Tillie Soto

Tillie Duran Soto, 93, was received in Heaven by her Savior Jesus Christ on January 28, 2017 at 12:55pm. Tillie accepted Jesus Christ as her savior in 1967. Tillie was born January 10, 1924 in Roswell, New Mexico.

Mother led all of her children to the Lord which resulted in all of her grandchildren also accepting the Lord.

Every Saturday and Sunday, Mother and her best friend Mrs. Thomas would take tracks to hand out at the Mall and downtown. They did this for many years until their health no longer allowed them to continue witnessing. Every Sunday they went to the jail to talk to the female prisoners and take them bibles and snacks. Mother never knew a stranger and said hello to everyone she met.
After her mother's death she and our father moved into our grandparent's house to care for her father and her two 100[[][%]] disabled brothers (they were both P.O. W's in WWII). Not once did she complain about caring for them because she said she loved them and did it with pleasure.

Mother took care of her 7 grandchildren while her children worked. She took them to school and also took care of them after of school. Any activities they had, she always made herself available to them.
Every single birthday and Christmas each grandchild received a card with $20 inside. One grandson said he still has the $20 and scripture card she sent him 20 years ago. Mike (the grandson) said it was the last $20 he received from her so it was special and he can't spend it. Mike carries it to this day in his wallet.

Mother's children would like to acknowledge and express to our brother, Frank Gomez, that we are truly thankful to him for such loving care he provided to our dear Mommy for so many years until her death.

Mother was so talented and would always entertain the family by playing and singing her many musical instruments. She played piano, guitar, harmonica, and the accordion. Our grandfather would entertain the family playing the violin, but mother never played that instrument.

Mother enjoyed line dancing at the Joy Center for many years.

Tillie is preceded in death by her husband Leonard Soto; beloved grandson James Ogas; parents Isaac and Julia Duran; brothers Benjamin Duran and David Duran; sister Florinda Duran Chaves; infant daughter Christina Gomez and son-in-law Lorenzo Ogas.

Tillie is survived by son Charlie and wife Lupe Gomez, daughter Bea and husband Ewaldo Apodaca, son Frank Gomez, daughter Virginia and husband Ray Torrez; grandchildren Daniel Gomez, Charles Gomez, Mike and wife Melissa Ogas, Dan and wife Tracy Ogas, Natalie and
husband Edward Polaco, and Stacey Apodaca; as well as 8 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Albert Gomez, Edward Polaco, Edward Louis Polaco, Rudy Candelaria, Ewaldo Apodaca, and Rene Duran.

Honorary pallbearers will be Daniel Gomez, Mike Ogas, Michael Ogas, Natalie Polaco, Stacey Apodaca, Charles Gomez, Dan Ogas and Ashley Gomez.

Funeral services will be held Saturday February 4, 2017, at 10:30am in the chapel at Ballard Funeral Home. Interment will follow at South Park Cemetery where she will lay to rest next to her husband. Pastor Jerry Beaver of Tabernacle Baptist Church will officiate. A reception will follow at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 115 W. 11th St.

"Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same; but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again."

Tillie's favorite saying was "absent from the body" and the response would be "present with the Lord".

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