Adolph Valdez

ADOLPH “POPO” VALDEZ Funeral Mass will be held for lifelong Mancos resident, Adolph “Popo” Valdez at 10 a.m., Thursday, October 27 at St. Rita Catholic Church. Father Derrek D. Scott will officiate. Cremation will follow. Rosary service will be held Wednesday evening beginning at 7 p.m. at St. Rita. Popo was born the son of Ernest and Lucia (Velasquez) Valdez at McPhee, Colo. on Sept. 19, 1942. He passed away at Southwest Memorial Hospital on Sunday, October 23, 2005 at the age of 63. Raised in Mancos, Popo had worked at the Match Factory as a lathe operator and at Hamburger Haven. He was known for his fast hands in peeling potatoes. The outdoors held a draw for Popo. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, gardening, and camping. Popo loved his family deeply and was especially fond of his cat, which he considered his best friend. Surviving Popo are his children, Lauri Garcia of Cortez, Steve Valdez of Mancos, Anthony Valdez and wife, Angela of Sunset, Utah, Michael Valdez and wife, Gerie of Mancos, and Joel Valdez and wife, Jennifer of Hill Air Force Base, Utah; nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren; father, Ernest Valdez of Thornton, Colo.; his siblings, Sally Martinez of Mancos, Tito Jaramillo and wife, Dolores of Tierra Amarilla, N.M., Dick Valdez and wife, Kareen of Aurora, Colo., and Don Valdez and wife, Thelma of Thornton, Colo.; and his nephew, Jeff Martinez of Mancos.