Clarice was born July 3, 1938, as the only child to Robert S. Espinosa and Agnes Griego Espinosa in Raton, NM. She passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, in Albuquerque. Clarice was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Agnes Espinosa, husband R.P. “Bob” Collyer son Michael Alan Collyer, infant son Charles Collyer, daughter Patricia Collyer Gonzales, and grandson Mathew Munoz.
She is survived by her son Robert Collyer and daughter Cathy Padilla and husband Chris. She is also survived by Grandchildren: Robbi Jo and husband Beto Dominguez, and Ashley Collyer and boyfriend Matt Marquez. Cassandra and her husband Michael Emanuel, Jennifer, Michelle, Stephanie Munoz, and Christian Michal Padilla, She is also survived by 26 great-grandchildren.
Clarice was born on July 3, 1938, in Raton to Robert and Agnes Espinosa. She grew up loving animals, and flowers, being outside climbing trees and waiting for the taxi to come from Trinidad with her grandma in it. As she got older, she began to work in her dad’s restaurant in downtown Raton, The Deluxe Café as a waitress. She told stories about the people she would meet. The everyday regulars, travelers passing through, and the people coming to town for the horse racing. Her parents also used parts of their house to board tenants throughout the years. This is where she met a railroader who came to stay with them and fell in love with him. Clarice and Bob Collyer got married on December 21, 1955 and she would tell everyone that it was the first day of Christmas break. After she finished High School, she started working at the Miners Hospital as a cook in the kitchen, She worked her way up from prep to lead dietary cook then to dietary manager of MCMC Long-term Care. People would talk about how wonderful her food was and they would make sure to be the first in line for special dessert days like her cream puffs and cookies to her pineapple cheesecakes.
The one thing that Clarice always wanted was a big family. With her being an only child and Bob growing up in an orphanage in New York they both wanted to have a large family. They had 4 children who they loved and encouraged to go out and make their way in life. They were lucky to be blessed with 8 grandkids and 26 great-grandkids. She also loved her animals and there was always a house full of dogs, cats, birds, chickens, ducks, and pigs if FFA was involved. Bob soon retired from the railroad and Clarice retired from the Hospital and they began their grandparent and great-grandparent lives. In July 2007 a special grandson, Christian, came along and changed their lives as they became his everyday sitters, and he became their reason to keep going. Christian, his Gamm, and Papo were inseparable, and they could always be found together. Through the years Clarice became Bob’s caretaker when he lost his ability to walk and took care of him to the end. There were married for 58 years.
After a car accident in June, she had a hard time recovering and had some medical issues that plagued her recovery. Her body got tired, and her heart grew weak until she decided it was time to go…even though we were not ready.
Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 10:00 AM in the chapel of the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home, with E.J. Johnson, Officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
Arrangements for Clarice Collyer are under the direction of the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home.
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