Josefita "Josie" Thomas

Josie Thomas, 87, passed away on May 14, 2021 in Edgewood, New Mexico. She was born on September 26,1934 at the Larrañaga Ranch, Rincones Colorado, New Mexico. Her parents are the late Aurelia and Leocadio Larrañaga. She was married to Albert Thomas for almost 65 years. They were wed on October 20, 1956 at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Vaughn, New Mexico. Her love for family and big heart gave her the energy to create special moments for everyone who knew and loved her. Her work ethic showed us how to succeed in life. Josie was a hard worker and held many different jobs throughout her life, including a waitress at Rio Pecos in Encino, the Flying C, Clines Corners, Sprouts Cafe in Fort Sumner, and many other restaurants. She graduated from the Beauty College in Carlsbad and worked as a hairdresser at the Kut & Kurl Beauty Shop that she and her sister owned in Moriarty, New Mexico until she retired. She was a member of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in the Estancia Valley Catholic Parish where she served several ministries including Altar Society, Mayardomo, Lector, and Eucharistic Minister. Josie is preceded in death by her husband Albert Thomas, her mother and father Aurelia and Leocadio Larrañaga, her brothers Margarito, Bennie, Lorenzo, and Percy Larrañaga, one of her sister-in-laws Nora Larrañaga, and one of her brother-in-laws Leandro Marez. Josie is survived by her daughter, Lora Lee Ortiz and husband Steve; son, Albert Michael Thomas and wife Lisa; grandchildren, Stephen Ortiz, Lorin Saavedra and husband Luis, Jamie Viramontes and husband Cole, Luke Thomas and wife Mary, and Isaiah Thomas and great grandchildren, Shayla, Lucas, Leo, Cayden and Gracie Jo; her brothers, sister-in-laws, sisters and brother-in-laws, Alfred Larrañaga and wife Corrine, Leo Larrañaga and wife Viola, Charletta Larrañaga, Ann Larrañaga, Ernest Archibeque and wife Maggie, Viola Marez, Victor Larrañaga and wife Stella, Reyes Perea and husband Jake, Mary Ellen Villanueva and husband Henry, Angie Lopez and husband Max, Trinnie Chilton and husband Randy, brother-in-law Scott Thomas and wife Paula. She also leaves behind many cherished nieces, nephews, God children, cousins, extended family, and friends. Funeral Services will be held at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Moriarty, New Mexico. The Rosary will be recited on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 7:00 P.M. The Celebration of Mass will be on Friday, May 21, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Stephen Ortiz, Luis Saavedra, Luke Thomas, Isaiah Thomas, Cole Viramontes, and her great grandson Lucas Saavedra. Honorary Pallbearers will be her other great grandsons Leo Saavedra, Cayden Viramontes and all her many God Children. Burial will follow at the Red Hills Cemetery at the Larrañaga Family Ranch in Red Hills, New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Altar Society would be greatly appreciated.