Victoria Townsend Obituary

Victoria (Vicky) Townsend, 85, of Aztec, NM died peacefully on February 12th, 2024 surrounded by family. Born and raised in the Durango, CO area, Vicky spoke fondly of growing up in Thompson Park and Hesperus, CO. Early on, she attended the one-room schoolhouse in Thompson Park and later graduated from Durango High School. She went on to graduate from Adams State University with a Degree in Education, teaching at Mesa Verde National Park and then in Aztec, NM for 15 years.

Vicky moved to Aztec in the mid-1960s and met James Townsend. They were married and had two daughters.

Vicky and Jim transitioned into farming and ranching full-time, raising a variety of cattle including Herefords, Angus, and Santa Gertrudis. Winters were spent in New Mexico and summers in Colorado on the ranch partially homesteaded by her grandparents.

Vicky loved the La Plata mountains and had a beautiful life growing up and living near them. She also enjoyed her family, playing the piano and fiddle, and her wonderful card-playing group.

Victoria is preceded in death by her husband James Townsend, and her three sisters Ruth Hays, Rose Frances Joseph, and Yvonne Bianco.

She is survived by her two daughters, Charline Townsend of Houston, TX, and Cheryl (Jim) Woods of Aztec, NM, her granddaughter Crickette (Alex) Payette of Washington, DC, her only brother Jim (Lucy) Milton of Hesperus, CO, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Aztec Methodist Church, 123 E Chaco St. Aztec, NM.

Arrangements are being coordinated by Cope Memorial in Aztec, NM.