal peace. Although she is gone, she will never leave from our hearts and minds.