David Ray Natividad

David Ray Natividad 81, passed away on Saturday, August 10, 2024, in El Paso, Texas.

David was born in Denver, Colorado on June 26, 1943. He attended Gilcrest, Colorado schools and worked the fields of Weld County picking potatoes, thinning beets, irrigating crops and working at the Gilcrest Potato Docks. In 1963, he migrated to Arizona following the cotton and decided to leave the back-breaking work and became a dishwasher eventually becoming the short-order cook for a local Glendale, Arizona eatery. He returned to Denver in 1969 and became an extraordinaire custodial worker for Mercy Hospital and then Swedish Medical Center. He was also a baker before finding his ultimate opportunity to work for Lockheed Martin as a highly clearance custodial worker to keep the areas as sanitized as possible for all the engineers and scientists from 1980’s until he retired in 2008. He moved to El Paso, Texas, in 2015 which offered much more reprieve from the snows in Colorado.

David never met a stranger; everyone he met along the way was interesting to him. He always was engaging and brought them into his circle of friendship. Early on, he lived with his sister Frances helping to raise his two nephews Matthew and Mitchell providing them with wisdom and care as they grew up. David owned his lawn mowing business in which he hired his teenage nephews and all their buddies. Many have fond memories of what a great boss he was.

David was preceded in death by his mother Cliofas Gonzales Hernandez, his father Bacilio Natividad, brother Ted Hernandez, and brother-in-law Ben H Coleman, including his cousins Tony Gary Ybarra, Rosemary Ybarra Cordova, Emilio and Ramon Natividad. David is survived by his sister Frances Natividad Coleman, his nephews Matthew Lopez and Mitchell (Jenny) Lopez of Denver, Colorado and his niece Olivia L. Lopez, of Boston, MA, and his cousin Tommy J. (Roberta) Ybarra of Colorado Springs, CO and his sister-in-law Nellie Lara of Santa Maria, CA, his special cousins Concepcion (Juan) Sanchez and Angelica Natividad of El Paso, Texas including several Ybarra and Hernandez nieces and nephews.

Gathering of Remembrance will be from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Scripture Service/Rosary at 6:00 PM, Monday, August 19, 2024 at Sunset Funeral Homes - East, 750 N. Carolina. These services will be followed by a service in Colorado and will be interned at Mizpah Cemetery in Platteville, Colorado.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:30 AM, Thursday, September 5, 2024 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 520 Marion Ave., Platteville, CO 80651. Burial will follow after Mass at Mizpah Cemetery, 12837 WCR 32, Platteville, CO 80651. A reception will be held at St. Nicholas Catholic Church following Burial. Donations can be made in David’s memory to a charity of your choice.