Steve Joe Vigil Sr.

STEVE J. VIGIL SR.--On the night of Monday, April 22, 2019, Steve J. Vigil Sr., 70, of Roswell, New Mexico, passed away in Lubbock, Texas, at 10:35 PM, surrounded by his family. Please take a moment and share a kind thought or memory with Steve’s family at www.andersonbethany.com. SERVICES: A Viewing will be held Sunday, April 28, 2019, at Anderson Bethany Funeral Home from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 PM. A Mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Monday, April 29, 2019, at 2:00 PM, with interment immediately following at South Park Cemetery. A reception will follow burial at Steve’s family home. Steve was born in Roswell, NM, to Manuel and Josephine Gonzales Vigil on August 3, 1948. He retired from the City of Roswell-Wastewater Treatment Plant after twenty-five years of service. Steve went on to enjoy his years of retirement with his loving wife, Kathy (Katherine) Vigil. Steve and Kathy were married on, May 17, 1969, and together they raised four children: Sarah, Steve Jr., Marty, and Eugene. A loving husband, father, grandparent, friend, and role model, Steve, enjoyed the outdoors tremendously and would sit out under the sun to enjoy the warmth. He loved to hunt, fish, camp, and spend time with his family at the Capitan cabin. Steve was a great storyteller who enjoyed sharing tales of the past. He did not pass up the opportunity to share a scary story about the “Chupacabra” and “Costal Man” with the kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and friends that gathered around the campfire. Steve was a man of many talents and hobbies such as, mechanics, walking, metal detecting, gold panning, knife making, making walking sticks, watering his tree’s, casino’s, bingo’s, and listening to KANW New Mexico oldie Spanish radio while sitting by his fire lit chiminaya enjoying a beer. These are just to name a few, but there were many other interests/hobbies, especially spending time at the cabin grilling and cooking, roaming the property, trimming trees, working, and enjoying the cool mountain breeze. PRECEDED: Steve is PRECEDED in death by his son, Steve J. Vigil Jr.; parents, Manuel and Josephine Vigil; siblings: Charles Gonzales, Margie Lucero, and Erminda Guttierez. SURVIVORS: Those left to cherish Steve’s memory are his wife of forty-nine years, Katherine (Kathy) Vigil; children: Sarah Sanchez (Adrian), Marty Vigil (Lorena), Eugene Vigil (Antoinette); daughter-in-law, Maria Vigil; grandchildren: Regina Vigil (Chris), Daniel Vigil, Adriana Sanchez, Faith Garcia, Jennifer Vigil, Juliana Vigil, Jackie Vigil, Steve Vigil III, Bianca Lopez (Everett), Santana Vigil (Deyton), Marty Jr Vigil, Jonathon Vigil, Lianna Vigil; great-grandchildren: Amariyah, Aiden, MichaelRay, Maribel, Maximus, Olivia, Emri, and Emmy; siblings: Christine Uribes of Toledo, OH, Martha Madrid of Pueblo, CO, Billy Gonzales of Denver, CO, Rosemary Scott of Albuquerque, NM, Manuel Vigil of Skandia, MI; and many nieces and nephews. PALLBEARERS: Honored to serve as Pallbearers are Marty Vigil, Eugene Vigil, Daniel Vigil, Juan De La Cerda, Lorenzo Sanchez, and Israel Lopez HONORARY PALLBEARERS: Chosen to serve as Honorary Pallbearers are Fred Renteria, Rudy Anaya, All the Grandkids, & Great Grandkids. The Family would like to thank ENMMC of Roswell, NM and University Medical Center of Lubbock Texas, for the awesome care they provided to our dad. Steve’s tribute was lovingly written in his honor by his family. A little prayer from our Dad/Grandpa “May the Good Lord take a likin’ to you, and may the force be with you” I AM FREE Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free; I’m following the path God laid for me I took his hand when I heard him call; I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work, or play. Tasks undone must stay that way. I’ve found that peace at the close of the day. If parting has left a void, then fill it with a remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, ah, yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow; I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life’s been full, I savored much; Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief; don’t lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me --God wanted me now, God set me free.

Steve Joe Vigil Sr.

August 3, 1948 - April 22, 2019