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Feliberto Gallegos, 91, died after a short illness on Saturday, March 3, 2007 in Albuquerque. He was born March 10, 1916 the son of Eliseo Manuel and Petria Gonzales Gallegos in Roy, New Mexico. Feliberto went on to live a very fruitful life. From life on the family ranch in De Haven, New Mexico to school in Raton and work at the Highway Department in Springer. He was always up to a challenge to the point of being one of the first from northern New Mexico to obtain his pilots license. When World War II broke out, Feliberto enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to a submarine tender stationed out of New York. He took a brief hiatus from service to marry the love of his life for 62 years, Lucille Ortiz, who joined him in New York. His life from this point on included his honorable discharge from the service and the beginning of business adventures that continued up to and until his death. Feliberto returned to New Mexico after the war and in the 50's, opened a timber mill operation in Taos, NM. The operation expanded to Albuquerque with the opening of O.K. Lumber Inc. later to become ABC Lumber & Hardware and then Paint Pot of NM. Feliberto, along with his wife and business partner, for a short period also owned the Embassy Nightclub in Tijeras Canyon and would bring in acts from Hollywood to perform. The family business changed with the times and from lumber and hardware it also included rental and commercial property acquisitions many of which are still active today. Feliberto returned to work for the State Department of Human Services in the 80's and eventually semi-retired remaining active in the family business. During this time Feliberto and his wife raised four children and made many friends. Theirs was the kind of marriage people aspire to; inseparable best friends who enjoyed each other's company, entirely devoted to each other and their children and grandchildren. Feliberto was also very active in politics, community service and the church. His speaking skills were exceptional and served him well in all of his endeavors. He augmented those skills with a very active participation in Toastmasters of NM. Though health problems plagued him for many of his last years, Feliberto remained a focused and dynamic individual who continued to move forward in spite of the obstacles placed before him. Feliberto was preceded in death by his daughter, Olivia Juarez. He is survived by his loving wife Lucille; daughter, Yolanda Sanchez; sons, Phillip Gallegos, and Anthony Gallegos and wife Barbara; grandchildren, Michael Sanchez, Joshua, David, Ashley and Paige Gallegos, and Justin and Cameron Gallegos. The Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the Chapel of Daniels Family Funeral Services, Sara Rd. at Meadowlark Ln., Rio Rancho. The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Thursday, March 8, 2007 at 11:00 AM at the San Ysidro Catholic Church in Corrales with Fr. James L. Vance as the celebrant. Interment will follow in Vista Verde Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Michael Sanchez, Joshua Gallegos, David Martinez, Gilbert Gallegos, Mike Gonzales, and Bill Bowen. Honorary Pallbearers are Ashley, Paige, Justin and Cameron Gallegos. Arrangements by Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Rd. Rio Rancho, New Mexico 892-9920
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