Raynel "Ray" Lobato

RAYNEL "RAY" LOBATO Funeral services for lifelong Cortez resident, Ray Lobato will be held at 10 am on Friday, July 19 at Evangel Assembly of God Church with Pastor Jeff McDonell officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75. Rosary services will be held at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 18 with a viewing from 6 to 7. Father Patrick Valdez will officiate. Ray was born November 7, 1946 in Cortez, the son of Antonio Lobato and Maria Maestas. He passed away on July 10, 2013. Ray attended Cortez Public Schools graduating from Montezuma Cortez High School in 1965 and a few months later joining the Army. He received basic training at Ft. Campbell, Ky. with the 101st Airborne Division. After basic training, he was stationed in Augsburg, Germany and was there until he was honorably discharged. After his discharge, Ray returned to Cortez and attended and worked for the San Juan Basin VoTech School and other electronic businesses. He also worked as a building trades instructor for the Southern Ute Tribe in Ignacio, Colo. In 1998, he went to work for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in Towaoc, Colo. as the Carpenter's Supervisor and worked there until he retired in November 2011. Ray had a great sense of humor and was always playing jokes on the people he knew. He had a great mechanical mind and could fix anything he set his mind to fixing, especially any electrical appliance. His motto was "if I can't fix it, throw it away"! He was a very caring and compassionate person, always taking time to visit friends and family. Ray was married to Ina Beldon and they enjoyed a full and content life together being with family and friends, traveling, hunting, fishing, camping and having a good time. Ina suddenly passed away at age 56. Ray said it was hard losing his companion and friend of 15 years, but life goes on and you have to keep on going. Ray was active at the American Legion. He was on the horseshoe team and in the dart league. He also enjoyed playing cards with friends. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Ray is survived by his son, Carlos (Debi) Salazar and grandsons, Aaron and Jordan of Grand Junction, Colo.; step-son, Raymond Salazar and step-grandchildren, Lonny, Randy, Keenan, Jayda, Dante, Felix and Madison of Grand Junction, Colo.; step-daughter, Luci (Allen) Phelps and step-grandchildren Maddison Raye Cooper and Austin Short of Cortez; step-son, Warren Beldon and step-grandchildren Zachary, Nathan and Mason Beldon of Grand Junction, Colo. He is also survived by four sisters: Elsie(Raymond) Starkens of Bettendorf, Iowa; Jennie(Carlos) Cavazos of Yuma, Ariz.; Patsy (Johnny) Archibeque of Cortez; Gloria(Bill) Gladfelter of Yuma, Ariz.; two brothers, Orlando(Gina) Lobato of Salida, Calif. and Tony (Anna) Lobato of Albuquerque, N.M.; several nieces and nephews; and by his dear and devoted friend, Sandra West. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ina; parents, Antonio and Maria Lobato; brothers, Charles and Benny Lobato; sisters Teo Youell and Yolanda Martinez; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Youell and Johnny Martinez; his half-brothers, Tony, Freddy and Alex Lobato; and half-sisters, Verna Gomez, Helen Valdez, Alyce Ortiz, Margo Belt, Beatrice Broad and Jean(Lillie) McCauley.