Patricia “Patty” S. Tellez, of Clifton, peacefully passed into God’s embrace April 8, 2019. Patricia was born in Morenci, to Pedro B. and Longina Franco Sanchez, with siblings Lucia, Magdalena, Pete, Frank,
Patty graduated from Clifton High School in 1949 and during her high school years she was crowned as the first queen of the La Fiesta de Los Mineros, “Queen Patty” in 1948. On June 29, 1957, she married Raul R. Tellez and they welcomed three children; Sandra, Cheryl, and Larry into the family.
She was a member of the Clifton School Board and was very involved in her community. She loved to sing and dance and was friends with everyone. She also loved to help others and was always helping anyone she could. She also loved sports, especially the NFL, including her favorite Arizona Cardinals with Larry Fitzgerald and Joe Montana from the San Francisco 49ers. Some of her favorite quotes were, “Remember Pearl Harbor” and “Remember the Alamo”. Her favorite pets were Spottie and Yellow. She also enjoyed renaming people’s pets, Ezra and Clorinda were just a few.
Luckily, Patty was a very strong and brave person. At the age of 41, her beloved husband, Raul, passed away, leaving her to bring up three children on her own, so she began doing clerical work as a secretary for the mine.
Patty is survived by her loving children; Sandy (Manny) Aguilar, Cheryl (Alex) Montoya, and Larry (Dina) Tellez; and her siblings, Lucia Diaz, Frank F. Sanchez, and Nancy Tellez. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Raul “Peewee” Tellez; her grandson, Steven Montoya, and her brother, Pete Sanchez, and sister, Magdalena Sanchez.
A visitation will be held Tuesday, April 16, at 9 a.m., with the Mass of Christian Burial starting at 10 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church in Clifton. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery following services.
Arrangements are under the direction of McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel & Gila Valley Crematory. Online condolences may be extended at www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com.
