Finding information about someone who has passed in a tight-knit mountain town like Raton isn't always as simple as a quick Google search. Honestly, if you’re looking for Raton New Mexico obituaries, you've probably realized that the digital trail can be a bit fragmented. It’s a place where tradition still carries a lot of weight, and sometimes the most important details are tucked away in a local radio announcement or a printed newspaper that doesn't always play nice with modern search engines.
People often assume everything is on the big national sites immediately. That's just not how it works in Colfax County.
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Where the Real Information Lives
If you are trying to track down a recent passing or digging into family history, you have to know where the locals actually post. In Raton, the "big three" sources are usually the funeral homes, the local digital news outlets, and the legacy newspapers.
Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home and Yaksich-Long Funeral Home are the two main pillars here. Most families go through one of these two. Because they are the ones handling the arrangements, their websites are often the first place an obituary appears—sometimes days before it hits the papers. For example, the recent notice for Leroy Levi Trujillo, who passed at 92, appeared through Alderette-Pomeroy with details about a Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church in Roy. If you only check the major aggregate sites, you might miss the specific viewing times or the fact that a Rosary is being held at St. Patrick’s-St. Joseph’s.
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Then there’s The Ratonian. It’s a digital news source that has become a go-to for community announcements. They’ve recently posted notices for folks like Richard Joe Marchiondo and Janis Vivian Montgomery Schumpert. It’s basically the town square in digital form.
Why the Raton Range Matters
The Raton Range has been around forever. Well, since the late 1800s, anyway. If you are doing genealogy, this is your gold mine.
Searching for historical Raton New Mexico obituaries in the Range can be a trip through time. You’ll find mentions of old mining accidents, ranching legacies, and the families that built the Santa Fe Trail stop into a city. But a word of warning: old obits often used initials instead of first names. If you’re looking for "Mary Smith," try searching for "Mrs. J.W. Smith." It was a different time, and the records reflect that.
Common Mistakes When Searching
Most people get frustrated because they type a name and "Raton NM" and get nothing. Raton is small, and sometimes the death occurred in Albuquerque or even across the border in Trinidad, Colorado, even if the person lived in Raton for fifty years.
- Check the Surrounding Areas: Often, if someone needed specialized care, they may have passed in a larger hospital elsewhere. The obituary will still be listed under Raton, but the "official" record might be filed in a different county.
- The Fairmont Cemetery Records: If the obituary is missing, the burial record usually isn't. Fairmont Cemetery on Sugarite Avenue is where many local legends rest, from US Congressman John Morrow to everyday miners.
- Social Media Groups: Believe it or not, local Facebook "word of mouth" groups often share funeral details faster than the news sites.
The Cultural Nuance of Raton Funerals
Raton has a deep Catholic and Hispanic heritage that heavily influences how obituaries are written and how services are conducted. You will almost always see a mention of a "Rosary." This is separate from the funeral Mass. If you're coming from out of town to pay respects, know that the Rosary is a significant community event.
Also, look for mentions of "in lieu of flowers." In a town like Raton, families often suggest donations to local youth programs or the St. Vincent de Paul Society. It’s a community that takes care of its own.
How to Find Records from 2024-2026
For the most current info as of early 2026, here is the best workflow to follow:
- Start with KRTN Enchanted Air: This local radio station is the heartbeat of the town. They post "In Loving Memory" segments on their website frequently.
- Check Legacy.com specifically for Colfax County: Sometimes the "Raton" tag is missed, but the "Colfax County" tag will catch it.
- Visit the Funeral Home Sites Directly: Don't wait for the search engine to index them. Go to the source.
- The Ratonian Obituaries Category: They keep a running list that is very easy to scroll through.
Basically, don't give up if the first search fails. The information is there, but it requires a bit of that old-school Raton persistence to find it. Whether you're looking for a long-lost relative or a neighbor who just passed, these local touchpoints are your best bet.
If you're helping a family draft a notice, remember to include the maiden names and any local organizations they were part of—like the Elks Lodge or the VFW. That's how people in Raton recognize each other.
The next thing you should do is verify which funeral home is handling the arrangements, as they will have the most accurate information regarding flower deliveries and service changes.