Isabel M. Reyes

Isabel “Liz” Reyes, 70, of Pueblo, passed away July 7, 2011. She was born Nov. 5, 1940, to Antonio and Grace (Montoya) Mondragon in a small farmhouse in Mesita, Colo. She was welcomed home by her two big brothers, Tony and John. Since her father worked on the local farms there, she grew up with the schooling and everyday chores that go with farm living. Then, when she was a young girl, the family left the San Luis Valley for the Arkansas Valley, settling on a small farm near Las Animas, where farm life resumed. By then the family had grown to include sisters Martha, Theresa, Ruby and Bertha Marie; brothers Alfonso and Arnold, and her son Angelo. With a family this big, her father decided to find work elsewhere and the family moved to La Junta.

At the time of the move to La Junta, Liz was a young woman and was looking for work. But because both parents worked, she became second mom to her siblings, and she was the one to ask if they wanted anything. Her sister remembers having to ask Liz if she could use the telephone, and when she said 10 minutes, she knew Liz meant only 10 minutes! She was also the cook in the family, and she was a good one. Perhaps that is why when she applied for work, she was hired at the Otero Junior College cafeteria as one of their cooks. Her chili fries were a favorite with students and faculty alike. She worked there for 10 years, meeting not only her very good friend for life Kathy Guerrero but also her future husband, Felipe Reyes.

Liz and Felipe were married in La Junta on Aug. 11, 1978. She always felt bittersweet about that day because that was the day her father died.

From La Junta she moved to Pueblo, where she settled in to her new life as a homemaker. She became a booster parent for Minnequa School, where her sons Jason and Mark attended. She did that for 18 years; she was

coordinator for the Two plus Two program, preparing children to enter school. Being bilingual, she also taught English to Hispanic children to help them communicate better in school. When another son, Mario, came along, she was then active with his hockey team, attending every game and participating in every fundraiser. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and helped with their annual parish bazaar, manning a booth and/or cooking in the kitchen. She lived her life for her family, her church, her friends and neighbors. She enjoyed playing bingo, making crafts, and doing bead-work. But, above everything else, her most precious gift was her only grandchild, 4-year-old Tasha.

She was preceded in death by her father, Antonio Mondragon, and two infant brothers, Jose Maria and Edwin Francis. She will be sadly missed but will forever be remembered.

She is survived by her mother, Grace Mondragon of La Junta; her husband, Felipe Reyes of Pueblo; her sons, Angelo R. Mondragon, Jason (Angel) Reyes, parents of Tasha Reyes, Mark Reyes and Mario (Monica) Reyes, all from Pueblo; brothers, Tony (Helen) Mondragon of Grand Junction, John (Nellie) Mondragon of La Junta, Alfonso Mondragon of Springfield, MO., Arnold Mondragon of La Junta; sisters, Martha Mondragon, Theresa (Warren) Andress, Ruby (Sam) Ponce, all from La Junta, Bertha Marie Mondragon of Pueblo, and numerous nephews and nieces.

A viewing is scheduled for Monday, July 11, 2011, from 11 a.m. to 5p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel. A rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. preceding the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at Our Lady of Guadalupe/St. Patrick Catholic Church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in La Junta.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.