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Refugio P. Huerta “Cuco” sorrowfully and suddenly left us on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Refugio was born in Jalpa, Zacatecas on July 6, 1945, and immigrated to the United States when he was five years old.
Refugio’s parents Jose Maria and Esiquia Perez Huerta preceded him in death, as did his firstborn grandson Cameron CJ Huerta Curry.
He is survived by his spouse of 54 years, Elvira Huerta; daughters, Rachel (Steven) Vallejo, Ramona (Francisco) Curry and Rosanna (David) Aronson; and son, Jose R. (Stephanie) Huerta.
Refugio was the cherished and the eldest brother to Jose Maria Huerta, Maria Cadriel, Escolastico Huerta, Anita Slape, Jose Pedro Huerta, Catalina De La Paz, Jesus Huerta. Refugio was a gracious, selfless, loving husband, father, tata, great-tata, brother and friend.
He had many pastimes which included baseball, listening to Mexican music, restoration of historic vehicles, especially his 1968 RS/SS Camaro, collecting modeled cars/coins/Vietnam memorabilia. His treasured pastime was spending time with his family. He adored his 13 grandchildren and
his three great-grandchildren and was waiting patiently to meet his fourth great-granddaughter born just days before his passing and was anxiously waiting to meet his fifth great-granddaughter whose expected birth is April 2023.
The Huerta family resided in Texas until Cuco was 8 years old and then they moved to Arizona, where he lived in Avra Valley, Marana, Winkelman and Mammoth. During his high school years, he was an agricultural laborer in Oregon, Washington and California. After graduating high school from Marana in 1965, he was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War (1966-1967 4th Infantry Div). He returned home due to an illness with Honorary Discharge.
Refugio wed Elvira Alvo Valdez in 1969 and began their lives raising their family. Refugio was raised with strong family values and instilled similar if not better values to his four children. Refugio’s determination to succeed in providing a blessed home for his family would lead him back to school. He received an AAS degree from Central Arizona College, Aravaipa Campus.
Refugio was a tire mechanic and worked at Inspiration Mine, Goodyear, BHP, ASARCO and The Town of Mammoth. Refugio’s legacy of hard work ethics, determination and pride will forever be remembered by his family. When dual citizenship became legalized in the U.S. Refugio proudly became a United States citizen on Feb. 23, 1996, 27 years to the date of his death.
Refugio will be laid to rest March 6 with a Catholic Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church and interment at Valley View Cemetery, Mammoth, Arizona (85618) with military honor guard.
He was never one to complain and always willing to help others. Our hearts are weeping but know he is home and at peace.
(El día que yo me muera, No voy a llevarme nada, Hay que darle gusto al gusto, La vida pronto se acaba, Lo que pasó en este mundo nomás el recuerdo queda, Ya muerto voy a llevarme, Nomás un puño de tierra).- Ramon Ayala, “Un Puno de Tierra”)
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