Wilfred Leyba

With great sadness and heavy hearts we announce our beloved Wilfred passed away peacefully in Santa Fe, NM on Sunday, May 7, 2023.  Wilfred Leyba, 71, was a resident of Arroyo Seco, NM and formerly of Ojo Sarco, NM.  He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, husband, father, Pampo, and friend who loved his family and friends and he will be greatly missed. Wilfred was the eighth son born in Embudo, NM on October 1, 1951, to Bernabe and Carlota Leyba.  Wilfred met his wife Dianne in 1971 and they were married for 44 years. Wilfred had four daughters: Christine (Joe Rodriguez), Franchesca (Jonathan Romero), Trisha (Joey Gonzales) and Felisha (Cody Martinez).

Wilfred graduated from Penasco High School in 1970. Upon graduation he worked in Colorado, Wyoming, the mines in Grants, New Mexico, and California.  He eventually returned to New Mexico where he began a lifelong career driving trucks starting at Espanola Transit Mix.  He moved his family to Edwards, Colorado in 1980 where he worked for B&B Excavating for many years.  Upon returning to New Mexico in 1988 he returned to Espanola Transit Mix.  A few years later, he began working in Santa Fe at Colony Materials, Western Mobile, LaFarge and Waycor. Wilfred returned to Espanola Transit Mix in 2016 and worked until 2021. Wilfred made many life-long friends in the 51 years of being a truck driver.  Besides his passion for his family, Wilfred took great pride in his cement projects, caring for his trucks and home, his household companions Ginger and Loki and his football games that involved the Denver Broncos or Patrick Mahomes.

He is preceded in death by his parents Carlota and Bernabe Leyba; brothers Herbert, Jimmy, Nick, Luciano, Benito, Ruben, and Harold Leyba; nephews Danny Montano, Joel Leyba, David Leyba, and Mario Martinez.

He is survived by his wife, daughters, son-in-laws, grandchildren Marissa (Matthew Valdez), Alyssa, Adrianna, Larissa and Alexis Rodriguez; Danielle, Stephanie and Natalie Romero; Arianna (Andres Sotelo), Devina and Joshua Gonzales; Penelope and baby Martinez; Great grandchildren Giovanni and Salem Sotelo; God children Louise Caldera, Daniel Tillman, Alyssa Rodriguez, Analeigh Caldera, and Adrian Chavez; Special nieces and nephews Anthony and Esther Griego, Edwin Leyba, Nancy Munoz and Louise Caldera, April and Marie Leyba, Paul and Sandra Leyba, Annie Bernham, Shirley Ortega, Lee Ortega, Rachel Arguello, Merlyne Ortiz, Yvonne Ortega, Wilfred Ortega as well as numerous nieces and nephews; Sister-in-laws Mary Leyba, Nora Leyba, Edwina Martinez, and Berlinda Williams. 

Services will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Chimayo, NM.  Rosary will be at 1:00 pm and funeral mass will begin at 2:00 pm. Pallbearers will be grandson Joshua Gonzales, son-in-laws Joe Rodriguez, Jonathan Romero, Joey Gonzales and Cody Martinez. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Catanach, Larry Pacheco, Larry Medina, Patricio Lopez, Mark Kehler, Martha and Felix Quintana. 

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