SAMMY E. PINNECOOSE

Sammy E. Pinnecoose, a long time Ignacio resident, passed away Friday, January 26, 2018 in Durango, Colorado. He was 74 years old. Sam was born on September 19, 1943 in Ignacio, Colorado. He attended the Ute Vocational School in Ignacio and later transferred to Bayfield High School where he graduated. Sam was active in sports playing football, baseball and especially basketball.

Sam, an enrolled Southern Ute Tribal member also claimed heritage from the Northern Ute Indian Tribe and was a Sun Dancer. He worked for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe as a residential attendant at the Ute Vocational School, Purchasing Agent, Assistant Manager for the Pino Nuche’ Hotel and Restaurant and Assistant Manager for the Sky Ute Downs.

Sam continued his education in Stillwater, Oklahoma studying Business Management then Louisville, Kentucky where he studied and obtained his formal horse training. Sam’s true passion was training, riding and owning race horses. Sam’s horses competed and placed in various races in Farmington at McGee Park, The Downs in Albuquerque and Ruidoso Downs in Ruidoso, New Mexico. He loved the thrill of racing and could be found on a track training and conditioning his horses or watching simulcast horse racing.

He is survived by his children; Samantha Pinnecoose, Freda (Kiniw) Pinnecoose, Vanessa (Mark) Pinnecoose-Torres, Felicia McKinley, Clarence Pinnecoose, Antonio Cloud and Barry Cloud all of Ignacio. Grandchildren; Shelenia Porambo, Raelynn Torres, Shayla Cloud of Ignacio, Gabriel, Princess Toph and Princess Tylee of Bayfield, Colorado and Zariah Cloud of El Ren, Oklahoma. Great-grandchildren: Jaela and Kylan Velasco both of Ignacio, Colorado as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Siblings; Barney Pinnecoose, Cecil Pinnecoose, all of Ignacio, Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Sarah Russell-Pinnecoose, Laveta Vigil (sister), Stanley Pinnecoose and Bennett Thompson (brothers).

A memorial service will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the Southern Ute Multi-Purpose Chapel with a luncheon to follow at the Southern Ute Multi-Purpose Building, 356 Ute Road, Ignacio, Colo.