Andrew Lee DeHerrera

Andrew Lee DeHerrera, of Alamosa, Colo., peacefully entered into rest, April 29, 2023, at home surrounded by his loving wife, Brenda and daughters, Bethany, Audrey, Andrea, and Brittany. He was known as “Andy Lee” to some, and as Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, and friend to others. Andrew was born Jan. 29, 1958, to Orlando and Ida DeHerrera in Alamosa, Colo. He was 65 years of age. Andrew was the seventh of 12 children and grew up on the family ranch in Lobatos, Colo.

Andrew loved spending time with his large family and was known for being a jack-of-all trades, always willing to help family and friends without hesitation. Andrew would help complete strangers as well, like the time he stopped to help a lost hunter find their way back to basecamp and drove around in the dark for several hours, with all the girls in the backseat. Andrew was an avid hunter and was nicknamed “Walker” by his brothers because he could walk for miles in the mountains around the Valley looking for the perfect shot.

Andrew spent many years helping his parents on the family ranch, raising cattle, irrigating fields, bailing hay, and teaching his daughters the hard work and joy of being a rancher. Andrew would regularly be asked if he regretted not having any sons and he always said no, he had four beautiful daughters who could do anything a boy could! Andrew’s greatest joy in life was his family, especially his grandchildren, Athena (19), Amelia (18), Autumn (16), Atticus (15), Bennett (14), Alexander (14), Aiden (7) and Anderson (3). Andrew had a special gift with children and could calm a crying baby or make youngsters giggle with glee, he was a favorite uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Andrew took great pride in being a hard worker and had several careers throughout his life. He was a Conejos County Sheriff’s Deputy, a wildland firefighter, electrician, started as an HVAC specialist at the Mushroom Farm in Alamosa, and then at Adams State College for over 15 years, and most recently was an HVAC Stationary Engineer at Regis University in Denver until his early retirement in 2018. Andrew was also a Volunteer Firefighter for the Antonito Fire Department, a long-time member of the SPMDTU, and a 4th degree Knights of Columbus member. He also enjoyed helping out with ticketing and security at many Alamosa High School sporting events when his daughters were students and wife Brenda worked for Alamosa School District. Andrew met and befriended many great colleagues throughout the years but none so special as Anthony and Judi Velasquez, who became lifelong friends and a part of the family.

Andrew is survived by his wife of 43 years Brenda DeHerrera; daughters and sons-in-law Bethany and Brian DeHerrera-Schnering, Audrey and Andrew Tiffenbach, Andrea and Albert Chacon, and Brittany DeHerrera; a nephew who was like a son to him, Joven and Kristina DeHerrera, his siblings, Ted and Janice DeHerrera, Guillermo and Jolie DeHerrera, Richard DeHerrera, Maria Morales, Kenneth and Yolanda DeHerrera, Cindy and David Atencio, Teresa DeHerrera, Orlando Jr and Tish DeHerrera, James and Denise DeHerrera; In-laws, Evelyn and Bobby Trujillo, Lorene and JC Quintana, Lucas and Della Martinez, Lisa Mendez, Keri Jex-Blake, Geri DeHerrera, Leo Flores, Geri Martinez, Salvador Casias, Alan Lindsey, Alan DeHerrera, and Lisa Martinez.

Andrew was preceded in death by his parents, Orlando and Ida DeHerrera, brother, Augustine DeHerrera, baby sister, Joan DeHerrera, sisters-in-law Janet DeHerrera, Loyda Flores, Frances Lindsey, Debbie Casias, and brothers-in-law Jesse Martinez, Peter Martinez and Moses Morales.

Andrew’s last months here on Earth were hard, but we are eternally grateful to Brenda/mom/grandma for bringing him home to the San Luis Valley and giving him more time to spend with those he loved. Thanks also to Hospice del Valle for their support and assistance through this time.

Viewing and Rosary will be held, Thursday, May 11, 2023, with the viewing at 4:30 p.m. and the Rosary at 6 p.m., at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Conejos. Mass of the Resurrection will be held Friday, May 12, 2023, at 1 p.m. also at Our Lady of Guadalupe with burial to follow at the Ortiz Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to the loving care of the Johnson-Romero Family Funeral Home of La Junta, https://www.johnsonromero.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable contributions in Andrew’s memory be made to the Brain Support Network, PO Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026, www.brainsupportnetwork.org, to help further research into Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.

Online Condolences and Shared Memories can be made at johnsonromero.com.