Mary Louise Cabral
June 14, 1930 - November 9, 2023
Mary Louise Valdez passed away on November 9, 2023, at Prairie Senior Living Center in Colby, Kansas. She was born in the village of Roy, New Mexico on June 14, 1930, to Dolores (Lola) and Rogerio Valdez. She was the eldest of five children: Edward (Pepper), Martha, John and Taylor Jr.
Mary graduated from Roy High School in 1948 and then married Jose (Joe) Ornelas from the neighboring community of Mills. They moved to Colorado while Joe was still in Korea in the U.S. Army and made a life there with their four children, Evangeline, James, Kathleen and Yvonne.
Mary worked many jobs including Goodwill, Beth Israel hospital and Denver General doing housekeeping. After she and Joe divorced, she continued cleaning houses and later went to work cleaning the 18th floor of the United Bank Center when it was first built. From that job, she made many friends and work connections and would clean houses during the day and go to her job at the United Bank Center at night.
Mary had a wonderful sense of humor, quick wit, loved to laugh and make others laugh as well. One of her favorite things to do was to visit friends and have long visits over coffee. She also loved reading Danielle Steele novels, jigsaw puzzles, thrift stores, yard selling, and she loved to dance.
When she could, she would go to the Aeroplane Club in Denver and go dancing. That is where she met her second husband, Arthur Cabral in 1984 and they would go dancing as often as they could. They got married in Raton, NM and bought a house back in Denver. Mary went to work for Atlas Metal and Iron as the resident housekeeper and Art worked as a welder. Again, she made many friends with the owners, their families and co-workers.
Everyone loved Mary as her personality radiated friendliness and good nature. Mary also had a soft and generous heart. If she saw a need and she had the means, she would fill it without hesitation.
In 2004, Mary and Art decided to retire for good and moved to Goodland, Kansas where they traveled in their RV to various places to camp, fish and visit far away family. In 2008, Art passed away and Mary spent her time reading, watching Andy Griffith re-runs and visiting with new friends over coffee and with old friends on the phone for hours.
In 2013, Mary was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The disease progressed to a point where she couldn’t be at home anymore and was moved into a nursing home, a year after the sudden death of her son, James in 2016.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her first husband, Joe; brothers Taylor (Junior), Johnny and Edward (Pepper); sister Martha; her second husband, Arthur; her son, James; and grandson, Anthony.
She leaves behind three daughters, 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and a legacy of love, laughter and a giving heart.
A Celebration of Life, followed by inurnment, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2, 2023, at Crown Hill Mortuary and Cemetery, Wheatridge, CO.
For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com.