Nancy Torres, age 74, died Saturday, May 2, 2020, at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita, Kansas. She was born September 11, 1945, in Trinidad, Colorado, the daughter of Ross and Benny (Garcia) Valdez.
Nancy grew up in Walsenburg and Hoehne, Colorado, and graduated in 1963 from Hoehne High School. In 1966, she married Ben Torres in Trinidad. While living in Colorado, she drove a school bus and was a homemaker. After they moved to Ulysses in 1978, Nancy worked at Western Prairie Care Home as a Certified Medication Aide. When her children were young, she was a 4-H leader. Nancy loved to read and spend time with her grandkids. She also enjoyed watching horse races, going to the casino, playing scratch lottery tickets, and was a Denver Broncos fan. Nancy was an avid supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Schriners Hospitals for Children.
Nancy is survived by her husband, Ben of Kim, Colorado; children, Loretta Chain and husband Dan of Guymon, Oklahoma, Twyla Gomez of Dodge City, Travis Torres of Ulysses, and Jamie Torres of Ulysses; brothers, Ross “Sonny” Valdez and wife Jeanne of Scurry, Texas, Leonard Valdez and wife Jeanie of Ulysses; sisters, Phyllis Torres and late husband, Henry Torres, of Hoehne, Colorado, Theresa Bedoya and husband Al of Yuma, Arizona, and Jennifer Briggs and husband Danny of Ulysses; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren with one more on the way; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.
Nancy is preceded in death by her parents; and infant brother, Charles Valdez.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 8, 2020, at 2:00 PM via Facebook Live on the Garnand Funeral Home Facebook page with John Duran officiating. Interment will follow at Ulysses Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday, May 7, 2020, from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses. Memorial contributions may be given to the National Kidney Foundation in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave., Ulysses, Kansas 67880. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.