Lena G. Cordova

Funeral mass for Mancos resident Lena G. Cordova will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 2, 2020 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Cortez, CO. Interment will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Mancos, CO. A Rosary will take place from 7 – 8 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2020 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.
Lena was born January 9, 1925 in Florence, CO the daughter of Ramon and Mary (Lopez) Gill. She passed away Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at her residence at the age of 95.

Life of Mary Adelina Gill “Lena”
Lena was born to Ramon Gill and Mary Lopez Gill on Jan. 9, 1925 in Florence, CO.
She went to school and grew in Gallup, NM. She married Rosario “Tito” Carrillo when she was 18 years old and they had one child named “Paz” Paul.
Later Lena and Paul moved to California with her sister Hope and husband Sonny to work for Capital Records where she worked making 33 and 45 vinyl records. Lena later moved back to Gallup and worked at Gallup Indian Trading Company making silver and turquoise jewelry. In 1963 she married Larry A. Lee Sr. and was delighted to welcome her new son, Eddie K. Lee and daughter, Betty Phillips (West) in to the family. Sometime later Larry Sr. and Lena added another addition to the family, a son named Larry A. Lee Jr. They relocated of Holbrook, AZ where they purchased The L & L Trading Post and Lena’s Laundromat. Larry and Lena were successful business owners for over 25 years until they retired and moved to Mancos, CO. Larry and Lena spent their retirement years in Colorado enjoying fishing, camping, hunting and traveling. During those years and a few years prior they were blessed with 10 grandchildren. Larry Sr. passed away in 2000 leaving a huge hole in her life.
Lena was lonely for several years until she met her next love Richard Cordova who would motivate her to still live her life to the fullest. The companionship that Richard gave to her kept her going throughout the year. In July of 2005 Richard and Lena decided that life was too short not to have some fun. At the age of 80 she ran off with him to Las Vegas and got married. During the years Richard and Lena spent together they enjoyed traveling and spending time in Bullhead City, AZ near the river and enjoyed time at the casinos. Everywhere they went the room would be full of the beautiful Spanish language that they spoke to each other. Richard passed away in 2012 after a beautiful but short marriage with Lena. She lived by herself until Feb. 20 when she broke her hip. She then passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 26, 2020 surrounded by her closest family.
Lena is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Hope Shull and brother-in-law Sonny, her bother Howard Estrada and wife Emma, her step daughter Betty West and her daughter-in-law Leila Lee and her husbands Rosario, Larry and Richard. She is survived by her three sons and their wives; Eddie Lee and wife Lora, Paul Lee and wife Lena and Larry Jr. and wife Trina. Lena had 10 grandchildren Mike Lee and Dean Lee (sons of Eddie Lee, Jason Greymountain, Paul Lee Jr. and Shane Lee sons of Paul Lee Sr., Anthony and Aryanna Lee son and daughter of Larry Lee Jr. and Jimmy, Teri and Gary West Sons and daughter of Betty West.

Anthony reads this from his own perspective
Grandma Lena had a long and beautiful life. Every morning she spent time in prayer for all of her family or anyone she knew was hurting. She touched everyone with her gentle and compassionate love and she will be forever missed on this earth. Love you grandma until we see you in heaven.