Margarete Hester Lopez of Santa Fe passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 10th, 2016. She fought a long and valiant battle against cancer and was surrounded by her loved ones. She will remain in the hearts of her family and friends.
Margarete was born 1939 in Denton, Texas to Willie Fe and Walter “Doc” Hester who moved the family to Clovis, New Mexico. She graduated from Clovis High School with honors in 1956 and was offered academic scholarships to 3 universities and chose ENMU. Margarete moved to Santa Fe in 1963 and soon fell in love with the area. She was an avid collector of southwestern art and antiques but her main passion was playing bridge and was a long time member of the Santa Fe Bridge club where she achieved the status of Bronze Life Master and had many great friends in the club. She also loved to travel and visited several countries in Europe. She worked several years at St. John's College and the State of New Mexico Tax and Revenue Department before eventually retiring from the FAA where she met her husband and love of her life Ray Lopez who were married 1980 in Oklahoma City.
Margarete leaves behind her husband Ray Lopez of Santa Fe, New Mexico and her two sons Kirk Wickard and his wife Ellen of Phoenix, Arizona and Ryan Wickard of Kansas City, Missouri. She is also survived by her sister Dixie Seifert and husband Phil of St. Louis, Missouri. Her brothers Don Hester and his wife Linda of San Carlos, California and Michael Hester and his wife Lori of Ft. Worth, Texas. In addition, she also leaves behind her granddaughter Shuvonne Lucero and her husband Robert of Denver, Colorado, Danielle Burger and her husband David of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and grandson Julian Jaramillo of Denver, Colorado. In addition, she leaves behind great-grandchildren Kaylene, Eziekiel and Maggie Lucero of Denver, Colorado and Emma Sandoval and Jolie Burger of Santa Fe.
The Lopez, Hester and Wickard family wishes to thank the entire staff of UNM Cancer Center and the loving and supportive Doctors, nurses and staff at Christus St. Vincent for the care of Margarete during her struggle with cancer.
A memorial service is planned for 1pm Saturday, December 3rd at the Rivera Family Funeral Home 417 E. Rodeo Rd. Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505.