Samuel F. Vigil Jr.

Samuel F. Vigil Jr. passed away from natural causes on Dec. 7 at the age of 90. He lived his life in service to others.
Samuel was a former member of the State of New Mexico House of Representatives and President of Luna Vocational Technical Institute.
He was a fierce advocate for northern New Mexico and Las Vegas. Sam was elected to the N.M. House of Representatives in 1970 and served for 28 years. He was Chair of the Educational Committee and a member of the Legislative Finance Committee.
Appointed by President Bill Clinton, Samuel was one of 24 members in the country on the Presidents Commission of Excellence of Education for Hispanic American Students. He was also appointed by former U.S. Dept. of Energy Secretary Federico Pena as one of 12 members in the country to serve on the Advisory Commission on Education to the U.S. Dept. of Energy.
Samuel was also a member of the Board of Directors for the First National Bank in Las Vegas.
Earlier in his career, Sam was the Dean of Students at New Mexico Highlands University. Prior to that, he was also the Director of Guidance and Counseling in the West Las Vegas School System. A lifelong Catholic, Samuel was an active member of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish and was a member of La Sociedad de San Jose.
At the age of 22, he served as a medic in the U. S. Army during the Korean War. After the Army, he served in the N.M. National Guard.
Most importantly, he was a wonderful loving father and grandfather to his three children and two grandchildren and was married for 66 years to the love of his life. Samuel now serves the Lord.
He is preceded in death by his parents: Samuel T. Vigil and Maclovia Sanchez Lujan. Samuel is survived by his loving wife of 66 years Aurora Vigil and daughters: Martha Vigil (Donald) of Austin, Tex.; Marcia Vigil (Dr. Patrick Rivera), son: Michael J. Vigil all of Albuquerque, N.M.; grandchildren: Amaris (Tim), Dr. Marisa Rivera (Shuhei), sister-in-law: Diolinda Romero of Albuquerque, N.M.; special and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.
Rosary service will be recited on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 at 6 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019 at 9 a.m. with both services to be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Las Vegas, N.M., with Father Timothy Meurer as celebrant. Interment will be held at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, N.M., at 3 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019.
Arrangements are entrusted to and under the care of Rogers Mortuary 600 Reynolds Ave., Las Vegas, NM, 1-800-479-3511 or 505-425-3511. Please visit our website: www.rogersmortuarynm.com to sign the online register book.