In Loving Memory of Carlos Ramon Sandoval

This is the obituary of Carlos R. Sandoval, as dictated by the man himself:

Lucky in life, and lucky in death. I, Carlos Sandoval was born in Trinidad, Colorado on March 30, 1937; and I departed this earth on September 1st, 2023 in Pueblo, Colorado, where I resided for the last two years. I was told by many that I handled my situation there with dignity and grace. For almost the entirety of my life, I lived and worked on our family ranch east of Trinidad, for nearly 84 years, until my children forced me to sell it. When I was a child, my grandfather bought the family a house on 1012 Grant Street so we could attend Holy Trinity Catholic School. I played football for the Tigers, and we were Colorado State Champions in 1955. My passions in life were hunting and fishing, genes which I believe came from the Maes family, on my mother’s side. I hunted aoudad sheep in White Sands New Mexico with my uncle, and I was fortunate enough to witness the last grizzly bear in Colorado at the time. Hunting moose in Alaska, fishing with my buddies, and hunting on the ranch with my many friends and family brought me joy in life. I also loved trap shooting and shot 100 for 100 at the Calcutta at one shooting.

At the age of 21, with the passing of my grandfather, I assumed the leadership role of running the Sandoval land and cattle Company with guidance from my aunts. There was never a dull moment. We raised Hereford cattle until the drought in 2002 which forced me to sell them all and change to black Angus. That was hard for me. Outside of the ranch duties, I served my community as a board member for the Las Animas County Planning Commission, the Trinidad catholic Finance Committee, the Trinidad Round-Up Association, the Holy Trinity Credit Union, the Trinidad Los Amigos Riding Club, Little Britches Rodeo Association, and the Las Animas County Horse Racing Association. For years, I was a proud supporter of the annual Barela pig roast. I served as Santa Claus for the parade of lights and was a member of the Branson/Trinchera Hiking Club as well as a member of the Southern Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and the Las Animas County Guadalupe Society. I was honored to be chosen as Las Animas County Conservationist of the Year, the Southern Colorado Cattleman of the Year, and the Grand Marshal for the Trinidad Roundup parade.

All those things aside, the greatest accomplishments in my life are the companionship and memories that I shared with the many, many friends I had.

I was preceded in death by my parents Pedro and Rose (Maes) Sandoval, and paternal grandparents Carlos and Luisa (Maldonado) Sandoval, and Maternal grandparents Jose Ramon and Natividad (Martinez) Maes. I am survived by my children Carla Sandoval, Christine Breaker, and Carlos Jr. of Trinidad,Colorado; Cecilia (John) Altizer, Fort Collins, CO; Cynthia (Loren Essley) Sandoval; Severance, Colorado; and Carol Sandoval, Worthington, Ohio. My grandchildren include Celia Tamez, Ohio; Savannah Lee, Fort Collins; Nii Nii Baddoo- Ohio; and Nii Oman Baddoo- Ohio. My siblings include my sisters Vi Navrot, Santa Fe, NM; and Anita Jo (Dalr) Hyatt, Las Animas, CO.

My nephews include Miguel (Patricia) Navrot, Albuquerque NM; and Paul Navrot, Santa Fe. NM; My nieces include Anita L. Narot and Tessa (Chris) Ryan, Santa Fe, NM; sisters Viola Navrot and Anita Jo (Dale) also, my former wife Susie Sandoval, and my friend and caretaker Jackie Ward Mock.

I invite all my friends, but not those phonies I couldn’t stand, to my funeral services. Visitation will be from 3-6 pm on Thursday, September 14th at Comi Funeral Home. The rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. at the Comi Funeral Home on Friday, September 15th, with a mass of Christian burial to follow at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. I have provided for a celebration to follow, which will be announced at the funeral.

Active pallbearers are Troy Velarde, Louis Rino, Clint Hill, Anthony Marinac, Tim Vallejos, Clifford Weining, Dave Brown, and Mark Cappelucci. Honorary pallbearers are Dale Hyatt, Jack Dodge (The Best Texan I Ever Met), John Rino, Gary Hill, Philip Policz, Larry Alfonso, Jim Aragon, Sal Velarde, Ron Roberts, George Torres, Joe Terry, Ernest Santos, Peter (Corky) Espinosa, Jim Chacon, Wyatt Mock, john DeFilippie, Dan Aubuchon, Dave Lovato, Jim Oatman, Dan Ruscetti, and Dee Dee Richert. Louis Rino will recite my eulogy exactly as I dictated it to him.

Friends and family please take a ride by my ranch and drive up San Francisco Pass and think of me.

The viewing is at Comi Funeral Home on Thursday, September 14, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Rosary will be held at Comi Funeral Home on Friday, September 15, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Mass will be held at Holy Trinity Church on September 15, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. followed by the graveside service at Trinidad Catholic Church.

Arrangements were made under the direction of the Comi Funeral Home.