Filidelfio “Phil” Velasquez, 72, died Monday, December 3, 2012, at his home in Ignacio, Colo. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday, December 7, 2012, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. A Funeral Service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 8, 2012, also at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Father Douglas Hunt of St. Ignatius Catholic Church will be officiating. Burial will occur at Ignacio West Cemetery in Ignacio.

Mr. Velasquez was born May 10, 1940, in Ignacio, the son of Augustine and Felicita Velasquez. Phil grew up in Ignacio and attended school there. In 1960 he graduated from Ignacio High School, where he excelled in football, basketball and wrestling. After graduation, he began working as a carpenter. He worked for the Southern Ute Head Start for 27 years.

He enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting and horseback riding. He attended his grandchildren’s sporting events and enjoyed time with them as well as with his great-grandchildren. He liked spending his Saturdays having shopping sprees with his Uncle Fidel Velasquez and also liked going to the Shiprock Fair.

He is survived by Lesida Archuleta (companion of four decades) of Ignacio, Annette Velasquez (daughter) of Ignacio, Tina Naranjo (daughter) of Bayfield, seven grandchildren (Tracy, Eric and Chasity Bean of Ignacio, Nick Mandy and Derrick Naranjo of Bayfield, and Dawnnet Naranjo of Peoria, AZ), four great-grandchildren,
Sam Velasquez (brother) of Ignacio, Alex Velasquez (brother) of Ignacio, Virginia Velasquez (sister) of Bloomfield, N.M., Prescilla Holman (sister) of Farmington, N.M., Georgiann Alcon (sister) of Bloomfield, Marlene Rodriguez (sister) of Bloomfield, Martha Monte (sister) of Magna, Utah, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Joe Velasquez, Abel Velasquez, Teddy Velasquez, and Jose Velasquez, and his sisters Lillian Olguin and Pauline Velasquez.