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VELASCO -- Callie Louise Maass Velasco went to be with the Lord on March 23, 2004. She was born March 12, 1923 in Newell, South Dakota. Callie is survived by her husband of 56 years, Rudy Velasco; seven children and eleven grandchildren: Gloria and daughters Melodie and Leah from Albuquerque; Melanie and husband Skip Alexander and children Emily, Callie and Ian of Redwing, MN; Jim and wife Katherine and son Daniel of Boulder, CO; Diane and husband Mark Harty and daughter Julia of Albuquerque; John and wife Barbara and children Sean and wife Autumn, Jessie and Sarah of Rio Rancho; Lisa and husband Bill Spurgeon and son Robert of Los Alamos; and Robert Velasco also of Los Alamos. Our beloved wife and mother passed serenely surrounded by her loving husband and children. She was preceded in death by her infant son William, her mother and father Jessie and Louis Maass and her siblings Doris Smeenk, Dean and Ruth. Callie worked hard on the home farm but found time to pursue her passion with horses - becoming an expert barrel racer, but her desire for further education led her to leave home for the University of Colorado. There she earned a degree in chemistry before being hired by the Los Alamos Laboratories in 1946 as a spectroscopic analyst. She met her future husband there and together they enjoyed horseback riding, camping, fishing, skiing, gathering with their friends and raising their children. Callie worked tirelessly for the Catholic Church for many years as a member of the Altar and Rosary Society, Christian Concern Committee, and other committees. As an involved parent, she served as president of the PTA for Mesa Elementary School, manager for Lassie League teams, and leader for many Scout Troops. She also volunteered with the March of Dimes, the Blood Bank, and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Callie enjoyed her pursuits of painting, sewing, quilting, jewelry-making, gardening and writing. Several years ago Callie put to prose an account of her extraordinary childhood on the plains in a book "Dakota Child." Having her family together was one of her true joys. She and her husband remained active community members in Los Alamos until their retirement to Albuquerque in the fall of 2001. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 26, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. with a rosary being recited at 7:00 p.m. at French Mortuary - Westside Chapel. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 27, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 3700 Canyon Rd. in Los Alamos with Father John Carney, celebrant. A private interment at Guaje Pines Cemetery and a reception in the parish hall will follow the ceremony. Pallbearers will be Jim Velasco, John Velasco, Robert Velasco, Skip Alexander, Mark Harty and William Spurgeon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 5800 Lomas NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, Attn: Lorraine West. French Mortuary 9300 Golf Course Rd. NW (3 Blocks North of Paseo del Norte) (505) 897-0300
        Published on: Thu March 25, 2004