Carlos Cornay
Carlos was born April 20, 1928 in Folsom, New Mexico on the ranch he worked all of his life. After 88 years, 9 months, and 5 full and wonderful days, he passed away in the same house where he was born. He went to be with the Lord February 5, 2017 at 3:33 pm. Although his heart and kidneys finally wore out, his mind remained sharp.
Affectionately and widely known as “Papo”, he was beloved by all who met him. He had a tremendous work ethic, and squeezed the joy out of the day. He had an infectious sense of humor, was quick-witted and had the most boisterous laugh! Even through his suffering, he never had a bad day.
He would give you the shirt off his back and was a stranger to no one. Stubborn as the day is long, he thought his way was “the right way” until the day he died.
He was the 3rd generation to work the Cornay ranch. He was one of the last of the true cowboys, who worked from sun up to sun down and you never heard him mutter a complaint. EVER!! He raised Hereford and Charlois cattle and also raised Buffalo for 13 years. Papo could be intimidating and demanded hard work out of everybody and there are many men who came and worked as kids on the ranch who credit him with their work ethic. He gained many friends over the years that originally came to the ranch to visit, help or hunt and might have ended up working as ranch hands.
He was a school board member for 27 years and gave all three of his kids their diplomas. He served as County Commissioner for Union County and was awarded the Union County Pioneer Award for distinguished contributions to Union County and it’s people July 4th, 2013. He was a golden gloves Lightweight boxing champion in 1946.
He loved to play dominoes and was the domino champion of the Cornay ranch!
He had a sweet tooth and would never turn down anything with sugar! You could find him in the morning dunking his cookies in his coffee with PET milk. If you stopped by the ranch at the end of the day, you might find him on the porch playing his harmonica and looking out at the land.
He loved his paint horses, white cows and his red and white trucks. But his most treasured love was for his children and grandchildren.
He is now reunited with his wife Joan, his daughter Carla, his granddaughter Stormy, and brothers John, Manuel, Orlando, and Eloy who preceded him in death.
He is survived by his son & best friend Dino, daughter Maria, son-in-law Mike, grandson Marshall, Granddaughters and Brooke, sister Mary Alice “Bebe” and one brother.
The community will miss him as a treasured neighbor, and most of all his family will feel the loss of a beloved father, grandfather and friend.
Visitation will be held Wednesday February 8th from 5-7 pm at Yaksich-Long funeral home in Raton. NM.
Funeral services to be held at 10 am Thursday February 9th at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Folsom, NM followed by a graveside service at the Catholic cemetery in Folsom. We are going to celebrate Papos’ love of red and white by wearing his chosen colors. Feel free to join us in this gesture of love and remembrance.
Potluck reception immediately following at the South Fire Station in Folsom.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Folsom Fire Department or the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Des Moines.
Although I did not have the pleasure of meeting Carlos Cornay, I know I would have loved him. He has left a legacy to many of us with his wonderful family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.