Dora S. Rangel, 88, of Rocky Ford, CO, passed away Sunday, November 4th, unexpectedly while in the company of family at Pioneer Health Care Center, Rocky Ford, CO.

Dora was born Aurora Marie Suazo in Valdez, CO on April 27, 1930, a daughter of the late Beatrice (Aragon) and Manuel Suazo.

She was the widow of Joe Alvarez Rangel, they were on December 4th, 1960 in Rocky Ford, Colorado. He preceded her in death on August 16, 2001.

She was a member of La Junta Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in La Junta, CO.

Her earliest memories of following her dad around planting seeds by hand as he prepared the earth with a horse drawn plow, where she developed her life long love of horses. As a young girl and then teenager, she remembered standing in the kitchen on a chair making tortillas, and singing on air at the local radio station. Dora was the oldest of thirteen children, so it's no surprise that she could always be found talking on the phone with family.

After getting married to Tommy Baca and making their move to Rocky Ford, they were in a serious train vs. car accident, resulting in the death of Tommy, and leaving her in a coma for over a month.

Throughout her 88 years, her ability to overcome struggle and always seeing the good in people, she was committed to helping others whenever she could. She worked as a cook at Pioneer Hospital for 34 years, and lived in the same home, with the same phone number since 1967.

Her experiences in life lead her to develop a love of all things. Flowers, all creatures, cooking, studying the bible, old western movies, and classic country music to name a few. She always loved dressing her best, so it was only natural to see her in dresses that made her feel good. Just last year she was still traveling all around to places like Oregon and California to soak up as much life as she could. The days leading up to an accident that led her to break her arm, she was still cleaning and cooking and going strong. Shortly after her transfer to the Pioneer Nursing Home in Rocky Ford to recover from her injury, she was happy reconnecting with friends she hadn't seen in a while, listening to music and looking forward to getting her hair and nails done. Dora lived a fulfilling life as a friend, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, and even great-great grandmother.

She is survived by:

Son Jerry Baca, of Rocky Ford, CO;

Son Manuel (Patricia) Baca, of Pueblo, CO;

Daughter Rose (Stephan) Cockrell, of Springfield, OR;

Son Charlie Rangel, of Rocky Ford, CO;

Sister Stella Gauna, of Rocky Ford, CO;

Sister Flora Franco, of Pueblo, CO;

Sister Virginia Lopez, of Alamosa, CO;

Daughter - in - Law: Rose Baca of Amarillo, TX;

She is also survived by 15 grandchildren and numerous great - grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Dora was preceded in death by her parents; husbands: Joe Rangel & Tommy M. Baca; sister: Mabel Mitchell; brother: Richard Suazo; son: Leo A. Baca; brothers-in-law: Gene Mitchell, Albert Gauna, Pete and David Rangel; sister - in - law: Rosalie Russell.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 13th, 2018 at 1:00 PM in the Gobin Building, Rocky Ford. Interment will follow at the Valley View Cemetery, Rocky Ford with Br. Larry Sapp officiating.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ford - Ustick Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.fordustick.com.