( The Pagosa Springs Sun October 1924) William H. Galbreath . John H. Galbreath was called to Del Norte Saturday on account of the death of his brother, William H. Galbreath who passed away at his home in that city after a long and lingering illness from paralysis. He had been an invalid for several years and suffered a sever and final stroke the preceding Thursday. Funeral services were held at the M. E. Church at Del Norte Tuesday, and followed by interment at the Monte Vista cemetery, where the Elks had charge. John returned home Wednesday. Deceased was about fifty years of age and formerly resided in Durango and Pagosa Springs before taking up his residence at Del Norte several years ago. While here he held a position with the Pagosa Lumber Co. and resided at South Pagosa. In addition to his devoted wife, he is survived by two sons, Lytle and Jack of Del Norte, and four daughters, Edna, Velma, Alice and Lucille. The three first named are married and reside on the Pacific coast, Velma being the wife of Sam B. Dutton and residing at Long Beach, Calif., while Lucille lives at home. Other survivors are his parents Mr. and Mrs. O. S. Galbreath Sr. of Tacoma, Wash., two married sisters, and four brothers, O. S. Jr. of Del Norte, Chas. of Denver, Andrew of California and John of Pagosa Springs. Frank McQ. Hartman a lifelong friend of the family, has the following to say; "The editor of the Empire has known Will Galbreath since he was a child, and will cherish memory of him as one of the grandest souls the world ever had. He looked straight at the world, understood it, and wanted to be understood. In his plain good fellowship he was an exception among men. Any who had his friendship rested the fullest confidence in him. He wanted only to get along well and to see his fellows do as well."

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun May 11, 1934) Henry Gordon , and 101, one of the best and favorable known characters in the entire San Juan Basin during the past 47 years, died suddenly but quietly Sunday morning at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Buck O'Neal in Pagosa Springs about ten o'clock Sunday morning, May 6th, during the temporary absence from his home by the O'Neal's. There was nothing to indicate that he was unusually ill, but he quietly stepped out of the back door of the O'Neal home, sat down on the porch, and apparently silently joined his maker. When found shortly after and upon summoning the O'Neal's and County Coroner L. C. Jackish, it was determined that an inquest was unnecessary, death having resulted from what is commonly known as hardening of the arteries. Funeral services were held at Hilltop cemetery Tuesday afternoon, and were well attended by old time friends of this venerable San Juan Basin resident and pioneer. In addition to his closest Pagosa Friends, there were present Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Irwin and daughter Lucille of the Pinkerton Ranger Station, north of Durango. The following splendid eulogy of Mr. Gordon was delivered at his brave by Mr. Chas. A. Day of Pagosa Springs and the deceased was silently laid to rest in the O'Neal plot; "Henry Gordon was born 12 miles northwest of St. Louis Missouri on October 30, 1832, and was therefore about 101 years and six months old at the time of his death in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, on Sunday May 6th 1934. When a boy still in his teens his first employment away from home was as a hand in building the grade for the first railroad to be built from St. Louis west to or toward Kansas City. Before he reached his majority he sought and secured employment in the Indian Nation or Indian Territory, as Oklahoma was then known, but after residing there a couple of years he returned to his home in Missouri for a short time. Then, for the second time, he left Missouri to make his home in the Territory or Nation, and later drifted into central Texas, where as a cowboy he became associated with the elder Keith's and the elder O'Neal's, grandparents of our fellow citizen, Buck O'Neal. He remained in Texas until about 73 or 74 when he moved with them, John and Jim O'Neal to Cimarron, New Mexico and in 1877 moved with them to the San Juan Basin, locating at Animas City, a short distance above Durango, and where the latter city was dreamed of. Later he made his home with the O'Neal's on the Pine River, at or near the town of Bayfield, and about 1886 came with John O'Neal, father of Buck, for whom O'Neal park is named, to Archuleta County and located the ranch in the park that he owned at the time of his death, owning it for a period of about 48 years. He made his home with Buck, the last remaining member of the O'Neal family. When we pause to consider the remarkable period in American History the lifetime of Henry Gordon, we are lost in contemplation, for when he was born the United States as a government was less than 60 years old and the soil on which he first saw the