Roy "Grandpa" Valdez Sr., obit. BIG HORN COUNTY

USGENWEB NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied
for personal use only.

"List transcribed and organized by Jo Ann Scott, scottj@onyx.xtalwind.net All rights 
        reserved."

Copyright, 1998 by Jo Ann Scott. This file may be freely copied for non-profit 
        purposes. All other rights reserved.

Roy 'Grandpa' Valdez Sr.
      HARDIN - Roy "Grandpa" Valdez Sr., 91 of Hardin, passed away Friday
afternoon, June 12, 1998, at the Big Horn County Memorial Hospital.
      He was born in Michoacan, Mexico, on Aug. 27, 1906, a son of
Rocendo and Ramona Camarillo Valdez. He migrated to the United States
in 1922, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen on June 23, 1983. He had
worked for several railroad companies making his way north to
Clearmont, Wyo., where he met Priscilla Torrez. They were united in
marriage in Sheridan on Aug. 22, 1928.
      In 1940, he started farming and ranching in the Lodge Grass area and
earned enough money during WWII to purchase land in the St. Xavier
area in 1948. He raised sugar beets and cattle until retiring in 1979.
Following his retirement, he moved to Hardin.
      Roy loved the land and could not shake the farming out of his blood,
so he roto-tilled one third of his yard to raise a garden. When not
gardening, he enjoyed listening and playing music, dancing and playing
cards with the grandchildren. Roy especially loved family gatherings, "oh
yes, and killing weeds."
      He was preceded in death by one son, Pete Valdez, in 1961, while in
the U.S. Army; and one daughter, Marie Ornelas in 1971.
      Survivors include his wife of over 69 years, Priscilla of Hardin; five
daughters, Ruth Cabrera of Wapato, Wash., Lupe Watson of Billings,
Ramona (Ted) Somdahl of Ogema, Minn., Anita (Leo) Harmon of Hardin,
and Jessie (Larry) Ressler of Rock Springs, Wyo.; two sons, Eladio
(Constance) Valdez of Hardin and Roy (Beverly) Valdez Jr. of Saint Xavier;
36 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren and 18
great-great-grandchildren.
      Rosary will be recited 7 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in
Hardin. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph
Catholic Church with Father Fabian Fehring, celebrant. Rite of Committal
will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been
entrusted with the arrangements.
      Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the St.
Joseph Catholic Church, Hardin, Mont.