Donaldo Arturo Valdez

 Donaldo Arturo Valdez (November 27, 1944 - March 6, 2026)

Donaldo Arturo Valdez, or “Art” as many knew him, passed away unexpectedly on March 6, 2026. He leaves behind many family and friends who mourn his departure but take comfort in the knowledge, courage, and love with which he entrusted them.

Art was a brilliant, talented man from Cebolla, New Mexico. Born to Antonio J. Valdez and Vicentita Maes, he grew up living and working on their small family farm, learning what he called the “old ways” from his mother. He treasured his older siblings Maria, Adriano, Domitila, and Antonio and his younger sister Edwina.

Art began his multifaceted career trajectory after graduating from Tierra Amarilla High School in 1963. He was drafted soon after and served two years in the U.S. Army (1965-1967), where he quickly rose to the rank of E-5. Although he never went overseas, he recalled his time in the military with a great sense of pride due to the confidence his officers had in his work ethic, integrity, and professional judgement. When he returned home from the service, Art worked as a miner for Azotea Construction, contributing to the San Juan-Chama River Project, and then served as the Outreach and Acting Director for Senior Citizens with the Community Action Program in Taos and Rio Arriba County. Both his personal skills and financial management acumen contributed to his success as a bank manager, first with Sunwest Bank in Dulce and then El Pueblo State Bank - Del Norte Branch in Tierra Amarilla, where he eventually became the Assistant Vice-President. For several years, he was an officer for the Ensenada Community Water Association and a member of the Chama Valley Vocational Education Committee. From 1980-1987, Art served as Vice-Chairman of the Chama Valley School Board.

Art chose to shift careers after moving to Santa Fe, turning to construction and then becoming a school bus driver for the New Mexico School for the Deaf and Santa Fe Public Schools. He kept his buses in peak condition and always prioritized the safety and well-being of the students he transported, even learning sign language to communicate with students from the School for the Deaf.

Throughout his life, Art was an avid outdoorsman. He especially enjoyed roaming the forest adjacent to his beloved hometown–fishing, hunting, and taking pleasure in all the natural world afforded him. He was ecstatic when he landed a short-term position with the United States Forest Service because it allowed him to be among the trees, water, and animals he knew so well.

Art was also an accomplished carpenter and tinsmith. He crafted countless trasteros and tarimas, bookcases and bultos, as well as numerous punched tin frames and crosses. Many of Art’s friends and family members have evidence of his creativity and craftsmanship in their homes today, not necessarily because he sold everything he made, but because he was glad to give his handiwork to the people he loved.

When Art wasn’t otherwise occupying himself with home repair projects, hauling and splitting wood, or reading and watching his favorite Westerns, he was often cooking. He was known among the family for his galletas, fried fish, and toasted lamb costillitas. He and his wife Consuelo had a longtime tradition of harvesting capulín, peaches, and plums to make jelly, which they generously shared. Art knew food was a way of bringing people together, and he always looked forward to cooking for and eating with his immediate and extended family.

Our memory of Art will remain in the people and places he knew, through the stories he shared and all that he built, whether out of wood, tin, adobe, concrete or love. He was an ingenious man of humor, generous spirit, and strong opinions, a work of art in more ways than one!

Art was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio J. Valdez and Vicentita Maes; his sister Maria Martinez and husband Ike; his sisters Domitila Alire and Edwina Trujillo; his brother Adriano Valdez and wife Valeria; his brother Antonio Valdez; his mother-in-law Maria Alicia Juarros and father-in-law Benjamin Juarros; his sisters-in-law Mary Lovato and Rita Juarros; and other family members and friends turned angels whom he now joins in peace.

He is survived by his beloved wife and partner of almost forty years, Consuelo; their daughter Elena and husband Matthew; his children, Raymond and partner Debra, Donna, Donald and wife Belinda, Daniel and wife Nancy; his eight grandchildren, including Victoria (James), Valerie (Matthew) and Zenaida; and his great-grandsons, Lukasey and the soon-to-be Elijah. He is also survived by several in-laws and an abounding number of cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and friends.

Art will be laid to rest at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe on April 2 at 12:30 p.m. All those who wish to celebrate his life are welcome to join us.