Baltazar "Val" Lovato

Baltazar “Val” Lovato, 77, a lifetime resident of New Mexico, passed away Thursday April 5, 2012, in Mountainair, New Mexico. Baltazar was born February 1, 1935, in Abo, New Mexico, to Felipe and Maria (Padilla) Lovato. He married Judy Ann Dooley on December 20, 1980. Baltazar was a member of the Saint Alice Catholic Parish where he formerly served as Mayordomo of the San Lorenzo Catholic Church in Abo, New Mexico. He was also a member of the Operators Engineers Union. Baltazar will be remembered as a life long rancher, where he loved and cared for all his animals, and often had a name for them all. Baltazar was preceded in death by his parents, one son, James Patrick Lovato; one, brother Jose Jesus Lovato; and one great granddaughter, Lillian Faith Barisano. Baltazar is survived by his wife Judy Ann Lovato, of Mountainair, NM; three sons, Kenneth Lovato, of Aztec, NM, Michael Lovato and his wife Marilyn of Pine Top, AZ and Nicholas Sisneros of GA; two step sons, Thomas Holyk and his wife Donna of Blanchard, OK and Joseph Holyk and his wife Lisa of Clarksville, TN; six daughters, Judy Padilla and her husband Jay Haycock, of Moriarty, NM, Theresa Castellano and her husband Jake of Rio Rancho, NM, Tami Romero and her husband Leroy of Rio Rancho, NM, Kathy Lovato-Gallegos and her husband Paul of Moriarty, NM, Liz Salazar and her husband Anthony of Moriarty, NM, and Roberta Michel and her husband Gustavo “Gus”, of Moriarty, NM, one adopted daughter Cheryl Hamm of Moriarty, NM; and daughter-in-law Bernadette Lovato of Bishop, CA; three brothers, Pablo Lovato and his wife Mary Ann of Jarales, NM, Marty Lovato, of Abo, NM, and Felipe Lovato and his wife Vickie, of Abo, NM; three sisters, Erlinda Benavidez of Jarales, NM, Quiteria Luna of Albuquerque, NM, and Bernarda Lobato of Pagosa Springs, CO; 33 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren….. There will be a family viewing Monday April 9, 2012—10:00 am to 10:45am at the Harris-Hanlon Mortuary in Mountainair, NM; a public viewing Monday April 9, 2012—11:00 am to 12:00 pm at San Lorenzo Catholic Church in Abo, NM, followed by a Rosary at 12:00 pm and Mass at 1:00 pm with Father Vincent Nicosia, officiating. Burial will follow in the San Lorenzo Catholic Cemetery in Abo, NM. Pallbearers will be Dennis Padilla, Hollis Padilla, Maurio Castellano, Matteo Castellano, Greg Romero, Jessica Gallegos, James Lovato, and Alexander Salazar. Honorary Pallbearers will be All of his other Grandchildren.