CELIA G. OLIVAS May 10, 1930–Oct. 14, 2013

Celia G. Olivas was born in Durango, Colo., and grew up in Henderson, Nev., where she graduated from Basic High School. Her first job was a secretary to a lawyer.

Celia met Ray Olivas in San Luis, Colo., and they married in 1951. They moved to Colorado Springs and lived there until Ray finished his service in the army. They then returned to Henderson and started a family, having three children Vicki, Rick, and Theresa. Shortly after Theresa was born the family moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico.

In 1962, Celia began her long career driving a school bus for Los Alamos Public Schools. She continued driving various routes for 42 years. Celia was very proud of her school bus driving record of 42 years with NO accidents. Celia loved driving elementary school children and chose to drive that age group the last 10 years until she retired in 2004.

Celia loved gardening and had beautiful house plants and a back yard filled with blooming flowers all summer. Celia enjoyed family camping trips, which later in life included joining Vicki for fishing trips to Canada. She enjoyed watching her five grandchildren when they were young and continued to be active in their lives as they grew older. Together with Theresa and her family they took many family trips which also included golf, soccer, and volleyball tournaments. Celia joined Rick and his family for various adventures including train rides throughout the Southwest. With all these trips we sure did keep her busy!

Celia had been living in Kansas City with her daughter Vicki and in December 2012 moved into Cypress Springs Memory Care Facility.

Celia was preceded in death by her parents Elias and Anna Gonzales and her husband Ray. She is survived by her sister Cecilia and brother-in-law Jerry Shearin of Henderson, Nev. Her children Vicki (Overland Park, Kan.) Rick (Los Alamos, NM), Theresa, son-in-law Jimmy Dabney (Los Alamos, NM), and daughter-in-law Elli Olivas (Los Alamos, NM). Grandchildren Traci (Valdosta, GA), Dayna (Valdosta, GA), Jamie (Tulsa, OK), Audrey and Matt Stanley (Denver, CO), and Rosalia (Los Alamos, NM).  She was also blessed with two great grandchildren Jacob and Arabella Stanley (Denver, Colo.) and many nieces and nephews.

Mom and Grandma will be greatly missed, but always remembered for her love for her family, love for her bus kids, her smiles and her laughter.