Mariana Floyd Buhr passed away on February 13, 2017 in Trinidad, CO at the age of 88.
She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Anna (McDonald) Floyd, 4 infant siblings, Her Husband of 63 years, Robert E. (Bob) Buhr and Her Son Fred Buhr.
Survivors are Sons- Bob Gene (Sheila) Buhr of Yarbrough, Oklahoma; Fred (Deceased) (Sue) Buhr of Denver, CO; Bill (Karen) Buhr of Hoehne, CO; Bert (Vickie) Buhr of Sugar City, CO; Daughters – Susan (Mike) Gammill of Attica, KS; Nanette (Sam) Marchetti of Encampment, WY. 15 Grandkids, Robert (Jana) Buhr, Justin Buhr, Jeff (LeAnn) Buhr, Wade Buhr, Ellen Shelley, Kristy (Justin) Bennett, Jayson (Becky) Buhr, Matt (Melissa) Buhr, Dan (Kellie) Buhr Shawn (Desta) Buhr, Lavica (Timothy) Gates, Sandy (Ryan) Dohm, Kayla (Austin) Young, Marion Marchetti and Jamie Marchetti. 24 Great Grand Kids – Jordan, Jacee and Jett Buhr, Faith Buhr, Jerica, Jadin & Joseph Shelley, Jaydon Warnke, Karson and Kalen Bennett, Dally (Kyle) Maier, Bryce Buhr, Sidney Buhr (Kyle Johnson), Wyatt, Weston and Sadie Buhr, Tritt, Duke and Joni Buhr, Madelynn, Asa and Lorelei Gates, Colby Green, and Cooper Bryant. 2 Great Great Grand Kids – Kayson and Waylon. Other survivors are many close friends, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mariana was born on February 19, 1928 in Raton, NM & lived on Johnson Mesa, NM with her parents Fred & Anna Floyd.
Due to the severe winters on Johnson Mesa, NM, school was held in the summer. Mariana rode her horse or walked about 2 miles to attend the Johnson Mesa Center School from 1st thru 8th grade – to a one-room, later two-room school house. She started each high school year riding the school bus from Johnson Mesa, NM; then the family moved closer to school during the winter. The icy weather was the reason her parents decided to rent winter pasture & drive the cattle back & forth. Some of the rented pastures were near; Malpi & Farley, NM; Kenton, OK & Barela, CO. Mariana rode Tony Maes’s two-seater Model A Ford that he used for the school bus from Barela to Hoehne for her 2nd semester of sophomore year. Mariana helped her parents on the ranch until graduation from Raton High School in May 1944. She completed 2 years as a Home Economics Major at NM State College in Las Cruces.
On July 26, 1946, Bob & Mariana were married in Raton, NM. Bob worked at Capital Auto Supply & Mariana worked at Drake Electrical and then Rocky Mountain Coal Company in Raton. They lived & worked in Raton and helped out on the ranch on Johnson Mesa, NM. In 1949, the first of six children was born, and they moved to their current home in Trinchera. Their wages were the cream check from hand milking the cows. They lived on Johnson Mesa, NM in the summer and Trinchera in the winter, trailing the cattle between both places. They raised six children, farmed, ranched & milked cows all while they moved 34 times in 17 years. In 1965, they rented land in Las Animas County and went to work for themselves. They drove the Branson School bus accident-free for 13 years. Bob worked for the county and labor union for a short period of time, where he helped build Trinidad Dam and repair Raton Pass Road. He was janitor at Branson School and drove the bus for activity trips. Mariana drove the daily school bus most of the time, while Bob did other work. Spending all day in Branson with chores waiting at home seemed poor time management, so Mariana started classes at TSJC to become a certified librarian. She attended and summers at Adams State College, and she practice-taught under the late Odessa Sheldon. She graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and was qualified in Library and Music. Mariana graduated in 1972; the same day that her father died. She also served one term on the Branson School Board.
Bob & Mariana raised their kids as members of the Sacred Hearts Catholic Church in Trinchera where Mariana played the Pump Organ. They stayed busy with their kids in LAC 4-H, Basketball and Baseball with all six kids graduating at Branson High School. Bob and Mariana loved to travel and watch their families’ activities. They also enjoy supporting the youth at the LAC, 4-H, sale. Bob was a member of NM Cattle Growers Assoc., LAC Livestock Assoc. & Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. Bob enjoyed ranching and family.
Mariana was a member of LAC Cowbelles and was a state director for the NM Women’s Bowling Assoc. She enjoyed playing bridge, bowling and helping on the family ranch. Mariana has a 50 Year Member Pin for Home Demonstration earned between CO and NM. She also researched and compiled the original homestead patents for Johnson Mesa, NM into a book titled, “Johnson Mesa”, copyrighted in 1997.
In Lieu of Flowers, please donate to Johnson Mesa Church, your Local 4-H group or Local EMS.
Visitation will be Thursday from 3PM-7PM at the Comi Chapel.
Rosary will be recited Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 7PM at the Legacy , 33 Legacy Lane, Trinidad, CO.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 24, 2017 at St. Patrick’s -St. Joseph Catholic Church in Raton, NM, with eulogy at 10:15, delivered by Mr. Frank Cimino, followed by Funeral Mass at 10:30AM.
Burial to follow at Johnson Mesa Cemetery if weather permits.
Following services, a meal will be held at St. Joseph’s Fellowship Hall in Raton.
Arrangements made under the direction of the Comi Funeral Home.
