Guadalupe Ramirez

Guadalupe Navarrete Ramirez was born on February 17th, 1936 to Melquiades Ramirez, and Micaela Naverrete Ramirez in the small town of Coyame Del Sotol in Chihuahua, Mexico. He was the third of 9 children, preceded by Julian Ramirez and Tomasa Navarrete, and followed by Lucia Ramirez, Polo Ramirez, Chello Navarrete, Melinda Ramirez, Baldo Ramirez, and Elvia Andrade. He spent his early years working hard in Mexico with his family and over many years and various jobs, he developed a good work ethic, a work ethic that continued with him when he later came to the U.S. and it helped him never give up even through early difficulties in his life. However, while he was a great worker, his true passion was music. He enjoyed a full range of music, from Elvis to Ramon Ayala, and much more. He loved music so much that he even taught himself how to play the Bajo sexto, and he later honed his singing abilities. With these skills, he formed a band and played in many local venues in Colorado, recorded music, and became an excellent composer of many songs as well. He also loved dancing and Sotol, and even in his later years, he still made music a main focus of his life and was always the life of the party. The only person who he loved more than his music was the love of his life, Rufina Ramirez whom he met in July of 1959 in New Mexico. They fell in love and later married in November of the same year. Their love grew as they started their family and welcomed their daughters Mary and Angela. In 1966, the family moved from Dexter, NM to Denver, CO. They filled their new home with happiness and new memories as they continued to expand their family with three more daughters: Rose, Sonia, and Crystal. It was there in Colorado that he became proficient in the trade of concrete finishing and for nearly 40 years he worked to provide for his family. After retiring, he and Rufina moved back to his hometown of Coyame Del Sotol in Mexico and they lived there happily for 20 years. All in all, Lupe was a hard-working man of many talents, and music and his family were always the light of his life. Lupe and Rufina had a wonderful marriage for nearly 64 years and while it wasn’t always easy, they laughed, enjoyed food straight from the garden, and together they built a beautiful life filled with cherished memories that marked his lasting legacy of love, dedication, and talent. His impact is carried on by his 5 children, 10 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren, a testament to the enduring power of his life, a life far greater than any struggles he endured, than anything he could have ever wished for, and a life that he lived his way, until the end.