Obituaries

Our beloved Patty departed at high noon on Saturday, July 12. She was at home in her own bed, soundly asleep. Her youngest sister, Barbara Bartlett, a niece Sara Flora, her husband of 40 years, Harley Shaw, and his daughter, Jean Johnson, were with her when she passed.

Patty was born on July 5, 1941 in Stambaugh, Michigan. Her father, Frank G. Woodruff, was a mining engineer, so the family moved around a lot. While growing up, Patty lived in northern Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, and Oracle, Arizona. Patty was a bright and inquisitive child. She learned to read at an early age and at age 9, she read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z. Through her adult life, she surprised others by recalling minutiae she learned during that youthful reading marathon. Reading continued to be important throughout her life. She spurned television, often leaving a room where one was playing.

Virginia Ann "Ginny" Robertson, 83, of Silver City passed away at home Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Virginia "Ginny" Ann Robertson, please visit our floral store.

Joyce Estelle Refior was born August 23, 1959. She was called heavenward to her eternal joy with Jesus early in the morning on Thursday, July 17. She was a resident at Fort Bayard Medical Center in Silver City, New Mexico where she received excellent care and oversight by the staff.

Joyce grew up in Wausau, Wisconsin. She had a warm and welcoming disposition. Her friendliness and kindness prompted by her Christian faith were her gift to the world. Joyce's simple, strong faith and her joy, smile and laughter will truly be missed by all who knew her.

Joyce will be known for her simple life and way of doing things. Her love for nature and animals (especially her pets) was apparent to all. Joyce loved playing games even though winning wasn't always the purpose. She just loved being with people and passing the time with others she could help feel important and loved. She often lost at marbles as a way to give them away to others who didn't have many.

Rosa Irene Sifuentes, 79, a resident of Santa Clara, NM entered eternal rest Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces, NM.  She was born January 15, 1946 to her parents, Jose and Nila (Melendrez) Sifuentes in Silver City, NM. 

She is survived by her son Johnny Sifuentes (Pamela) of Silver City, NM; her brother, Manuel Sifuentes (Margie) of Silver City, NM; her three grandchildren, Isiah Sifuentes (Delilah Marin), Johnny Sifuentes II, Lucas Sifuentes; her great grandchild, ZiaRay; her sister-in-law, Reina Sifuentes.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Richard Sifuentes and Ysidro Sifuentes. 

Louise Haynes Tatum, 68, a Las Cruces resident passed away Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at Mesilla Valley Hospice.

Visitation will take place Tuesday morning, July 22, 2025 from 10:30 to 12 o'clock at Baca's Funeral Chapel.  Funeral services will begin at 12 noon with concluding services and interment to follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

Louise was born February 12, 1957, in Deming to Lena Mae Brown and Wendell Haynes. She was a High School Graduate of Deming High School Class of 1976 and then went on to train at the Albuquerque Job Corps as an Assistant Educator. She enjoyed the beautiful things in life and spent part of her life making amazing jewelry and sharing it with the people she loved. She loved to travel with her decedent husband every opportunity they had. Most of all she was a connoisseur of people, she did not ever meet a stranger. That was her special calling. 

She is survived by her son, Greg Tatum II of Chicago, Ill; daughter, Tiffany Andrea (Antron) Masden, Dakota Masden (grandson) of Lexington, KY; brothers, Robert, Jimmy, Billy Roy, Henry Lee, and Fred Haynes; her twin sister, Lucille (Jeffrey) Holmes, Virginia Haynes, and Mary (Alton) Patterson and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Raul Delgado, 85, passed quietly into his eternal home on July 12th. Raul was born April 5, 1940 in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico, and became a U.S. citizen in 1947.

In his teens he took advantage of the army recruiting program "Out of high school, into flight school."  Raul served 20 years as a Spanish interpreter, in Special Forces, including six years in Vietnam. He was a skilled helicopter maintenance inspector and pilot. He had a lifetime love of flying.  His helicopter was shot down and Raul was seriously injured. He was awarded the AIR MEDAL for heroism in Aerial Flight. Raul was permanently grounded and sent to Hanau, Germany as Equal Opportunity Staff Officer.  Upon retirement, he continued his education at WNMU receiving a Bachelor's degree in business education.

It was here he met Judith Lierz in 1983. He lived a life to be proud of as a patriot and a loving, generous husband and father.

Raul was preceded in death by his mother, Hortensia Delgado. He is survived by his wife, Judith, his son Donavan Delgado of Las Vegas, Nevada, his twins (J.R.) Jose-Raul Delgado (Ashley) of Santa Clara, Marisol Delgado of Silver City, his grandchildren, Elena, Alysiana, Azalayia, Nathaniel, Ileana, Jaylee, Ruben and his brother, Abel Delgado of Deming,

With broken hearts and great sorrow, we announce the passing of our precious baby boy, Joachim A. Verdugo-Salazar.

Joachim was born at El Paso Children's Hospital in El Paso, TX on June 29, 2023 and passed away peacefully in the arms of his mother and maternal grandparents Ricardo and Maria on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, TX.

Joachim was the beloved son of Yazmin S. Verdugo and Jaime A. Salazar.

He is survived by his parents Yazmin and Jaime; maternal grandparents, Ricardo Verdugo, and Maria Snyder Verdugo; paternal grandfather, Gilbert Salazar and many cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his maternal great-grandparents Lorenzo and Longina Verdugo and Carlos and Olga Snyder; paternal great-grandparents Jose and Bertha Salazar as well as many uncles and aunts.

An obituary is not available at this time for Abigail Gavaldon. We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Abigail Gavaldon, please visit our floral store.