This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/odZ.2ACIB/465 Message Board Post: Albuquerque Journal - May 15, 2003 FLORENTINO 'FLO' R. GONZALES , 88, died Tuesday at La Vida Hermosa in Santa Fe. He was born on the family ranch in El Macho, in the upper Pecos river canyon in San Miguel County to Pablita Rivera and Geronimo Gonzales. Growing up on the family ranch, he helped his parents raising livestock and building a solid ranch life. He attended the Pecos school system, leaving the family ranch to live with relatives in Pecos, and eventually graduating first in his class. He witnessed the boom and bust of the Terrero mine, and participated in the civic life of his adopted city, Santa Fe. He was a self-educated man with a passion for reading, politics and ranching. Upon arriving in Santa Fe in the midst of the Great Depression, he convinced a reluctant employer to hire him at no salary for one week as a test of his abilities. During his career he was employed as an accountant and manager for Bryne Petroleum Co., United Van Lines, Chama Valley Bus Line, The Española Telephone Co. and! the Los Alamos Building and Loan in Española. He was also a devoted member of St. Francis Cathedral parish, a life member of The Knights of Columbus and a lector at daily Mass for many years. He purchased a ranch in the upper Pecos on Grass Mountain and with his father and brothers built a thriving cattle and horse business, and rode the trails of the nearby Pecos Wilderness. He was a Rotarian, a founding member of the San Miguel Sheriff's Posse/Pecos Branch, and a life-long Republican. He married Eufemia Vigil of Pecos in 1940. She preceded him in death in 1993. Also preceding him in death were his parents; his sisters, Dolores Gonzales and Melinda Gonzales Gallegos; brothers-in-law, Lorenzo Vigil, Trinidad Gallegos, Desiderio Vigil and Joe Azua. He is survived by his children, Joseph and wife Bernadette Bransford Gonzales, Elizabeth Chapman and husband Patrick, Theresa Connaughton and husband Martin; and Florentino, Jr. and wife Kas L. of Phoenix, Ariz.; brothers, Si! lviano Gonzales and wife Velta of Broomfield, Colo., Geronimo (Jerry) Gonzales and wife Stella Tapia of Santa Fe, and Ricardo Gonzales of Grass Mountain; sister, Polly Gonzales Kennedy and husband Jim of Los Alamos; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many other relatives. Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. today where a rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. at Berardinelli Family Chapel. A second visitation will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. at Berardinelli Family Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Cathedral. Interment will follow at Rosario Crypt. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service.