Valois John Espinoza

VALOIS JOHN ESPINOZA Funeral services for Cortez resident, Valois John Espinoza will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 8 at the St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Father Derrek D. Scott will be officiating. Interment will follow at the Cortez Cemetery with military services being conducted by the Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75. A prayer vigil has been scheduled for Wednesday evening at the Catholic Church at 7 p.m. Valois was born on December 31, 1946 at Pinones, Colo., the son of Joe Felipe and Feloniz Maria (Lucero) Espinoza. He passed away on Friday, July 2, 2004 at the Veteran's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. Valois was 57 years old. Valois served his country in the U.S. Army. After his discharge he became a member of the Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75. He loved to play Santa Claus for the Legion. He enjoyed the outdoors especially spending time camping, hunting and fishing. Valois liked listening to music, but most important to him was his grandchildren and the time spent with them. Surviving Valois are Margaret Espinoza, mother of his children, of Cortez; his children, Anthony Espinoza, Valerie Espinoza and Joseph Espinoza all of Cortez; and his five grandchildren, Robert and Anthony John Espinoza of Las Vegas, Nev., Virgil (Santiago) Espinoza of Cortez, Savannah Lopez of Cortez, and Cordey Lopez also of Cortez. Also surviving Valois are his sisters, Emily Gallegos and husband, Don of Lewis, Colo., Maxine Switzer and husband, Ed of Cortez, Joe Ann Mattson and husband, Mark of Summit Ridge (Pinones), Colo., and Kathleen Espinoza of Pinones, Colo.; a brother, Don Espinoza of Ft. Lupton, Colo.; and a sister-in-law, Grace Espinoza of Pinones, Colo. His parents and one brother, Virgil Espinoza, preceded him in death. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Valois J. Espinoza with the Dolores State Bank.