light of day had been less than 30 years before in territory owned by France. He saw the tribal laws of the Indian give way to the written laws of the white man. He saw Texas but a few years after she had won her independence from Mexico and become the great Lone Star state of a great brotherhood of states. He saw the wandering herds of buffalo moving from north to south and from south to north, and saw the trails that they made worn deeper by the seeming endless streams of Texas longhorns being driven to the Dakota's and other northlands, and finally saw these trails blotted out forever to be covered with fields of waving grain. He is being laid to rest today in territory that at the time of his birth was owned by Spain. Truly a wonderful span of life! Th have known Henry Gordon in his lifetime was an experience in itself, an experience for those who know what it was to look upon the great West when it was new and to share with others the rare companionship of men, who, like my friend lying here, followed the course of empire to the last frontier and have finally fallen asleep amidst the scenes and among the people he and they loved so well. We who knew Henry Gordon perhaps better than a majority of his acquaintances, have yet to learn or even hear of him doing another wrong. He and the creed that honest men lives with he leave a heritage to you and the greater than any heritage left by one whose riches were counted by other standards of weight or ___ for Henry Gordon held no man to be an enemy, He was honest, straight forward, brave and generous __ of nature, and we could all ____.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun August 24, 1934) Orville Sumner Galbreath, Jr. , born at Nashville, Tennessee, February 13, 1873, died near Granger Siding Aug. Colorado, until the fall of 1898 when 20, 1934. His parents are Elizabeth Jackson and Orville S. Galbreath. Mr. Galbreath came to the state of Colorado in 1882, residing at Durango Colorado until the fall of 1898 when he came to the San Luis Valley. He has resided here since except for a period of ten years during which time he was engaged in the lumber industries in Archuleta County. He returned to the Valley in 1920 in the capacity of manager of the Galbreath interests and has since resided at Del Norte and South Fork. He was a master Mason in good standing until the time of his death. He is survived by his parents, his wife, a daughter, Jane Pickens and two grandchildren; three brothers, Andrew J., Charles A., John H., and two sisters, Maud Wendt and Bessie Lee. He has been preceded in death by one brother, William H. Galbreath.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun May 22, 1942> Orville Sumner Galbreath, Sr. John Galbreath received a delayed message Sunday telling of the death of his father, O. S. Galbreath, Sr., and a former San Juan Basin Pioneer, Tacoma, Wash., on Saturday May 16. The deceased was born near Nashville, Tenn., on December, 22, 1846 and was 95 years old at the time of death. He practiced law continually for 74 years. Funeral services conducted by the Masonic lodge were held Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 o'clock in Tacoma. and the body was placed in a mausoleum at that place. The deceased was married to Betty Jackson, of Nashville, and was admitted to the bar on June 4, 1868 after receiving his education at Cumberland University. He was the oldest living member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the time he died. To the above union seven children were born, two of whom, William H. and Orville Jr., both long residents of Archuleta county, are deceases. The surviving children are A. J. Galbreath of San Francisco, Calif., Chas. A. Galbreath of Denver, Bessie Lee and Maude Wendt, both of Tacoma Washington and John H. Galbreath, of Pagosa Springs. There are eighteen grand children and nineteen great grandchildren. The wife passed away in 1936. The deceased moved to Durango from Tennessee in 1881 where he resided until 1912. He then removed to Tacoma, Wash., to become associated with Oswald P. Link, the Mayor of Tacoma, in partnership in the practice of law. While practicing law in Durango, the deceases was County Judge of La Plate County, serving at least one term in that office, and was for many years both city Attorney of Durango and County Attorney of La Plata County. He was a profound believer in the Christian Faith, and a life long member of the Methodist Church. Also being one of the oldest members of the Masonic fraternity in point of years of membership,. The earthly life of 95 years is given to few, but O. S. Galbreath took advantage of the privilege to serve his fellow man to the best of his talents and the world is better for his having lived.