December 10, 1958 – June 1, 2026
James Patrick Romero (67), of Springer, NM, passed away on June 1, 2026 at Miner’s Colfax Hospital in Raton. NM after a courageous battle against cancer.
Born on December 10, 1958 in Oceanside, California to Odilia (Montoya) and Jose Patrick Romero, James grew up in California before moving with his family to Springer, New Mexico in 1974 when he was in the 11th grade. James graduated from Springer High School at the age of 17 in 1976.
Upon graduation, James joined the Army where he served in both Germany and Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas between 1976-1980. After being honorably discharged, James attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque for a time and supported himself by working for Russco Construction Company doing framing. After a beam fell on his middle finger, James decided it was time to find a job that was a little less hard on his body.
In 2000, James moved back to Springer and began working for the New Mexico Boy School as a juvenile correctional officer, where incidentally, his father Pat had also worked. Simultaneously, he attended classes at Luna Community College studying Criminal Justice. While attending classes, James continued to pursue his passion for running – something he had been doing since joining high school track. James ran as often as he could. His goal was to jog at least half of the days out of every month. He ran roughly five miles each time he ran and meticulously mapped out his jogging trail and logged his time with the goal of doing each run in under 45 minutes. James ran in hot sun, pouring rain, drizzling sleet, and falling snow. People he knew would wave when he ran by, but James would stop for no one – the run, once started, could not be stopped because he needed to keep his heart rate up.
It was while James was attending classes at Luna that he met the woman he would eventually marry – Sherry Louise Goodyear. James needed a tutor for Computer Fundamentals, and Sherry, who was taking Woodworking classes at Luna at the time had agreed to tutor for Luna; thus, she was assigned to James to help him with his studies. Most people thought James was a confirmed bachelor and would never marry, so many were surprised when James and Sherry wed on July 9, 2005 when James was 46. Soon after, in December, 2006, James earned his Criminal Justice Certificate (cum laude).
A couple of years after they were married, James and Sherry were blessed by the birth of their one and only child, Jordan Juliette Romero on September 29, 2007. Jordan looked like Snow White when she was born, and she was truly the apple of her father’s eye. James loved to take baby “Jordan Pie” as he called her on bike rides, first on the back of his bike in a bike cart when she was too little to ride a bike herself and then side by side on their own bikes once she had learned to ride a bike herself. James worked nights and was able to pick Jordan up from school most days. Often, they would ride their bikes together to the elementary school where she would park her bike while she attended school. Then, in the afternoon, he would ride back over to pick her up, and they would ride to Grandma Odilia’s at least two or three days a week to eat popcorn and burritos. It was during these visits to grandma’s when James taught Jordan how to make change by having her count the coins he had in his pocket as grandma prepared the food.
In addition to taking care of Jordan, James also cared for the many chickens, ducks, cats, and dogs that Sherry was perpetually bringing home to their “farm’ in town. Even when he worked nights, many times he was out there changing water and filling food pans making sure the animals had plenty to eat and drink, often at the expense of his own sleep.
James was the quintessential uncle as all of his nieces and nephews loved him – mainly because he loved to be outdoors playing with them. He was the “fun” uncle, a kid at heart. It didn’t hurt that he had a motorcycle to give them rides on, or that he always had a frisbee in his car, jerky in his bag, and a willingness for adventure in his spirit. The home he grew up in, in Springer, is right next to the Cimarron River, and James, and the kids loved to take walks there. Then, they would trek home smelling of sun and fresh air, ready to eat watermelon and popcorn, and drink Cota tea – three family favorites.
In 2011, after the New Mexico Boy School closed, James attended CNM and earned his Electrical Wiring and Plumbing Certifications. James put what he knew to work and wired up the backyard of his house so as one neighbor put it, “It was lit up like a Christmas tree.”
After graduating from CNM, James began working at the Eagle Nest Reintegration Center in Eagle Nest, NM. as a Juvenile Correctional Officer once again. He continued this work until he retired on January 31, 2026. Unfortunately, In August of 2019, James had been diagnosed with liver cancer. Despite being treated for it and waging a heck of a fight against it, James’s condition took a turn for the worse in the middle of December, 2025 after he was started on some immunotherapy drugs that did not agree with him. James had seven ER visits in five months for gastric bleeding. Finally, on June 1, 2026, exactly five months to the day from his first hospital visit on January 1, 2026, James passed away. His courage and strength were something you generally only read about in legend.
James was preceded in death by his father, Jose Patrick Romero; his sister, Dorothy Annette Rivera; his maternal grandparents, Jose Domingo (J.D.) and Eugenia (Vigil) Montoya; his paternal grandparents, Estevan and Josephita (Salazar) Romero. He is survived by his wife of twenty-one years, Sherry Goodyear-Romero, and daughter, Jordan Juliette Romero of the family home in Springer, NM; his mother, Odilia Romero of Springer; his brother, David and wife, Michaela of Broomfield, CO; his sister, Rita and husband, Pete Pacheco of Springer; his nephews: John Patrick Rivera (wife, Maria and son, Estevan and step-daughter, Alisa) of Rio Rancho, N.M.; Jacob Rivera (wife, Alisha and son, Malcom) of Rio Rancho; Anthony Romero of Broomfield, CO (daughter, Aria and son, Angel); and his nieces: Manuela Mishler (husband, Justin and sons, Adam Thresher and Max Mishler, and daughter, Ella Mishler) of Erie, C.O.; Sarah (Rivera) Benavidez (and son, Elijah) of Pecos, N.M.; Amanda Danielson (husband, Cole and sons, James (J.D.), Kyle, and Tyler) of Silverthorne, C.O.; and Christine Fernandez and partner, Jose Hernandez of Silverthorne, C.O. (and their unborn twins). James was well-loved and will be sorely missed.
Visitation: June 15, 2026, 9:00-9:45 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Solemn Mass of the Resurrection will be on June 15, 2026, 10:00 A.M., at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Springer, NM. followed by the internment at the Springer Cemetery.
Potluck Reception: To follow at St, Joseph’s Parish Hall in Springer, NM.
Special Thanks: The family wishes to send a special thank you to the Springer Volunteer Fire Department for their incredible care and compassion during the many ambulance rides James took to the ER in Raton over the past few months. Also, thanks so much to family and friends who gave their time, hospitality, money, and prayers to help support the family during this difficult time.
Arrangements for James Patrick Romero are entrusted to the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home.
To send a flower arrangement in memory of James Patrick Romero, please click here to visit our sympathy store.
Be First to Comment