Grace Lujan Renton passed away peacefully on December 23, 2022, in Auburn, Washington, at the age of 97.
She was born to Candelario Lujan and Estefanita Montoya Lujan in Sabinoso, New Mexico. She grew up on a ranch in eastern San Miguel County. As a young girl, she helped with the chores around this ranch that her parents homesteaded. When she was very young, her father passed away. This brought hardships for the family and times also got rough because of the Great Depression. But along with the ranching and farming work, came some time to visit relatives and socialize. She and her family loved to dance. They would ride on their horses for miles to get to a country dance. She also attended schools in the area and graduated from Solano High School. After high school she worked at Camp Luna in Las Vegas, NM, as an office employee.
When WWII ended, she transferred to Los Alamos, New Mexico. She worked with many people from the Las Vegas area who had gone to work on the Hill for the US Atomic Energy Commission. From Los Alamos she moved to Seattle, Washington. In Seattle she continued her successful career with the federal government. For many years, she was employed by the Forest Service, the Social Security Administration and HUD.
While in Seattle, she married and had a daughter and a son. Later she moved to Bellevue, Washington, where she raised her children. Grace was very devoted to her children. She cherished her children. She was an encouraging mentor to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Grace continued to enjoy dancing and became a dance instructor. She was a great cook and enjoyed entertaining her guests. If she had red or green chile from New Mexico to serve her guests, that truly made it an excellent dinner. Her love of travelling took her to many interesting places; and the place that she loved to travel to the most was Trementina, New Mexico, where she visited her mother, Estefanita Lujan. She treasured her time with her mother. Now she is coming back home to New Mexico to be buried next to her mother. During her last days at the hospital, nurses would say that if love alone could sustain the body, Grace would have lived forever. She was kind to everyone.
She was an active member of the VFW and of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.
Grace is survived by her daughter, Laura Teddy-Skok (Michael Maupin) and son, Steve Renton (Katherine). Her grandchildren are JaymiLenweaver (Eric), Nicholas Skok (Yoshiko), Travis Skok, Kimberly Renton, Krysta Renton, Shelby Renton and great-granddaughters, Sofia and Kiana. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were the joy of her life.
She is survived by her brother, Lawrence Lujan, and his wife, Alice Lujan, from Santa Fe, and by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, good friends, and other relatives.
Grace is preceded in death by her parents, Candelario and Estefanita Lujan; brother, Patricio Lujan and sister-in-law, Mary N. Lujan; sister, Lucy Gallegos; and infant brother, Guillermo Lujan.
She is also preceded in death by her maternal-grandparents, Patricio Montoya and Escolastica Montoya and her paternal-grandparents, Cipriano Lujan and Miquelita Martinez Lujan.
Eulogy will be given by Steve Renton.
The Holy Rosary will be recited at the Immaculate Conception Church on Friday, January 13, 2023, at 7:00 pm.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 9:00 am with Reverend Dennis Garcia as celebrant.
Interment will be held at St. Anthony's Cemetery following the mass with the following serving as pallbearers: Armando Coca, Daniel Gavin, James Gavin, Eric Lenweaver, Eddie Lujan, Patricio C. Lujan, Krysta Renton, and Travis Skok. Honorary pallbearers will be her remaining grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to and under the direction of Roger's Mortuary 600 Reynolds Ave Las Vegas, NM 87701 505-425-3511 or 1-800-479-3511.