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun March 17, 1977) Juan Lino Gomez, Sr. , 82 who was a lifelong resident of Lumberton and was well known in the Pagosa Springs area, a retired cattleman, sheepman, and rancher passed away at St. Vincent's Hospital in Santa Fe, February 21 1977 after a two week illness, He was the son of the late Jose Eugenio Gomez and the Late Ruben Garcia Gomez and was born in Dulce on January 31 1895. a descendant of the Gomez family that homesteaded the Dulce area in 1877 before the Jicarilla Apache reservation was formed. Mr. Gomez was a nephew of the late Felix Garcia a candidate for governor for the state of New Mexico in 1920. He was also the son-in-law of the late Francisco N. Rafelita Lopez of Los Ojos. He was a 1914 graduate of the old St. Michael's College in Santa Fe. Most of his adult life he was a very active member of the Democratic party and very active in political matters in Rio Arriba county. He devoted all of his life in the vast enterprise as a cattleman, sheepman, and rancher in Norther New Mexico and Southern Colorado and worked at it until his retirement a few years back. Surviving him are his wife Elena L. Gomez of the home in Lumberton, three sons; Lino Gomez jr. and wife Adela of Edith, Gene Gomez and wife Lupita of Lumberton, and Frank Gomez and wife Cora of Dulce, three daughters; Isabella and husband Everett Eaton of Daly City, California; Dolores and husband Salamon Luna of Tierra Amarilla, and Theresa and husband Glenn Godwin of Walnut Creek, California; another daughter, the late Helen Romero preceded him in death on September 8th of last year. He is also survived by a son-in-law Damian Romero of Los Ojos, two sisters: Mrs Francisquita G. Cordova and husband Mariano and Mrs. Ruby G. Archuleta of Pagosa Springs, a brother Mr. Jesse E. Gomez of Dulce, sisters in law; Mrs. Cristobal Gomez Sr. of Aztec, Mrs J. Felix Gomez of Pagosa Junction. Mrs. Palcido Quintana of Chama, and Mrs. Bill Atenciof of San Pedro, California, thirty one grandchildren, five great grandchildren, several nephews, nieces, and many other relatives. Rosary was recited at Block Salazar Mortuary Chapel in Espanola at 7:30 p.m. the 22nd of February. Remains were taken to the St. Francis Church in Lumberton where Rosary was recited at 7:30p.m. the 23rd of February, Funeral Services were scheduled for 11:30 Thursday morning from the St. Francis church in Lumberton with Reverend Mgr. Leo Gomez officiating and Reverend Father Donnan celebrating the liturgy of Christian Burial. Interment followed in the Gomez Cemetery in Dulce, Serving as pallbearers was; J. C. Gomez Jr., Jose Abeyta, Amos Padilla, Joe Cordova, Frank Quintana, Manuel Gomez, Alfonso Archuleta and Joe Laboto.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun November 4, 1976) J. Feliz Gomez , a leading resident of Archuleta County died in his home at Pagosa Junction on October 30th from an apparent heart attack. Mr. Gomez was born in Dulce, New Mexico on May 13, 1892, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jose Eugenio Gomez, pioneers who arrived in the area 100 years ago. After his graduation in 1912 from St. Michael's High School in Santa Fe, Mr. Gomez came to Pagosa Junction to manage a general mercantile family business which eventually became his and remained in continuous operation until 1971. In addition to his involvement in the general merchandize business, J. Felix was a longtime rancher specializing in range sheep. He sold his stock herd in 1966 and since has lived in semiretirement in Pagosa Junction with his wife Ophelia. He retained substantial rangeland holdings in Archuleta County and Rio Arriba County New Mexico. Felix Gomez was an active leader and participant in numerous community and county civic and political activities. As a one-time school board official, member of the Selective Service Board, Postmaster, candidate for Colorado House of Representatives and County Democratic Party Representative, he leave a legacy of active citizenry. He is listed in the Historical encyclopedia of Colorado. When Felix first arrifved, Pagosa Junction was a thriving lumber, ranching and railroad community. In the intervening years, Pagosa Junction, like many similar communities throughout the country, ceased to exist as a town and became a virtual ghost town. Mr. Gomez remained behind involved with his businesses. Since his retirement, Mr. Gomez has devoted his energies toward preserving the original store which holds many of the quaint collections, antiques and artifacts from the peak Pagosa Junction days. The old store has attracted considerable regional attention in recent years and has been featured in numerous publications including the Sunday Empire magazine. it also focused much attention on Mr. and Mrs. Gomez who continued a life reminiscent of years gone by. Beside Aphelia, his wife since 1923, Mr. Gomez is survived by three daughters and one son; Ophilia Downey from Albuquerque, Maria Abeyta residing in Westminister, California; Liliosa Padilla from Aztec, New Mexico and Colonel Jose Felix Gomez, now serving in the Republic of Panama with the U. S. Air Force. Other survivors include two brothers; J. Lino Gomez from Lumberton, New Mexico and J. Eugention Gomez from Dulce and two sisters, Francesquita Cordova and Ruby Archuleta, both long time Pagosa Springs residents. Also surviving are fifteen grand children. Mr. Gomez was intered in the original Pagosa Junction cemetery Tuesday, November, 2nd following a field mass of the Ressurrection held on the grounds of the San Juan Bautista church overlooking Mr. Gomez' store and home. Approximately 500 relatives friends and neighbors were present to pay their final respects.