Trinidad Mourns Antonio Hilario LaForé, Longtime Las Animas County Resident, at 80

Antonio Hilario LaForé, 80, who spent his life rooted in the Trinidad-Las Animas County area, died March 20, 2026, at Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo. He was born June 19, 1945.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Valley Funeral & Cremation, located at 404 Locust Ave in Las Animas and reachable at 1-719-456-1339. Specific service dates and times had not been publicly listed as of this report; Valley Funeral & Cremation can provide current scheduling information.

LaForé's death came just 17 months after the passing of his wife, Lupe (Gonzalez) LaForé, who died October 10, 2024, at their home in Las Animas at age 79. The couple had been married 55 years. Lupe's 2024 obituary, published by SECO News, described her as a Las Animas native who graduated from Las Animas High School in 1962, later worked at Fort Lyon, and retired in 2001. A Mass of Christian Burial for Lupe was held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Las Animas, with interment at the Bent County-Las Animas Cemetery.

Antonio is survived by daughter Tonya LaFore; grandsons Jordan (Leandra) Baca-LaFore and Isaiah Baca-LaFore (Serena Rife); great-grandsons Bodhi and Cillian Baca-LaFore; and godson Gabriel Gonzales. He is also survived by Lupe's siblings: brother Joe (Martha) Gonzales and sisters Rosemary Besse, Mary Trujillo, and Lidia Gonzalez, along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.

No cause of death has been disclosed.

Memories and condolences for Antonio may be shared through Valley Funeral & Cremation at valleyfuneralcremation.com or by calling the Las Animas location at 1-719-456-1339.