Raymond Candelaria

RAYMOND CANDELARIA Funeral services for lifelong Cortez resident, Raymond “Ray” Candelaria, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 at the Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75. Interment will follow at the Cortez Cemetery with military services being conducted by the Ute Mountain American Legion. Visitation has been set for Thursday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ertel Memorial Chapel. Ray was born the son of Jose Saturniño and Louisa Marie (Marez) Candelaria at McGaffey, N.M. on June 27, 1925. He passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2005 at the age of 80. World War II interrupted Ray’s high school education with his joining the U.S. Army. He dutifully and proudly served his nation during this war. After his discharge, Ray became a member of the Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75, John Derrick Halls VFW Post #5231, and the Disabled American Veterans holding life memberships in all of them. For forty years Ray actively volunteered his time in helping to organize the Ute Mountain Roundup Parade. His mission for the past 15 years was to insure that every deceased veteran buried within Montezuma and Dolores county cemeteries should receive a veterans’ headstone if their families so desired. He spent countless hours researching veterans’ records and tracking graves so that each veteran grave could be marked with the distinction of military service. Several years ago, Ray received an honorary high school diploma, which was made possible by order of President Bush. Surviving Ray are his wife of 57 years, Clara Marie (Chavez) Candelaria of Cortez; children, Yvonne Candelaria of Cortez, Connie Klingler and husband, Kirk of Gillette, Wyo., Donna Wallace and husband, Jerry of Bishop, Tex., Paul W. Candelaria of Cortez, and Michele Dunstan and husband, Brett of Meridian, Ida.; and nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Two brothers, Porferio “Chito” Candelaria of Brighton, Colo. and Adolph Candelaria also of Brighton, Colo.; and seven sisters, Mary Candelaria of Denver, Colo., Genevieve Espinoza of Cortez, Dora Crandall of Denver, Colo., Lola Martinez of Pueblo, Colo., Lily Finn of Denver, Colo., Flora Archibeque of Mancos, and Nancy Ruiz of Cortez also survive Ray. He was preceded in death by his son, Remigio Candelaria in 2002. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Ray Candelaria with Citizens State Bank of Cortez.