Ernestine Louise Davis Portales

Ernestine Louise Davis Portales, aged 90, passed away on April 22, 2026. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Portales; her parents, Ernest and Seferina Davis; her son, Molllison; her granddaughter, Katie Payton; and her great-granddaughter, Jazmine Payton.

She was born in Denver, Colorado, on October 21, 1935, and grew up on the West Side. She enjoyed swimming and playing outdoors with her siblings and learning to play the piano. After completing 10th grade at public school, she worked to support her family, taking temporary jobs at Woolworth’s, Star Bakery, AB Hirschfield, and Wright & McGill.

At the age of 16, she married Robert Portales in 1952, and they remained married until Robert’s passing in 2019. Together, they raised five children, after their son Mollison passed away at birth.

After her children began school, she worked at Western Electric in various roles including assembly line worker, forklift operator, and administrative assistant. She occasionally served as a part-time legal secretary for her son, sacrificing her vacation time to assist him. She retired in the late 1980s.

As the strong and outspoken matriarch of the family, she encouraged faith, generosity, education, culture, and familial unity.

She had an elegant sense of style and often accompanied her daughters to purchase contemporary fashions. She acquired fine jewelry, which she generously gave to family members. She enhanced her family's cultural experiences by attending films and live musical performances with them, including productions such as Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, Hello Dolly, Phantom of the Opera, and Evita. Additionally, she enjoyed singing and regularly played Mexican music on the radio for her family on Sunday mornings following mass.

She was a devoted Catholic who taught Catechism at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Westminster as well as Our Lady of Guadalupe School in North Denver. She demonstrated generosity through consistent tithing, assisting others, and contributing to several charitable organizations.

She was an active women playing volleyball, swimming, golf and belonged to a book club. It was very important for her family to be educated, and all her children attended college. She stressed to the family that each generation should surpass the past generation. She encouraged her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to read and would buy books for them and others because she believed in the value of reading and learning.

After she retired her most influential role was caretaker to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Better known as “Bama” she would pick up the grandkids and great grandkids from school and welcomed them home with their favorite drink and snack. She treated each grandchild, and great-grandchild like they were her favorite; and when you left her house, she walked you to the door with a blessing and a heartful good-bye.

Bama is survived by her son, Robert Ernest Chips Portales and his spouse, MaryJo, her daughters Rochelle Williams, Robin Duran and her spouse Gil, Holly Romero and her spouse Robert, and Kelly Castillo and her spouse Ted. And by twelve grandchildren: Seferina (Dorian) Rivera, Megan Hallock Portales and partner Mike Romero, Jennifer (Daryn) Hale, Tyler Williams, Aaron Wiley, R.E. Chips Portales, Jr., Bianca Duran and partner Cisco Cervantes, Veronica (Stephen) DeBell, Desi Domingo, Anthony (Cynthia) Castillo, Joscelyne (Gino) Ciarroni and Ambar Armenta. And nineteen great grandchildren, Dulcenea and partner Joe, Anais, Eliseo, Kashton, Jayden, Stephen Jr., David, Daviah, Mason, Maddie, Reese, Kaoni, Nakaiya, Malachi, Souliya, Anthony Jr., Eva, Evelyn, and Stefano. And two great-great-grandchildren, Santino, and Araceli; as well as her brother, Leonard (Rose) Davis, and her sister, Arlene Strock.