LOPEZ, Belva Lou

(Maiden Name: Jones)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ April 12, 2007 Belva Lou Lopez, 68, a Florence businesswoman, died April 4, 2007. Mrs. Lopez was born Jan. 15, 1939, and grew up in Mesquite, N.M. In her young years she was a trick ski jumper at Elephant Butte Lake near Truth or Consequences, N.M. She loved barrel racing and goat tying. She lived and worked on both the Gardner and Springer Ranches outside Deming, N.M. She was a hard worker and held many jobs including secretary, ranch operator, bartender, heavy-equipment operator and real estate and insurance agent. She was the first woman in Operators Union Local 953 in Farmington, N.M. She also opened doors for women to be able to join the Pinal County Sheriff's Posse and was the first woman to join and serve as secretary-treasurer. She was Member of the Year in 1990. She was the first real estate agent in Florence to use the multiple listing service. She had a head for business and owned three in her lifetime: a boat shop in Truth or Consequences, Bill's Bar in Show Low and Belva's Real Estate in Florence. She also was a member of the Florence Chamber of Commerce and held the position of secretary in 2005. She loved to spend time in Rocky Point, Mexico, and loved fishing and boating. She had just returned from a weekend trip to Roosevelt Lake a couple weeks ago. She was preceded in death by her father, Oscar Jones; her mother and stepfather, Lula and Bill Moore; a grandson and a step-grandson. Survivors include her husband, Richard "Dickie" Lopez; brother Jim Jones of Mesquite, N.M.; two sisters, Billie Lou Knight of Silver City, N.M.: and Diana Kramer of Tucson; two daughters, Cindy Lou Sills and Deborah Marie Lopez; stepchildren Tommy, Pam, Reed and Stewart Cathemer from a previous marriage to Tom Cathemer of Florence, and Rachel Delgado, Ricky, Tommy, Albert and Larry Lopez and Maria "Lotus" Rocha from her marriage to Dickie the last 16 years of her life; five grandchildren; and three stepgrandchildren. A celebration of life will be announced soon.
Posted by Sharla on October 14, 2010

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