Dorothy Gomez

DOROTHY GOMEZ Memorial Mass for lifelong Durango and Cortez resident Dorothy Gomez will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 22 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Reverend Pat Valdez, C.R. will officiate. A Rosary service will be held Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. at the church. Dorothy was born August 10, 1932 in Durango, Colo. the daughter of Adolph and Caroline (Aragon) Duran. She passed away on Friday, December 16, 2016 at Cottonwood Inn in Durango at the age of 84. Dorothy attended Durango High School and graduated in 1951. She met and then married John Harold Gomez on November 14, 1953. Dorothy went on to obtain a degree in education from Fort Lewis College in 1976. She taught 1st grade beginning in 1977 at Mesa Elementary School in Cortez. Dorothy loved teaching and it was her life's passion. She retired after a long career as the Head Teacher. Helping to educate people did not end with her retirement. Dorothy taught young men entering Priesthood to speak English. She continued this up until a few months before her passing. One particular student, Hector, was very close to Dorothy. Dorothy was deeply devoted to her church and faith. Another passion of hers was her family. Dorothy loved her family and enjoyed very much spending time with her granddaughter, great-granddaughter, and many close friends. She also enjoyed camping. Surviving Dorothy are her sons, Terry Gomez (Helena) of Durango and Richard Gomez (Jody) of Cortez; her grandchildren, Kyley Gomez (Mike Hatch) and Aaron Vigil; and her great-granddaughter, Kambryn Hatch. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband; by her brother, Ben Aragon; and by her very close uncles and aunts, Jose Maez, Victor "Spider" Aragon, Dubie Maez, and Helen Aragon.