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun December 15, 1933) John S. Garvin . Another old-time resident of Pagosa Springs and Archuleta county passed away this week, when John Garvin died at his home in this city Tuesday following an extended illness of several months, though his condition had not been considered extremely critical until a few weeks ago when he began to fail rapidly. Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the Methodist church with Rev. S. M. Jarratt, the pastor officiating. Interment followed at Hilltop cemetery. Among the out of town attendants were Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lynch of Chama and Mrs. Granville Duxstad of Durango. The ladies are nieces of the deceased. John S. Garvin was born in Hoptown, Iowa, on January 30, 1864 and passed away in Pagosa Springs on December 12, 1933, at the age of 69 years, 10 months and 12 days. He came to Colorado in 1888 with an older brother, Douglas Garvin, who preceded him in death four years ago. In 1892 hi returned to Iowa to his widowed mother and remained with her until l1901, whe he again became a resident of Archuleta County, which has since been his permanent home. He had been employed in several meat markets of Pagosa Springs and on several ranches in this vicinity during his residence here. He had been a member of the Odd Fellows lodge for twenty five years. On March 28, 1926 in this city he was united in marriage to Mrs. Ora Hallett of Pagosa Springs, who survives him. Besides his wife he leaves to mourn his loss a sister, Mrs George Potter of Pagosa Springs, several nieces and nephews, all of whom were present with the exception of two nieces and one nephew, when he hassed away. Two sisters and three brothers preceded him in death. He was a man of sterling character, and honest in all of his dealings, He measured his friends by the score and his loss in keenly felt by all with whom he came in contact during his long residence in Archuleta County.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun December, 1932) Roy Rex Green . Rox Rex, five months old son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen R. Green, who reside at the Oscar McCoy ranch on Wolf Creek, became desperately ill early Monday morning from convulsions. A physician was called from Pagosa Springs, but the child passed away about 9:30 a.m. Funeral services and burial were held afternoon at the McCoy ranch. interment taking place in the McCoy plot. Rev N. R. Stone of this city officiated and services were attended by several from Pagosa Springs. The child was born at the McCoy ranch on July 4, 1932, and during his brief span of life had endeared himself to all who knew him. To his sorrowing parents and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar McCoy is extended the heartfelt sympathy of the community in the loss of their loved one.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun 1997) Mary Louise Gould . Funeral services for a former resident of Pagosa Springs, Mrs. Mary Louise Gould, 85, were held Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alamosa. Mrs. Gould was born in Abique, N. M., where she spent her childhood. She lived in Pagosa Springs before moving to Alamosa to make her home with a daughter, Mrs. John Mercure. She is survived by five daughers; Mrs. Mercure, Miss Rebecca Gould of Pagosa Springs. Mrs. Mike Joseph of San Luis, Mrs S. D. Anderson of Milwaukee, Wis., and Mrs. George Norris of Compton, Calif. Three sons survive, Ruban Horace of Los Angeles, Wallace of Tesleta, Tex., and Rubin George of San Pedro, Calif.; 16 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. She was a Gold Star mother, having lost a son in the last war.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun October 25, 1940) Mrs. Reuben G. Gomez . Last rites for Mrs. Reuben G. Gomez, a prominent resident of Dulce, N. M. since 1882, were held Monday morning from the Lumberton Catholic Church with interment in Dulce Cemetery, directed by the Hood Mortuary. Mrs. Gomez passed away at her home Saturday Morning at the age of 75 years. She had returned home only the day before from Santa Fe, where she had gone to a specialist for treatment. The Gomez family, who are well known in this county, have extensive holdings in cattle, sheep and ranch land. