Lucy Jaquez Alire

I had completed most of my Grandpa Jacques’ siblings but I did not get an opportunity to complete one for my great-aunt, Aunt Lucy. She was the second to the last Jacques daughter born to Juan N. and Anna Maria L. Jacques (I do tire of trying to figure out how each person in our family spelled Jacques) on January 8, 1897.

Celia, Anna Maria, Onofre, Juan N and Lucy, approx. age 2

Funny how each of Juan N and Anna Maria’s last three children were all born in January…Onofre on January 6th, Lucy on January 8th and Celia on January 23rd.

Celia and Lucy

This is one of my favorite pictures of these two. I estimate this picture was taken in approximately 1915 or so. Their gowns look to be a heavy brocade, probably silk, and detailed. Aunt Lucy has a large cross on a necklace; Aunt Celia has a large round disc.

Clearly this was taken on the same day…so beautiful

Blanco, New Mexico was their home. They were brought up on a ranch and everything that goes along with being raised on a ranch.

Lucy, Geronima, Celia

I love this picture too. These girls were fun, and bad ass!

Lucy on the far right in the darker dress

Lucy met and married Joseph Melaquias Alire on August 12, 1925.

Melaquias and Lucy Alire

A year later, Herbert Alire was born, followed by Max in 1927, Rudy in 1931, Orlando in 1936, Alfonso in 1937 and finally, a girl, Ana Marie Teresa in 1939

I estimate this picture to be about 1932. Her father Juan N is seated on the front fender. The three little boys on top are listed as the Alire boys.

Alire family

I love doing research. I run across a lot of people who are often researching the same person that I am researching and it is so nice to find gems once in a while. I was doing research on Aunt Lucy and I came across a lady by the name of Esther Acosta. She is married to a man by the name of Jay Alire, one of Aunt Lucy’s grandchildren. She had this one picture of the Alire family and so I was able to take a copy of it. What a great picture.

So Aunt Lucy’s family was in Denver, Colorado. All of her children lived there but she did come to California to visit her sister Celia. My dad took us to visit Great Aunt Celia a lot as we lived in the same town. We saw Aunt Lucy a few times. Her reputation preceded her. A lot of people would say she was grouchy and to be careful around her. However, I can honestly say I never saw her grouchy with anyone and she was very nice to me.

On a visit to California, Great-Aunt Celia, Great-Aunt Lucy and my cousin Scott Stewart in 1979

I know Aunt Lucy’s life wasn’t easy and I know I am short on details.

Lucy

I had started writing a manuscript that took place in New Mexico, so of course my character had two great aunts that lived with her. One was fun loving, the other, a little sour at times but damn it that was so much fun to write. Aunt Lucy probably had a bit of a tougher life than Aunt Celia and on the 120th anniversary of her birth, I , for one, will never forget her. Happy Birthday Aunt Lucy…gone but never forgotten.