Lloyd Gonzales

Posted

(Nov. 5, 2008)

Lloyd Gonzales, 85, died peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 5 at the Powell Valley Hospital following a stroke.

Lloyd was born in Cimarron, N.M., on Feb. 14, 1923, the third child of seven children born to Benito Gonzales and Carolina Bustamante. He left home at age 12 to begin his life as a ranch hand. During his career, he worked on ranches throughout the West, from Texas to Montana. He spent most of his life working on ranches in Wyoming, selecting the Big Horn Basin as his favorite place to work. He especially enjoyed his time spent on ranches in the Sunlight Basin area and the South Fork of the Shoshone.

He was an outdoorsman. He was an excellent fisherman, a crack shot, a skilled irrigator and a good hand around livestock. His favorite boss, among many fine people he worked for over the years, was Wayne Hodson. Hodson was foreman of the TE Ranch when Lloyd worked there as a night-calver, irrigator and ranch hand.

Lloyd was a humble man. His credo was to be self-reliant, to trust God, to be true to his family, friends, fellow workers and employers, to always pay his debts and to always give thanks for kindnesses rendered to him. He will be remembered for the numerous flowers and sweets that he gave to acquaintances as tokens of his esteem.

He never married, but his family and friends were among his most cherished blessings in life.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his older sisters, Nestora and Georgia; and his younger brothers, Lorense, Leo, Napolean and Nickie.

He is survived by his half-brother, Ben Martinez; numerous nieces and nephews, many grand nieces and nephews and some great-grand nieces and nephews. His nieces, Rosie Montoya of Louisville, Colo., and Sophie Padilla of Centennial, Colo., came to visit him prior to his death.

Per his wishes, cremation has taken place and a private service will be scheduled at a later date. Thompson Funeral Home in Powell is in charge of the arrangements.

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