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Alicia Romero, age 86, of Santa Fe, died on Wednesday, December 29, 1000. She was born in Springer, NM, on October 7, 1913, to Epifanio and Maria Deluvina Arellano. Her father was a cattleman and farmer in Springer before retiring to Santa Fe. She was raised on the family ranch near Miami, NM, and attended the public schools in Springer, graduating from high school in 1929. She studied business at New Mexico Highlands University, graduated in 1931, and went to work at the State Land Office in Santa Fe, where she met her future husband, Miguel Antonio Romero, from Las Vegas, whom she married on September 19, 1931. Alicia served two terms as secretary of state from 1947-1950 and frequently served as acting governor. She served under Gov. Thomas Mabry, while the late U.S. Sen. Joseph Montoya served as lieutenant governor. The past Democratic chairman of San Miguel County, she was on the executive committee of Secretary of State Association and served as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State. She was secretary and treasurer of the San Antonio, NM, Oil Company from 1948 to 1952 and was secretary-treasurer of MAR Oil and Gas Company, which she helped her husband establish. She was a certified grapho-analyst and a member of the International Society of Grapho-Analysts. She was appointed to the Board of Tuberculosis Hospitals of New Mexico. She served on many commissions, boards and clubs during her dynamic career. These included the Santa Fe Women's Club, where she served as president during one term, and La Society Folklorica de Santa Fe, founded by Cleofas Jaramillo during the mid-1930's. In 1959, Alicia served as president of La Sociedad. Never lacking in spirit and energy, Alicia started painting while she was teaching a class in handwriting identification in the University of New Mexico's Division of Continuing Education. She enrolled in art class and took off from there. Alicia has painted hundreds of floral arrangements, landscapes, buildings and animals. Her paintings have been featured at several banks and other exhibitions in connection with other artists. After about 20 years of painting, she continued to be highly prolific and painted at every chance available to her. She is survived by her four children; Felipe Benigno Romero, Gloria Yoland Romero de Gurries, Miguel Antonio, Jr., and Leon Alban Romero; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous other relatives and friends. Visitation will begin on Thursday, December 30, at 5:00 p.m. at Berardinelli Family Funeral Chapel where a Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 31, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis Cathedral. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Las Vegas, NM. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa, Santa Fe, 984-8600. www.berardinelli-mortuary.com.
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