Mary T. Lovato

Mary T. “Sister” Lovato, 78 of Fort Sumner, NM died Saturday, April 30, 2011 at her home following an illness. She was born May 16, 1932 in Vaughn, NM to the home of Julian and Olympia (Salas) Gonzales. She was reared and attended school at Taiban and Fort Sumner. She is a 1951 graduate of Fort Sumner High School. Following graduation she attended Draughon’s Business School in Amarillo, TX. She later attended Nursing School in Amarillo where she received her Nursing LP License. Mary married Selestino Joe Lovato on March 6, 1954. She worked as a nurse in Ballinger, Fort Worth, Dallas and White Settlement, TX ; she later worked at the Indian Hospital in Albuquerque. Mary also worked several years for the Social Security Administration in Albuquerque. Mary travelled with Joe who was serving in the U.S. Air Force. They lived in Okinawa, Japan 1967-1968 where Mary served as Chaplain for the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. She also enjoyed baking and cake decorating while they were in Japan. Following Joe’s retirement from the Air Force, he became a licensed funeral director; he worked for several funeral homes across the state including Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Santa Rosa, and Fort Sumner. Joe and Mary retired to Fort Sumner in 1994 so she could help care for her parents. Mary had been in ill health for several years and confined to her wheel chair. She remained active in the community serving on the Fort Sumner Housing Committee; she was an active member of the St. Anthony Catholic Church community where she took special care in organizing the funeral meals and special functions held at the church. She was a charter member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Daughters. Mary enjoyed watching her Soap Opera TV shows, reading magazines and cook books and visiting with her many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, infant Buddy Gonzales and Jimmy Gonzales. Survivors include her husband Selestino Joe Lovato of Fort Sumner; daughter Nancy C. Weisner of Beaverton, OR; two sons John M. Lovato and wife Amy of Salt Lake City, UT and Antonio Lovato of Phoenix, AZ; a brother Manuel Gonzales of Yuma, AZ and a sister Navora Richardson of Las Cruces, NM. Also surviving are five grandchildren Tammy Gallant, Jenee Koja, Elijah Lovato, Joaquin Lovato and Antonio Lovato Jr.; two great-granddaughters Mariah Fletcher and Charnele Warren. Rosary services will be held at 7:00 PM Monday, May 2, 2011 from St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner; Mass will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday May 3, 2011 with Father Simeon officiating. Burial will take place at 12:45 PM on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM. Pallbearers will be her nephews Robert Gonzales, Manuel Gonzales, Donny Richardson, Jimmy Gonzales, Sam Gonzales, and Dave Jaramillo. Visitation will be Monday from 1PM to 6PM at the funeral home and one hour prior to the Rosary and Mass. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or to sign the guest book please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com