Margaret "Margee" Mocho

Margaret "Margee" Lesso Mocho, March 14, 1927 - February 10, 2019, passed away after a brief illness.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 54 years, Peter T. Mocho, Sr. (1916-2005). 

She is survived by their six children:  

Peter T. Mocho, Jr. and wife Jan Schooley Mocho, Albuquerque, NM, and daughters Jenny Mocho; Megan Mocho Jeschke (husband Eric, children Evie and Ethan Jeschke.

Mark Mocho, Moriarty, NM

Margaret A. Mocho, Seattle, WA  

Michael Mocho, Albuquerque, NM

Lisa Mocho, Hamilton, OH, and son Thomas Akey (wife Angie, and daughter Annabelle)

Matt Mocho and wife Kim O'Neil, Albuquerque, NM; twin daughers Sarah and Emily Mocho

Her last remaining siblings, Pauline Butchko and Irene Lyons

5 Grandchildren and 3 Great-Grandchildren

Margee was born on March 14, 1927, one of 13 children raised by George and Mary Lesso, immigrants from the former Austro-Hungary.   They eventually settled in Binghamton, NY in an Eastern-Orthodox community.  Margee left Binghamton, at the age of 18,  to live and work in New York City, but her biggest adventures began when she and a couple of girlfriends embarked on a cross-country trip heading for California.  Eventually, they arrived in Albuquerque.  Her friends move on, but Margee stayed, having fallen in love at first sight with the Southwest.  She quickly landed a job with TWA and later worked for a travel agency.  As a girl, she used to say she was going to "go out west and marry a cowboy", and that is exactly what she did.  When she met Peter Mocho, a rancher in town for a convention, they instantly fell for each other and their stories of their life-long romance have become family legend, now being retold to their great-grandchildren.  Within 6 weeks they were engaged and married 6 weeks later, on June 26, 1950.  Peter left the ranch and took a job at Patterson Brothers Mill, in Roswell, NM, where their 3 eldest children were born.  They moved to Albuquerque in late 1957, where Peter founded Onate Feed Co., which he ran as a family business until 1998, when he retired while continuing to serve on the NM State Highway Commission.

She was adept at needlepoint.  Her home and the homes of family and friends are graced with samples of her work.  She was known for her determination, her impeccable style and most famously, her love of all things turquoise. 

A memorial service will be held at a date to be determined.  In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a charity of your choice.