Robert Arthur Lucero peacefully passed from this world on December 5, 2024. He was at home with family when he was called to return to our heavenly Father. He was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, on June 28, 1936, to Procopio and Maria (Salas) Lucero. Art attended Holy Trinity Schools. In July of 1955, Art was united in marriage to Lorraine Gagliardi; they were married for 69 years. left to cherish his memory, along with his wife, are their three children, Gerri, Bob(Paula), and Wayne(Teresa). Six grandchildren are Justin (Brittney), Wesley (Tiffany), Jeremy (Haley), Gabrielle, Andrees, and Adriano, and his six great-grandchildren are Gabriel, Hunter, Paisley, Sawyer, Savannah, and Piper. Brother-in-law Larry Sanchez and sister-in-law Virginia Lucero. Numerous nieces, nephews, and all members of his Trinidad Lanes bowling family, as well as the many friends he met along his life journey.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles, and sisters Frances, Lucy, Anita, Connie, and Alice
In 1955, as a young man, Art enlisted in the Navy Reserve and was honorably discharged after 8 years of service. During that time, he began working for Pavetti’s Meat Market, eventually purchasing the business that would become a Lucero family legacy: Art’s Processing was his career until his retirement.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved telling stories of hunting or fishing trips with one of his buddies or brother Charles. Art still enjoyed fishing trips with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even if they only went as far as Central Park, where he would patiently sit and help them untangle yet another line or encourage them to reel in a big one….and laugh his unforgettable laugh.
He also liked to farm, buy, and sell cattle, and he did so until he retired. Over the last few years, though he had remained a staple in the work on branding day, he mostly watched and oversaw the process while younger ones did the job, always offering his advice and wisdom.
Most of all, Art loved bowling and was very good at it, and he was still an active bowler this season, once, he bowled on a team with his son Bob and three of his grandsons. Through the years, he bowled in many leagues and traveled to many states to participate in tournaments. Still, the highlight of that career came in 1993 when he traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, to bowl in the High Roller Tournament at the Showboat Casino. he was 57 years old and he had to win eleven straight matches to get to the Championship match. It was a nationally televised match, where Art came away as runner-up. He came home to a huge celebration for his newly earned status., which came with a large sum of money. The family still watches the recorded match and is still in awe of him.
In these last years, as he had all his life, Art still had an easy laugh and a gentle, kind heart. Brittney and Haley attended to his daily care and would take him along on whatever adventure their lives or the kids had in store for that day. His life was full of children, they adored him, and he them. They’d go shopping and to the park; he went on walks and attended Little League games of every variety, where he was everyone’s grandpa; he went on the road trips where the music had to be his old country western songs, and they all sang along to the tunes. During quiet times at home, he enjoyed watching old Western movies, especially anything with John Wayne.
In his last days, the family wanted him at home, and they all, along with Gabrielle, his granddaughter, lovingly cared for him with her nursing expertise. We will miss his love, strength, wisdom and most of all his laugh. We will forever cherish his memory in our hearts.
Funeral Services for Art will be held at Holy Trinity on Friday, December 20, 2024. The Rosary will begin at 9:30 am, and the Mass will follow at 10:00 am. The interment will be at a later date. Arrangements were made under the care of Comi Funeral Home.
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