Vivian Lujan

  Vivian P. Lujan, 97, a lifelong resident of Pecos, N.M., passed away peacefully at Scott's House Hospice Care in Santa Fe on Oct. 3, 2024, surrounded by family after a valiant two-year fight with gallbladder cancer.

  Vivian was born on May 3, 1927, to Vivian and Candelaria (Valencia) Lujan in Pecos. He graduated from Pecos High School in 1944. He was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps in July 1945 during World War II and served until his discharge in late-August 1946. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 1948, re-enlisted while in Korea during the Korean War, and served until the end of the war and his discharge in November 1953.

  In 1963, Vivian joined the National Park Service and worked at the Pecos National Monument/Park as a masonry worker and cultural preservation specialist until his retirement in 2000.

  A humble, honest man with an exceptional work ethic, calm demeanor, and a big heart, Vivian shied away from the limelight, but never from hard work or from offering a helping hand to anyone who needed a dollar, groceries, or a load of wood. He built his own house and furniture, adding to his home as his family grew or extra money came in from an assortment of odd jobs prior to his employment with the Park Service.

  Vivian lived a hard life but was never a hard man. His mother died while he was a teen and work took his father away from home. He helped raise his younger siblings and took on many responsibilities at a young age. The hard life left many scars and injuries: he never removed a bullet lodged in his forearm, he lost an eye in a work accident, and a large part of his ear was removed due to cancer. He never complained about a thing and never spoke an ill word about anyone. Instead, this tough man was all about what he loved in life -- his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and baseball.

  A skilled tradesman in a variety of fields, including cabinet making, Vivian would make use of any available material to add to his home. He repaired his old Chevy station wagon with used parts, made his own air compressor from an old refrigerator, and rebuilt chainsaws from the trash heap to bring firewood in his 1957 wagon until he was able to buy a beat-up pickup. His tools and vehicles improved after finding a job with his beloved National Park Service.

  His father and aunt were schoolteachers, and he developed a keen hunger for learning. He read whatever book he could find and solved the Santa Fe newspaper’s NY Times crossword puzzle every day. He thrilled his grandchildren with encyclopedic knowledge of local plants, insects, animals, history and science. It seemed he knew everything about the world around him in Pecos. He was, in the true sense of the word, a modern Northern New Mexico version of a Renaissance man – in a baseball cap. 

  He was preceded in death by his father and mother Vivian and Candelaria; father- and mother-in-law Jose Maria and Carmelita Roybal; brothers Damacio, Santiago (Jim), and Daniel Eduardo; sisters Secundina Aragon (and husband Ben), and Luz Matilde Lujan; brothers-in-law Pat Lucero, Tiburcio Roybal, Clemente Roybal, Robert Valencia, and David Yrene; sisters-in-law Jessie Roybal, Frances Valencia, and Lucy Yrene; nephews Michael Varela, Gilbert Valencia, and Ricky Romero; and nieces Mildred Valencia, Leanne Lopez, and Yolanda Pena. 

  Vivian is survived by his wife, Florinda (Roybal), who stood by his side for 70 years in raising three children, who survive him: sons Gene (Lourdes) and Clarence (Debra), and daughter Yvonne Woods (James); grandchildren Brenda (Randy) Tanuz, Jonathan (Alisha) Lujan, Denise Lujan, Amanda (Josh) Apodaca-Muehlenweg; and Sandra (Jimmy) Schwank; great-grandchildren Aleah, Augustine, and Maria Tanuz, Charlotte Lujan; and Logan and Haley Schwank; sisters  Angie Lucero, and Frances (Mike) Varela; brothers-in-law Julian (Florinda) Roybal,  Joe (Delfinia) Roybal, and James (Hilda) Roybal; sisters-in-law Rachel Lujan, Viola (John) Eubank, Viola (Jesus) Vigil, Marcella Roybal, and Gloria (Horacio) Valencia; and numerous nephews and nieces.

  Rosary will be recited Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 10 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Pecos, followed by Mass of Christian burial. Interment will be Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, 10 a.m. at the Veterans National Cemetery in Santa Fe, with a procession to the cemetery to begin at 9 a.m. at Rivera Family Funeral Home and Cremations, 417 E. Rodeo Road, in Santa Fe.

  Pallbearers are Randy Tanuz, Jonathan Lujan, Josh Apodaca-Muehlenweg, Jimmy Schwank, Chris Valencia (godson), and Errol Valencia. Godson Herman Lujan is the honorary pallbearer. The eulogy will be delivered by nephew Joseph (Leonard) Vigil.

  The family would like to thank the staff of Anvoi Hospice for their kind and expert care, and the staff and volunteers of Scott’s House for the care and kindness extended to our father. The family is especially grateful to Whitney Perez-Wright of Scott’s House, who cared for Vivian as if he were her own father. She was a guardian angel to all of us during this trying time. Thank you also to St. Anthony’s Church, the staff of Rivera Family Funeral Home and Cremations, Richard and Sophie Valencia, and to all the friends and family who provided support to us in so many ways. We are genuinely grateful for your thoughts, prayers and support.

  In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to Scott's House, 287 Rodeo Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87505; or on the Scott's House web site www.scottshouse.org.