Alex Gallegos Obituary

Lifelong Cortez resident Alex H. Gallegos died of heart failure Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012, at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez. He was 63.

Mr. Gallegos was born to Adonais and Mary Teodorita (Martinez) Gallegos on Oct. 6, 1948, in Cortez. He was one of 10 children. He graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 1967.

On Oct. 14, 1969, Mr. Gallegos married Lillie Olguin in Durango. The couple had a son, Alex, before the marriage ended in divorce.

Mr. Gallegos entered the Army in 1968 and served three tours in Vietnam with the 45th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

On Sept. 30, 1976, he married Darlene Kermode in Cortez. The couple had three children before the marriage ended in divorce.

He worked as a carpenter on the McPhee Dam project.

As a younger man, Mr. Gallegos enjoyed playing baseball and softball. He also loved to fish and complete woodworking projects.

Mr. Gallegos was preceded in death by his son Joseph Gallegos.

He is survived by his children Alex Gallegos of Cortez, Michelle Schoenthaler of Buckeye, Ariz., and Dominic Gallegos of Spokane, Wash.; companion, Jenny Garcia, of Cortez; siblings Toby Gallegos of Durango, Phil Martinez of Bayfield, Mary Ann Miera, Ernestine Gallegos and Carmen Gallegos, all of Cortez, Larry Gallegos of Farmington and Leonard Gallegos of Denver; and five grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. today, Sept. 6, 2012, at Ertel Memorial Chapel, 42 N. Market St. A rosary services will be recited at 7 p.m. today, also at Ertel. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 28 E. Montezuma Ave., in Cortez. The Rev. Pat Valdez will be the celebrant. Cremation will take place afterward.

Memorial contributions for the family may be made through Ertel Funeral Home.

To send online condolences, visit www.ertelfuneralhome.com.