Obituary of C de Baca Marie

Marie C. C de Baca was born February 11,1928 in Las Vegas, New Mexico to Arsenio Vicente C de Baca and Lucy Guerin. On December 27, 2009, in the soft stillness of a Pacific NW night, Marie gracefully took the hand of her LORD,with her daughter, Pamela, by her side.A true New Mexican,Marie’s genealogy dates back to the Onate Spanish re-settlement, the Mexican Period and the U.S. Territorial Period continuing through Statehood. Marie was honored to have strong family roots in NM. Marie felt blessed to share her history with all who would listen. It was not unusual for Marie to sing "Oh Fair New Mexico" to her family members. Marie attended Catholic School in Las Vegas,NM. She was awarded a special scholarship to Loretto Heights Catholic College in Denver, Co. Deciding to pursue a career in education, Marie chose to earn a teaching degree from Highlands University. Marie was a student teacher at the Head Start Program in West Las Vegas. She taught for the Bernalillo Public School System, where she eventually retired. Marie was a reading specialist at the Santo Domingo School and later an elementary education teacher at Carroll Elementary, with specialized training in bilingual education. Marie lived in Bernalillo until about 2005 and was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. Marie is survived by her two daughters, Cecilia Frances Farris and Pamela Marie Valverde-Smith (Todd); her grandchildren Roberta Guzman (Orlando), Celeste Miller, Yvette Vargas (Donald), Nicole Smith, Daniel Smith, Jacob Smith, Mikaela Smith; her great-grandchildren Jackie Guzman, Ashley Guzman, and Lupe Espinosa; and her "always baby brother" Leroy C de Baca and his good wife Anne; three nieces Leanne Weaver (Jeff), Dianne Yoss. She was preceded in death by Fabian Espinosa. You may leave online memories and condolences by clicking on "View Guestbook" below.