Victoria Bauer

Victoria Bauer, known for her lively spirit and love of life, passed away from natural causes on December 16, 2021, at the age of 98. Born in Vallecitos, New Mexico in 1923, Victoria was raised by her beloved grandmother, Juana Maria De Herrera Chavez, and grandfather, Manuel Ysae Chavez, owner of a general store. Her grandmother died in 1936, and Victoria returned to her family home at Rancho de los Trujillos along the east bank of the Rio Vallecitos. There, she helped with the family flour mill.

As a teenager, she helped make and deliver all the adobes used to build a protestant church in Vallecitos. She graduated from McCurdy Boarding School in 1942 and Santa Fe Secretarial School in 1943. Victoria’s ancestry was deeply rooted in New Mexican history. She descended from 16 of the first colonists of the 1598 Onate Expedition, 15 founding settlers of the 1693 De Vargas resettlement, and countless Native American women, some of whom were from Zuni and Taos Pueblos, as well as Genizaros of Abiquiu.

Victoria was preceded in death by her father, Jose Celestino Martinez, and her mother, Maria Lucia Martinez Chavez; her husband, Herman Bauer; brothers Alberto Martinez and Rudolfo Martinez; sisters Juanita Martinez, Anna Ruth Sanchez, and Esther Gurule; and a previous husband, Thomas DeLeon. She is survived by her sister, Lucy Mae Romero; sons Larry DeLeon, Carl Bauer, and Warren Bauer; daughter Laura Bauer Hiserote; granddaughters Kerri DeLeon, Violet Watson, Karoleana Gay, and Gracie Bauer; grandsons Brian Desinger, Jerrad Roberts, and Trevor Bauer; and 9 great-grandchildren.

Victoria and Herman raised their family in Santa Fe, where she was a member of the First Christian Church for 55 years. She was a Meals on Wheels volunteer and was active with Widowed Persons Services of Santa Fe. Victoria was also a member of the Senior Program, regularly attended Tai Chi and aerobics classes, and for many years, competed in the Senior Olympics, winning a local, first-place ribbon in 1991. In 1987, she entered the competitive Santa Fe cookie market, starting Vickie’s Cookies. At first, she baked in her home kitchen and sold to friends. Word spread, and soon her daily customers included shops and galleries. Wishing to further her business, she enrolled in night classes at Santa Fe Community College, studying small business administration. Victoria will be remembered and admired for her strong will and determination.

Her viewing will be January 21st from 8:30 A.M. at Rivera Kiva Chapel of Light loctaed at 417 Rodeo Road in Santa Fe. Interment will be held at 10:30 a.m. family and friends will follow her transport to the Santa Fe National Cemetery, where she will be buried with her husband, Herman.