Eliseo J. "Lee" Lucero
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5A Obituary - July 23, 2020
Eliseo “Lee”
J. Lucero
May 11, 1930 - July 18, 2020
It is with profound sadness
and loss that we announce the
passing of our father, Eliseo J.
Lucero “Lee” on July 18, 2020,
from congestive heart failure.
Dad was born on May 11,
1930, in Bayfield, CO, to Eliseo
and Reinalda (Martinez) Lucero.
He was preceded in death by
two older sisters. He married Marye C. Gallegos, Grand Junction,
CO, on June 26, 1954. They recently celebrated their 66th wedding
anniversary.
Lee is survived by Marye and five children, Jeffrey M. Lucero,
Gaithersburg, MD; Randy J. Lucero (Yupin) Ogden, UT; Barry J.
Lucero (Elaine) Santa Fe, NM; Stacey L. Stamper (Moe) Centerville,
UT, and Alexandra L. Baumgartner (Justin) of Annandale, VA. He
is survived by 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Dad served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force from
August 1947 to 1951. As a young man of 17, newly enlisted in the
U.S. Army Air Corps he was especially proud of his new airmen’s
uniform. One month later he was required to turn in his uniform in
exchange for Air Force blue of the newly formed (September 1947)
U.S. Air Force. Years later Dad found humor in his story that his
military career in the Army Air Corps lasted less than one month.
His service included postings at Mildenhall AFB, UK and Castle
AFB, CA. Dad often mentioned during a time in his life with no
immediate family, his youthful enlistment in the military gave him
purpose and direction. His enlistment and years serving in post war
Europe was a decision he never regretted and which he proudly
served. Dad was a true member of the silent generation. He took
great pride in his Spanish culture and heritage and championed
social justice. He was active in La Raza, League of United Latin
American Citizens, and Spanish Speaking Organization for
Community Integrity and Opportunity. Dad’s beliefs in standing up
for equal rights for all was solidified by his firsthand experiences
during the July 1948 integration of the U.S. Air Force. He had stories
of countless episodes of systematic racism and prejudice of black
airmen he saw during those difficult initial years of integration. As
a young airman first class, he was not able to right the wrongs that
he saw. What he did was become a welcoming friend to the newly
assigned black airmen.
Dad worked at Hill AFB from 1952 to 1978 on the flight line and
other operations positions. He worked for the Department of Interior
and in 1979 was picked for a special Task Force in Washington,
DC. He was Chief of Human Resources until he retired from the
federal government in 1990. After he retired, he founded Potomac
Consulting Services which contracted to the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission on cases involving discrimination in the
workplace until 1997, at which time he retired to Hesperus, CO.
Dad was raised by a single mother while living through the
difficult years of the depression. Despite his humble beginnings and
lack of a formal education, he displayed courage, determination,
and hard work while often holding down two jobs with a young
family. He obtained his General Education Diploma from Clearfield
High School, BA in Social Work from Weber State College, a
Masters in Manpower Administration from the University of Utah,
and a Masters in Human Resources from Antioch University. Dad
recognized the importance of an education. With his support and
encouragement to succeed, all his children are college graduates.
He was also a counselor at the Job Corps Center, Clearfield, UT, as
well as a tutor of grade school children in Mesquite, NV.
Dad was kind, generous and a thoughtful person. He was quick to
welcome a stranger and saw the good in everyone. He was always
ready to help those in need. By your example, we are committed to
meet life honestly and courageously as you have. We love you and
will miss you dearly.
Luke 23:43 - And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you
will be with me in Paradise.”
Friends may visit with family Sunday, July 26, 2020, from 6 -
8:00 p.m., at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Rd.,
Layton, Utah.
Condolences may be shared at: www.lindquistmortuary.com.
