Chama Valley & Abiquiú Daily Digest Friday, September 25, 2026
Ty's Take
When a slow week hits the Chama Valley and Abiquiú country, the obits tell you what kind of place this is. These are the names that built the land grants, worked the ranches through hard winters, raised families in villages where everybody knows everybody, and kept the old ways alive when it would have been easier not to. Loss like this, all at once, hits different when you live in a town of a thousand, when you've seen these same families show up to help with brandings or sit together at the store. The schools are sorting enrollment numbers and the Fiesta Council is dealing with its own troubles, but on a week like this, what matters most is recognizing who we're losing and what they meant to this country. That's not sentiment. That's how a place like ours keeps its memory.
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Rio Grande SUN
Leopoldo Trujillo, 88, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 10, 2026, surrounded by family. Born April 3, 1938, to Maria and Nestor Trujillo, he spent 61 years of marriage with his wife Dora and raised three children together while maintaining strong Catholic faith.
David J. Marquez passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2026, with family at his bedside following a period of declining health. Born in Artesia, NM to parents Joe P. Marquez and Belen Granado Marquez, he later moved away from his hometown.
Elizabeth 'Liz' Baca, who was born August 20, 1951, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was remembered as a devoted daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend known for her faith, love, and kindness.
Dennis Barela, 34, of Chimayo, NM, died unexpectedly on September 11, 2026. He was remembered for his passion for hunting, fishing, lowrider events, and his dedication to his daughters' sporting and school activities.
Gabina 'Gabinita' Madrid, who was born in Canjilon, New Mexico on October 26, 1924, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2026, at age 101, surrounded by her family. She was cherished as a family matriarch known for her warm, generous spirit and deep devotion to her loved ones.
Edward Stanley Henderson II, born August 4, 1944, in Albion, Michigan, died on August 25, 2026, at his home in Española, New Mexico, from injuries sustained in a fall. He worked as a registered professional electrical engineer after relocating to New Mexico in 1991.
Arturo H. Sisneros, 81, of El Rito, New Mexico, passed away peacefully at home on September 12, 2026. Born July 2, 1945, he graduated from Northern New Mexico Normal School in 1964 and served 21 years in the United States Army, including deployments during the Vietnam War (1968-1971) and Korea...
Susie Martha Trujillo, 80, of Jacona, New Mexico, passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was remembered for her kindness, faith, generosity, sense of humor, and dedication to her family.
Fiesta Council VP Ousted After Arrest
The Española Valley Fiesta Council voted on September 20 to remove Adam Lee Enciñas, 20, from his position as vice president following his arrest on three domestic violence counts, including false imprisonment as a fourth degree felony. According to Debra Archuleta Maestas, secretary of the...
Enrollment Figures Vary Across Districts
Early enrollment figures for the 2026-27 school year show varying student populations across Rio Arriba County's five public school districts, with some posting modest gains while others begin the year below previous enrollment levels. The data follows a May analysis examining five years of...
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