Victor Jaramillo

Victor Gabriel "El Coyote" Jaramillo, 65, died Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008, after a brief battle with cancer.

Mr. Jaramillo died in the comfort of his home and in the company of his loving wife, his five children, siblings and friends. He was born March 6, 1943, in Flagstaff, to Crescencio and Adelita Jaramillo, one of 12 siblings. He was brought up in "Los Shantes" until his father built the family home on South San Francisco Street, a home occupied by the family to this day. There, his first true passion - the love of playing music - sprouted with the "borrowing" of his brother Jimmy's guitar at the tender age of eight.

Mr. Jaramimllo played the bass guitar with his friends in various capacities over the next 50-plus years. Whether it was he and a friend plucking the guitar on a porch, playing next to the campfire or touring the Southwest to entertain crowds of hundreds at every type of dance, wedding, tardiada, benefits or quinceanera - making people happy with his music was among his greatest joys and a big reason he was so well loved and respected in this community.

He attended South Beaver Elementary, Flagstaff Junior High and Flagstaff High schools. While attending the seventh grade at Flagstaff Junior High School, he met and courted his sweetheart, Prescilla Flores. This relationship blossomed into a lifelong partnership that endured all of life's challenges and blessings, continuing to the hour of his passing. They were married April 23, 1961, in Flagstaff. They built a home and raised six children in Flagstaff.

On a cold February day in 1961, his father fell ill and was unable to report for work at the city water department. Abandoning other obligations, Mr. Jaramillo reported to work at the water department as a temporary fill in for his sick father. Thus began a 32-year career with the city, culminating with his retirement in 1993 at the age of 49 as Superintendent of Public Works.

An early retirement afforded Mr. Jaramillo the opportunity to pursue many of his life's goals: To travel the United States, to camp and to fish and to spend time with his beloved family and wonderful friends. He was able to see all of the country that he so loved, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Statue of Liberty; from the glaciers of Alaska to south Texas and the Gulf of Mexico. He enjoyed the lights and music of Beale Street, awed at Niagara Falls, attended the Grand Ole Opry, drove across Chesapeake Bay, saw Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and even the breathtaking Twin Towers of the World Trade Center; this is only a short list of his many travels.

He was a lifelong and much-decorated member of The Knights of Columbus, Padre Miguel Hidalgo Council in Flagstaff. He was also a dedicated blood donor most of his life.

Mr. Jaramillo, among everything else, will be remembered for his unique sense of humor, his sharp wit, his bellowing laughter, his unyielding generosity, his cynical smile and his endless and loving compassion. He was truly loved and will be remembered and missed by thousands.

Mr. Jaramillo is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Mary Prescilla Flores Jaramillo of Cottonwood; daughters Angela Jaramillo, Lisa Jaramillo and Stephanie (John) Salazar, all of Flagstaff, Cynthia Jaramillo of Las Vegas; son Victor Gabriel "Gabe" Jaramillo Jr. of Flagstaff; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; siblings Hortencia "Tencha" Martin of Flagstaff, Pauline Harless of National City, Calif., James "Jimmy" Jaramillo of National City, Calif., John (Yolanda) Jaramillo of Anaheim, Calif., Diane (Ivan) Busch of Cottonwood, Gloria (Pat) Gonzales of Yuma, Linda (Gabriel) Argumendo of Flagstaff, Daniel (Maria) Jaramillo of Phoenix, Cloriza (Fernando) Lomeli of Tucson, an uncle; several in-law siblings; 61 nieces and nephews, as well as innumerable musical "siblings."

He was preceded in death by his parents, Crescencio and Adelita Jaramillo; daughter Loretta Lynnette; one granddaughter; sister Viola Koury; and brother Manuel Jaramillo.

Mr. Jaramillo will be laid to rest Friday at 11 a.m. at Calvary Cemetery; a memorial will be at St. Pius Church Friday at 2 p.m.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to Cancer Society Research in lieu of flowers. Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.norvelowensmortuary.com">www.norvelowensmortuary.com.

Norvel Owens Mortuary is handling the arrangements.