Cleo Latasa

1938–2021

Cleo Latasa, born on January 11, 1938, passed away on June 22, 2021 at the age of 83. Cleo passed at her home in Magdalena, New Mexico after a battle with Alzheimer’s in recent years.
Despite the pain, Cleo never lacked courage of the fight and came out a hero, staying strong to the end. Cleo was surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

Cleo quit high school to start a family at the age of 17, eventually earning her bachelor’s degree from New Mexico Highlands University. She embarked on a 26 year teaching career that touched and influenced thousands of children and countless teachers and coworkers.

Her laugh was contagious and her smile, though slightly crooked, was always firm.

Cleo is survived by her sisters, Barbara Bowden and MaryAnn Lukesh; brothers, Joe Trujillo, Manuel Trujillo and Tommy Trujillo; sons Steve Tenorio and Mario Latasa; daughters Lucille Candelaria, Lenore Lopez, Becky Harvey and Judith Madrid; 14 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and her many nephews and nieces. All of these she loved and touched deeply.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father Margaret and Manuel Trujillo; her brothers Macario, V.D. and Tony Trujillo; her newborn son John Joseph Tenorio; and her grandsons Jonathan Madrid and Louis Chavez.

Please join us celebrating her life Saturday morning June 26, 2021. Rosary will be at 9:30 a.m. and funeral will immediately follow at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, 204 Elm Street, Magdalena, NM 87825. Face masks will be required per Church regulations.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., (505)864-4448, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com.

El Defensor Chieftain