Rose Lujan

Rose Marie Lujan, age 95, died Monday, November 11, 2024 at the Brookdale Tramway Facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was born December 16, 1928 in Grenville, a small town in northern New Mexico. She was the 4th child of Tovey and Marie Smith, Lebanese immigrants. She and her siblings, Fauad, Wedad, and Margaret, grew up in the humble living quarters behind the various small stores the folks owned. The Great Depression, Dust Bowl (Black Sunday), and her parents' influence gave her two strong principles: frugality and a strong work ethic. At the age of 4, she told her sister she had just spotted "the cutest boy I ever saw at a picnic and I'm going to marry him." Although shy by nature, her mother put her on stage for community and church events singing the latest Shirley Temple songs which provided dividends later.

At the beginning of her first year of high school, she moved to Des Moines, 18 miles west to help her mother run her brothers' store after they were drafted in WWII. She became reacquainted with that same "good looking boy" now a dashing and athletic teenager. They dated on and off through high school. While on a trip visiting family friends in Albuquerque in July 1945 she noticed strange cloud formations one morning. Several months later the government announced the Trinity nuclear test had been conducted nearby that night before. After graduating in 1946 she spent a year at Highlands University in Las Vegas NM partially subsidized by a voice scholarship. Realizing she did not want to be a teacher, or a nurse, or a secretary, she left Las Vegas and found employment as a telephone operator in Raton. That "good looking boy" hung around and matured into the 'best looking man she ever saw". On October 9, 1949, she became Mrs. Donald Lujan. For the next 36 years they danced a million miles, swing dancing, waltzing, and square dancing.

Five boys were added to the family in the 50's: Ronald (Nancy), Carl (Debra), Kelly (Jane), Stuart (Sherry), and John (Carma). With the necessity of feeding her large brood, and her instilled frugality, she developed into a great cook, specializing in the Lebanese dishes of her youth and Mexican dishes she discovered being a Lujan newlywed. She also became an accomplished bread maker. Some of her recipes were classified as "proprietary within the family". Each night she found the time and energy to read to the young boys.

Don's employment with Colorado Interstate Gas Company moved the young family along the natural gas pipelines to Dumas TX, Masterson TX, Fritch TX, Eads CO, Elkhart KS, and a station 35 miles out in the country on dirt roads. In 1971 she took a job in the Kiowa County Assessor's Office and later with the Morton County Human Services Department.

Her years were filled strictly monitoring behavior and academics and nervously watching athletic events. Eventually her 5 boys married and gave her 13 grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren. She lost Don in a 1985 automobile accident. The next 35 years were focused on being a wonderful grandmother, always ready with grilled steaks, enchiladas, and of course, all the Lebanese favorites.

In 2014 she moved to Albuquerque, NM where she resided at the Village Assisted Living facility and most recently, the Brookdale Tramway Memory Care facility. The family is sincerely grateful for the loving care provided by the staff of both facilities.

Rose Marie will be cremated. Services will be conducted in the Spring 2025 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Des Moines, NM. Interment will be in Raton, NM next to Don. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, Amarillo TX or to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Des Moines, NM (care of Knights of Columbus Saint Juan Diego 15974, C/O Carlos Fernandez PO Box 4, Des Moines, NM 88418) or favorite charity.