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. L. M. Archuleta of Lumberton, Mrs Juan J. Abeyeta of Brazos, N.M., Mrs. Marion Cordova of Pagosa Springs, and Miss Clotilde Gomez of Dulce, N.M. and four sons, J. C. Gomez of Governador, N.M., J Felix Gomez of Pagosa Junction, Jose E. Gomez of Dulce, Lino Gomez of Lumberton, N.M., and forty five grandchildren.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun Jan 25, 1962) Louis D. Goodman , local merchat and longtime resident of the community, died suddenly Tuesday after suffering a heart attack. He died enroute to the Del Norte Hospital in an ambulance. Mr. Goodman had been in poor health for the past three or four years and had had one previous heart attack. He had not been to well this winter, but the death came as a shock to all who knew him. Louis D. Goodman was born August 4. 1890 in St. Louis, Missouri. He lived there until he came west. On October 8 1922, he and Miss Hortense Lowenstein were united in marriage in Denver, Colorado and this has been their home since that time. Survivors, in addition to Mrs. Goodman, include one son, Dave Louis, of Pagosa Springs three grandchildren, Louise, Ben and Bob; a niece Margaret Bethel of St. Louis. In addition, there are numerous cousins. Mr. Goodman was very active in community affairs all of the years he operated the Goodman Department Store. He was known throughout the entire San Juan Basin as one of its civic leaders and had always been very active in local civic affairs. He was a member of the Masonic Orders of AF&AM, Consistory and Shrine. He was one of the persons who spearheaded the construction of the local Masonic Hall and was most instrumental in its construction. He was also very helpful in the building of many other buildings by various organizations in the community and was one of the biggest boosters of the local Chamber of commerce. Funeral arrangements are pending at this time, Mr. Goodman's son, Dave, is on an extended trip in Mexico and late Wednesday efforts to contact him had not been successful. As soon as he is contacted the arrangements for the funeral will be completed. Louis Goodman was one of Pagosa Springs' leading businessmen for many years. During that time he befriended many and his acquaintances and friends were numbered by the scores. No community project was ever started that it didn't receive full support from him. Not only will his assistance, his civic responsibility and his leadership be missed, but so will his friendliness. There were no strangers insofar as he was concerned and he always had a good word for everyone. Archuleta County has lost a good citizen.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun June 5, 1959) Anita L. (Luna) Gallegos . Funeral services were held June 2, for Anita L. Gallegos who passed away May 28. The services were conducted from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church at 10 a.m. with interment in Hilltop Cemetery. Father Peter Rigo officiated and Lynch Mortuary was in charge of arrangemetnts. Anita L. Luna was born October 26, 1889 at Los Lunas, N.M. and was united in marriage to Alberto Gallegos in 1926 at Duran, N.M. She had been making her home in Nucla the past three years with her daughter Mrs. Louise Salazar. Prior to that time she had made her home in Pagosa Springs for 27 years. She is survived by one sister, Modesta Lopez, 85, or Roswell, N.M.; a son, Tony A. Gallegos, of Pagosa Springs and a daughter, Mrs. Louise Salazar of Nucla, Color. There are also Grand children and other relatives who survive. Mrs. Galllegos died following a lengthy illness. She was a member of the Catholic Church.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun December 1923) Mrs. Eutimia Garcia , wife of Flavio Garcia of Trujillo, died suddenly Sunday morning at her home of kidney trouble. Though she had been in ill health for the past year, hre death was unexpected at this time. She was born in Alamosa in 1892 and had attained the age of thirty one years. Deceased is survived by her husband and two daughters aged 10 and 8 years. Funeral services were held at the Trujillo church Monday, interment following at the Trujillo cemetery.

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( The Pagosa Springs Sun July 24, 1936) Flizabeth A. Galbreath , a mother of Chas. A. Galbreath of South Fork and Atty. John H. Galbreath of Pagosa Springs and wife of O. W. Galbreath, pioneer lawyer of Durango, died in Tacoma Washington at 7:30 a.m. July 10th of complications following a recent attack of Pneumonia. Mrs. Galbreath was a sister of Mrs. Joe Prewit and. S. G. Wall, both of Durango, and besides the two sons above mentioned, was the mother of O. S. Galbreath Jr., W. H. Galbreath, both former citizens of Archuleta county, who preceded her in death, and leaves one other son A. J. Galbreath of San Francisco, California and two daughters, Mrs. Bessie G. Lee and Mrs Fred Wendt of Tacoma Washington, besides seventeen grand childrena and eleven great grandchildren surviving her. Interment took place in Tacoma.

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