Manuel DeJesus Collaso

Manuel DeJesus Lamas Collaso, 78 a resident of Fort Sumner died Saturday evening, December 15, 2012 at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, NM following an illness. Mr. Collaso was born August 4, 1934 in Tepetongo, Zacatecas, Mexico to the home of Pedro and Maria (Lamas) Collaso. He was reared and attended school in Buena Vista, Zacatecas. Manuel married Velma Mendoza on September 26, 1984 in Monahans, Texas. Manuel worked for the Cooper Ranch in Monument, NM and together with Velma owned and operated a Boot and Saddle shop in Monahans. They made their home in Fort Sumner in 1994 where Manuel worked as a cowboy for several area ranchers including Don Gill, Charlie Overton, Buddy and Nick Cortese, and the Joe Gammill Farm. Manuel was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner. He enjoyed leather work, broke many horses, and loved to be around his livestock. He was a family man first, he loved spending time with his family, enjoyed dancing, joking and sharing with his family and friends and always took pride in all his work. Manuel is preceded in death by his parents, a brother Efren Collaso and a sister Concepcion Davila. Survivors include his wife Velma Collaso of the home in Fort Sumner, nine daughters Petra (Agustine) Herrera of El Paso, TX, Yolanda (Juan) Rubio of San Francisco, CA, Marisela (Martin) Hernandez of Bell, CA, Rosalma (Jose) Hernandez of Placentia, CA, Norma (Eduardo) Amezola of Long Beach, CA, Sonya (Tony) Villegas of Bell, CA, Melissa (Bucky) Minton of Fort Sumner, NM, Crystal (Dustin) Minton of Edgewood, NM, Stephanie (Eugene) Sena of Fort Sumner, three sons Manuel DeJesus Collaso and wife Livi, Luis Manuel Collaso and wife America of Los Angeles, CA, Manuel Adrian Collaso of Fort Sumner, one brother Santos Collaso and a sister Esperanza Davila both of Buena Vista, Zacatecas, Mexico. Also surviving are his mother and father in law, Marcos and Georgia Mendoza of Pecos, TX along with 39 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 19th from 1PM to 5PM at the funeral home. A rosary will be recited at 6:00 PM Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Mass will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, December 20, 2012 from the church with burial to follow at St. Anthony Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Bucky Minton, Dustin Minton, Agustine Herrera, Eduardo Amizola, Carlos Alcala, Alejandro Alire, Pedro Collaso, and Miguel Collaso. Honorary bearers will include Gene Sena, Miguel Baltazar, Eugene Sena, Juan Rubio, Lupe Gallegos, Jose Hernandez, Tony Villegas, and L.K. Minton. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311.