Cecilia Kotara Pounds

Cecilia Kotara Pounds (known to some as "CeCe" and known to others as "G'ma") passed away at home on July 23, 2022, with her daughters and Goddaughter by her side. Cecilia loved her family; she will be deeply missed.

Cecilia was born to Sam and Irene Kotara in Groom, Texas, on December 14, 1935, and was the second of six children. She went to a one-room elementary school in Lark, Texas, was a Groom High School Tiger, and got a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Texas and a Masters of Education from Texas Tech. She loved education and became a Special Education teacher in 1966.

She married Minor Pounds in 1955 and had four daughters: Sheryl Pounds, Shelly (Pounds) Ball, Sheila Pounds, and Sherron (Pounds) McGowan. She divorced in 1966, moved to Albuquerque in 1969, taught school, oversaw the farming of her farmland in Texas, and raised her daughters. She loved many things, including visiting family, playing bridge, square dancing, going to Lobo basketball games, taking hikes, attending church, participating in Optimist club activities, working with Identity Theft Resolutions, and traveling abroad. She wrote a short storybook about growing up on a farm, and she made each of her grandchildren a quilt that is uniquely theirs. She recently built a home in the North Valley to spend her final years near family.

She is survived by her daughters Sheryl Pounds; Shelly Ball, married to Kevin Ball; Sheila Pounds; and Sherron McGowan, married to James (Jay) McGowan. She has 7 grandchildren: Roger Kent (RK) Castillo, Jr, married to Kelike Castillo; Nicole (Castillo) Garcia, married to Andrew Garcia; Sarah Ball; Ryan Ball; Hannah McGowan (soon to marry Josh Brem); Hayley McGowan; and Elle (McGowan) Pike, married to Wesley Pike. She has 6 great-grandchildren: Kalena Castillo, Evangeline Keahi Castillo, Roger (Bubsie) Castillo, Ezra Garcia, Elijah Garcia, Lyla Garcia, and her seventh great-grandchild is on the way.

You will live on forever in our hearts; rest in peace G'ma.

A service will be held on Friday, July 29, 2022, at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church at 9502 4th Street NW (SE corner of 4th and Alameda). A rosary will begin at 8:00 a.m., followed by a eulogy at 8:20 a.m. Catholic Mass will begin at 9:00 a.m. The burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery at 7999 Wyoming Blvd NE (SW corner of Paseo del Norte and Wyoming), and a reception will be held after the burial at FRENCH-Wyoming, where memories can be shared as we celebrate Cecilia's life.

In lieu of flowers please mail a donation to Identity Theft Resolutions at PO Box 10243, Albuquerque, NM 87184.