Juanita Consuelo Segura passed away on October 8, 2026, at the age of 77. She will be lovingly remembered for her unmistakable laughter, her gift for conversation, her devotion to family, and the determination that carried her through school, military service, and her working life.

Born on December 4, 1948, Juanita spent her childhood in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, including the communities of Fort Garland, Blanca, and San Luis. She attended Sierra Grande School before her family moved to the Center and Saguache area. She continued her education in Saguache, graduating from high school in 1967. 

From an early age, Juanita had a strong desire to succeed and a particular ambition to join the military. After graduation, she pursued that dream by enlisting in the United States Navy. A January 1968 article in *The Valley Courier* recognized her as one of 16 young people from the San Luis Valley who had recently enlisted. The newspaper photographed her taking her enlistment oath in Denver and reported that she arrived in Bainbridge, Maryland, on January 12 for ten weeks of recruit training in the Navy’s WAVES program. 

Following her military service, Juanita worked in Virginia, Texas, and California. When her mother became ill, she returned from California to Colorado to help care for her. She later settled in South Fork, where she found work at the local sawmill and made her home for the remainder of her life. Her willingness to work and begin again reflected the ambition and independence her family remembered throughout her life. 

Alongside those accomplishments were the everyday moments that made Juanita so dear to those who knew her. Her cousin remembered her laughter from their earliest years—a joyful sound that carried through conversations and family gatherings. Nearly every Sunday, the family would come together, creating memories of companionship, storytelling, and laughter. 

Juanita was talkative, pleasant, and eager to share news about her family and memories of growing up. She and her cousins formed friendships that remained close through the years. Visits in South Fork and trips to Salida gave them opportunities to reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy one another’s company. 

To her family, Juanita was a beautiful woman and a treasured cousin whose presence brought warmth to their lives. Her passing leaves a deep sense of loss, but also lasting gratitude for the time they shared. 

Her laughter, her stories, her determination, and her love for family will remain in the memories of those who knew her. As her cousin expressed, “I will miss my cousin and cherish the moments I had with her.”

Cremation was selected and a service will be held at a later time.