Gloria Lea Mendoza

Funeral services for GLORIA LEA "GODIE" MENDOZA, 90, will be held 2pm Wednesday November 5, 2025, at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel with Nancy Greene officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home Tuesday November 4, 2025, from 3pm to 5pm. Gloria died peacefully at Torrington Community Hospital on October 30, 2025, after an extended illness. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com Gloria was born November 28, 1934, in Rayville, LA, to sharecroppers Phares Allen (P.A.) Bennett and Lucille Ever Cook Bennett and grew up working the cotton fields alongside her family. Her family moved often in her early years and found themselves living in interesting places such as a game reserve and the top floor of a funeral home. She attended Rayville High School where she excelled as a basketball forward and was chosen FFA Sweetheart during her senior year. After high school, she moved to Natchez, MS, and joined the only ladies sales force at the Barnett Motor Company. She later moved to Shreveport, LA, and learned drafting from her brother, Robert (Bob). In 1955 she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where her drafting skills were utilized in graphics and lettering, while stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE. It was there she met fellow airman Tony Mendoza, who became her constant companion and devoted husband for the next 69 years. As bedtime became more difficult in recent years, Tony's continued love and devotion manifested itself in a nightly serenade of "Dream A Little Dream of Me" to help ease her to sleep. Gloria was first and foremost a devoted mother to their three children, David, Tona and Chrystina (Chrys). She was also a woman with a wide array of talents and interests. She loved growing vegetables and flowers and introduced many to the Cherokee Purple heirloom tomato. She dabbled in ceramics, was a member of various singles and doubles bowling leagues, learned bookkeeping, became a Master Gardener, and tried her hand at pilot ground school training. She spent a week with her mother-in-law, Evarista, learning her methods for making tortillas, tamales and enchiladas, for which she later became famous in Rayville. It was her interest in cosmetology that led to her career of 20 years. She received her Cosmetology degree in Laredo, TX, and then went on to obtain her Cosmetology Instructor degree. When the family relocated to Tulsa, OK, she taught for several years before opening her own hair salon at home. Encouraged by a daughter already living in Torrington, Gloria and Tony, looking to move to a smaller town, relocated here in 2008. As luck and love would have it, the other two children also set up residences in Torrington. As the last two years of Gloria's life became increasingly difficult, she was blessed with three loving, caring, and capable caregivers: Cynthia Mavugo, Emily McGraw and Jennifer Young. Also, during the last week of her life, the doctors and nursing staff at Torrington Community Hospital provided excellent care and comfort for both Gloria and her family. Gloria is survived by her husband, Tony; children David Mendoza of Torrington, WY; Tona Mendoza of Torrington, WY; and Chrystina (Pete) Steidemann of Eagle River, WI; grandchildren Chella Lebold of Norman, OK; Bruce (Molly) Lebold of Edmond, OK; great grandchildren Archer and Amelia Lebold; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding Gloria in death were parents P.A. and Lucy Bennett; brothers Phares, Robert, Daniel and Edward Bennett; and sister Louise Morgan.