Orlando Jess Abeyta

Sonny, 84, passed away at home, on February 22, 2022, from complications from diabetes, after he had been hospitalized with COVID-19 and pneumonia.

Sonny was born in Trinidad, Colorado, to Jess and Esther Abeyta. He attended Trinidad High School and was well liked by his friends. He proudly enlisted in the United States Air Force, when he was 17 years old. He married Ruby Schneider of Trinidad and they had four children, Debbie, Cindy, Steven and Denise. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he worked as a truck driver in California and for King Soopers in Denver. He and Ruby later divorced and he married his second wife, Judy, who had two children from her first marriage, Katherine and Robert. After he retired from King Soopers, they moved to Florida. They returned to Colorado and he worked as a shuttle bus driver for Avis Car Rental at DIA. After Sonny's final retirement, they lived in Denver, Trinidad, Pueblo, and returned to the Denver area, with the pull of being close to his kids and their families always being very strong. He loved them all very much and the family gatherings, with him surrounded by everyone who loved him, with him laughing and smiling, are the best memories of all.

Sonny was the best husband and dad he possibly could be and he was a loving grandpa to all of his grandkids. He will be most remembered as a family man who deeply loved spending time with loved ones and friends. He was the oldest of seven siblings and he loved and protected his younger brothers and sisters his whole life and remained very close with them all. He enjoyed sports and was one of the best critics/armchair coaches of the games. He was naturally charming, with a sense of humor and would make you laugh with his witty one-liners. He also enjoyed music and going to concerts with his son, Steve. They would often call or text each other if a band they liked or a sports event was on TV, to make sure the other was watching. He had these types of special connections with so many relatives and friends and these are the day-to-day moments that we all miss the most.



Sonny is preceded in death by his parents, Jess and Esther Abeyta, the mother of his children, Ruby (Schneider) Avey, baby daughters Debbie and Cindy, brother Max Abeyta, and brothers in law Victor Frenchmore, Jim Gonzales and Bill Gonzales. His wife, Judy (Passarelli) Abeyta, passed away a month after him. Left behind to cherish his memory are his loving children Steve (Cathleen) Abeyta, Denise (Mike) Benes, Katherine (Mike) Kelly, Robert (Pam) Kranzusch; his siblings Shirley (Mel) Shiveley, Kathy Gonzales, Ronald Abeyta, Norma Gonzales, and Mario Abeyta; his grandchildren Shelby Abeyta, Greg (Kacie) Abeyta, Taylor Abeyta, Shauna Minnick, Krista "Lovie" (Stefan) Swango, Devin (Samantha) Swango, Elijah Benes, Eion Kelly, Kira Kranzusch, Mikayla Kranzusch, 9 great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends.