Loretta Gage

Loretta Gage, was born on January 27, 1951, in Grand Junction, Colorado.˜She passed away on Thursday, January 17, 2013, at her home in Tome, New Mexico. Loretta was a country girl.˜During her childhood she lived in Uravan, Colorado; Thompson, Deer Flats, and Green River, Utah; and Ambrosia Lake and Chama, New Mexico.˜ The wild and often austere beauty of these places imprinted upon her soul, and she was always happiest outdoors, preferably far from town.˜ She loved the natural world and all of its creatures.˜One of her favorite activities was walking the high country in the spring, searching for newly shed elk antlers, and she was always accompanied by a beloved dog. She graduated from the University of New Mexico and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University, and was the author of If Wishes Were Horses, the true story of her journey to becoming a veterinarian.˜She was employed for many years by Vet-Co of Valencia, where she was well-loved by her patients and their owners. She was known for her unbridled enthusiasm for life, her generous and loving heart, her quick wit and unparalleled sense of humor, her deep Christian faith, and her devotion to her family and her many friends.˜ She sought above all to live her life according to scripture, trying always to abide by the teachings of Jesus.˜ She was a common person, and she would be pleased to be known as such.˜ She gave everything she had to give to all who asked.˜A beloved daughter of the late Charles and Anna Gage. Loretta is survived by her sister, Nancy Gage; brother-in-law, Jay Koch; her niece, Amber Teal and her husband, Sheldon; her nephew, Dean Staley and his wife, Terry; and great-nieces and nephews, Tracie and Charlie Teal, Ella Johnson, and Kennedy and Owen Staley.˜ She took great pride in her family, and the youngest generation, most especially, gave her great joy. She is also survived by many loving friends, including Jorge Ontiveros, and, of course, her family of dogs, cats, and horses. If you would like to honor Loretta’s memory, please make a donation to Animal Humane Association of New Mexico, HART (Homeless Animal Rescue Team) of Valencia County, the Valencia County Spay and Neuter Fund, or the animal welfare organization of your choice. A celebration of Loretta’s life will be held at Romero Funeral Home Chapel in Belen, NM, on Saturday, January 26, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with A Funeral Service startingat 11:00 a.m. Sign Loretta’s online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM

Loretta Gage

January 22, 2013