Robert (Bobby) Gomez |
| Posted 2009-04-30 by Eastern Arizona Courier |
| Robert “Bobby” Gomez, 78, passed away April 1, 2009, in Solomon. Bobby was born in Solomon to Jesse Grijalva and Vidal Gomez on July 20, 1930. Bobby attended primary school in Solomon and high school in Safford. As a youngster he started early helping his dad and wound up running the ranch, both before and after serving in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean conflict. By the time Bobby’s father sold the ranch in 1966, Bobby had been ranching for 18 years. Bobby met and married Wanda Lee Zumwalt, and together they raised three children: Robert Clay, Lori Lee and Marta “Bootie.” On Jan. 1, 1963, Bobby began his career as a deputy sheriff for Greenlee County. In 1976, when the sheriff announced his retirement, Bobby threw his Stetson into the ring and won the race. He served as sheriff of Greenlee County for 16 years. Bobby was a member of the Greenlee Sheriff’s Posse, Elks, the Sheriff and County Attorney’s Association and the Greenlee County Cattleman’s Association. He loved raising good cattle. He always had a good horse and a good mule. He loved building fences and cleaning trails on his ranch up the San Francisco River on the Sardine allotment. Bobby didn’t have a lot of time for hobbies because he was always working on his ranch or around the house just driving his loader. One of his few hobbies was deer hunting. He couldn‘t wait to get a tag and have a reason to load up, get his friends and go hunting. He was a great father, husband, granddad and friend. He will be missed dearly. Bobby is survived by his wife, Wanda; son, Robert Clay (Kristy); daughters, Lori Gomez Aragon and Marta “Bootie” Gomez; sisters, Lydia Martinez, Gloria Manuz, Sylvia Carrasco, Marci Erramuzpe and Olivia DuVall; brothers, Jimmy, Angel and Jesse Gomez. Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Vidal; brothers, Vidal and Alfonso; and a granddaughter, Jesse Lee Lopez Gomez. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, April 7, at the New Life City Church in Safford. Interment followed at the Solomon Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of the Caldwell Funeral Chapel. Published on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 Eastern Arizona Courier. |
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