Josie Mills (née ‘Pepa’ Gallegos)

Josie Mills (née ‘Pepa’ Gallegos) was born in San Rafael, NM on September 20, 1937 to Pedro and Francisquita (Murrietta) Gallegos. She died on August 24, 2021 at the age of 83 after a brief illness. A Rosary (9:30am) and Mass (10:00am) will be held on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at San Rafael Catholic Church followed by a private family celebration of life.

Josie grew up, went to school in San Rafael and worked as a young woman in the Grants’ area until 1960. She married George Mills in 1959 and they lived briefly in Albuquerque, later moving to Joshua Tree, California. Josie worked in the health care field until returning to New Mexico and settling in Silver City. She remained in Silver City after the death of her husband until her retirement, returning to Grants to live with her sister, Rosie Baca. Josie spent the remaining years of her life in the close company of her sisters, Rosie Baca, Marcella Blacklock, Mary Minson, her brother Solomon Gallegos and her extended family. Josie was an avid bowler, skilled in sudoku, and enjoyed the New Mexico outdoors and the local casinos.

Josie was the last of her immediate family. She was proceeded in death by her parents, husband, sister Romelia Archuleta and brother Ambrosio Gallegos, and those siblings listed above as well as her sister-in-law Beatrice Gallegos, and brothers-in-law Felix Baca, Robert Blacklock, and Stan Young

‘Auntie Josie’ will be missed by her many generations of nieces and nephews, their families and other relatives and friends. She and her brothers, sisters, and inlawed siblings (our mothers, fathers, aunts, and uncles) will forever remain in the hearts they have left behind; we carry them with us in joyful memory of days gone by.