Stella Delores Raught was born December 5, 1928 in Delagua, Colorado to parents Celedon and Ruby Vigil. She passed away July 21, 2016.
Stella was the oldest of seven children. Her father was a coal miner and farmer in Southern Colorado. The family later moved to Trinidad where Stella went to school in Trinidad and graduated High school in 1946.
In the fall of 1946. she began her teaching career in Jansen, Colorado. She was 18 years old and had just graduated from high school. This was right after World War ll when teachers were very scarce. Stella met Melvin Raught in 1946.
Stella taught school in Colorado for 16 years and then moved to Raton where she continued her career of teaching. She taught school in Raton, New Mexico for 25 years for a total of 41 years of teaching. She continued to substitute in schools and was very active in working with the placement of abused children by serving on the New Mexico Child Abuse and Neglect Citizen Review Board.
Stella was a member of the National Education Association, the Colorado Education Association and the New Mexico Education Association during her career as an educator. She was a member of the NEA and the NEA-New Mexico Minority Caucus. Stella was inducted in to the NEA New Mexico Hall of Fame.
She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Catholic Daughters, Legion of Mary, Carmelita’s, the Raton Colfax County Hispanic Chamber.
Preceding her in death were Deborah Rose Raught-Bond, son-in-law Ralph Bond; parents, Celedon and Ruby Vigil; sisters Irene Vigil and Evangeline Hildreth and brothers Robert Vigil and Ernest Vigil.
Surviving family is daughter Donna J Raught and grandchildren Bryan Bond (Brandie Bond and Sasha Hurlock), Kristie Bond Vanthul (Christopher Vanthul) and Robin Bond. Great-grandchildren are Petty Officer Second Class Dustie N. Bond, Codie M. Bond and Lily K Bond. Siblings are Rose Maestas and Loretta Yates (Hugh Yates) as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She will be missed by her family and friends.
Recitation of the Most Holy Rosary will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at 10:00 am recited by the Legion of Mary. Solemn Mass of the Resurrection will follow at 10:30 am with Father Bill Wytovith as the Celebrant. Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Alderette-Pomery Funeral Home.
