Laura K. Padilla

Laura K. Padilla of Colorado Springs passed away on March 16th after living with breast cancer for eleven years. A literary scholar, she received her BA in English from Reed College, her MA from Penn State University, and her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.

She wrote about the literature of her native New Mexico with penetrating insight, unsparing honesty, and trenchant wit. Her students at Colorado College, where she was an Assistant Professor, remember her as a thoughtful and demanding teacher.

She is survived by a large extended family that remains on land it has occupied for over three hundred years near Bernalillo, New Mexico. Branches now extend to Albuquerque, California, Texas, the Washington, D.C. area, and beyond.

Among her survivors are her husband, Peter Haney of Lawrence, Kansas and Colorado Springs, parents Eligio and Kathleen Padilla of Albuquerque, sisters Sara Padilla, Amy Padilla and Lisa Padilla Eaton, and brother-in-law Stephen Eaton, all of Albuquerque; and brother-in-law Jake Haney and sister-in-law Kristy Kaiser of Dayton, Ohio. She is also survived by her nephews Alex, Aaron, and Asher Eaton of Albuquerque, Mariyah and Myranda Waits, and grand-nephew Rayden Waits of Richmond, Virginia.

Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be sent to Breast Cancer Action and National Mill Dog Rescue. French Funerals and Cremations of Albuquerque, New Mexico, will manage memorial services. Arrangements are pending, and information will be available at http://www.frenchfunerals.com/.