Abe L. "Butchie Boy" Vigil Jr.

Abe L. Vigil Jr “Butchie Boy”

May 06, 1941 – January 29, 2025

Abe Jr, the son of Abe Vigil Sr and Lucille Romero, both natives of New Mexico, died on Wednesday, January 29,2025 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Abe loved to be surrounded by family since the very beginning! Abe was the baby brother to Tina, Ida, Jonie, and Mary and was blessed and thankful to be a big brother to Manuel, Armanda, and Abe (Boy) as well as his step siblings. Robert, June Bug, Lydia, Barbara, Gloria, Dimples, Lydia, Lolly, Chavela, and Debbie.

Abe, also known by many as “Butch” or “Butchie Boy” was well known for many things. His family dynamic, work ethic, love for cooking, witty humor, and wisdom are only a few to name.

Abe Married Cecelia Vigil, whom he always called his “Babydoll”, on May 14,1958. They didn’t know it then, but they would forever be known as “Butch and Babe”. During their marriage they were blessed with four baby girls. Elizabeth, Tammy, Cecelia, and Sherry whom they both loved very much.

If you knew Abe, you knew he was driven and dedicated. Abe sought to be the best in everything he was blessed with. His career as a mason was a prime example of this. His dedication, hard work and integrity earned him the rightful title of “Master Mason” in the industry. He would spend his entire life completing beautiful, countless, masterpieces that would serve as a profound exhibition of his craft. From skyscrapers across America, to the very steps people used to enter their homes by. Abe’s hands laid not only bricks, but a beautiful signature of his love.

Abe’s peace was found at home and as mentioned before, surrounded by family. Throughout the years, he added friends, food, and music, and it always equaled a wonderful time! His patio and kitchen were amongst the few places where he found rest. He found joy in using his hands to create. Cooking was another way he sowed into his success. He was a restaurant owner for some time before eventually retiring to his own kitchen where all the memories could be “made”. (Pun intended). Although most of his recipes were “secrets”, it was no secret that he could cook. His famous “Green Chili”, “Fried Macaroni”, “Fideo”, and “Beans with Chicos” had a way of bringing everyone together. Not only did Butchie’s cooking bring the family together, but his friends too! He left that very same signature of love for everyone to carry for years to come in the flavor of his food.

Abe’s food was not the only thing that showed his heart. He wore his family on his sleeve just as, one would their heart because they were his. Rarely, Abe lived life as his own because he would say, “Que Vienen La Buena Mata!” He would say, “We come from good roots!” This expression was matched with selflessness. The kind that leaves people perplexed and in admiration. Butchie’s Legacy rooted deep past the surface level once he and “Babe” became grandparents. They had five beautiful grandchildren. Ashia, Keshia, Domenico, Monique, and Ashley. Butch and Babe had the privilege of exhibiting their selflessness when they were given opportunity to raise and love both Ashia and Domenico as their own. Making them grandparents to 3 and growing their family by two. Elizabeth, Tammy, Cecelia, Sherry, Ashia, and Domenico. It was visible proof of God’s love and another imprint of his signature, but it did not stop there.

Butchie and Babydoll have 22 great grandchildren, Alexis Sr, Bianca, Elizabeth, Savannah, Ashia Jr, Samone, Antonio Jr, Sophia, Erik, Alegandro, Mikia, Dyah, Donovan, Audrianna, Aumarie, Isaiah, Aaronia, Zahara, Justice, Abigail, Olivia, and Josiah.

And 15 great great grandchildren, Cecelia, Annaniah, Noah, Javier III, Alexis Jr, Izaiah, Marcello, Angel, Love, Malaques Jr, Heaven, Donovan, Alonzo, Christopher, and Antionette. Totaling an astounding 40 “Grand and Greats” and still growing!

He enjoyed his family more than anything. He taught them all they know. He taught them how to work hard with their hands and their minds, to provide for their families through any storms that come their way, to never give up, to get up early and go to bed late and that cravings for ice cream aren’t as bad as they say. He taught them to dance on Sunday’s and restore their peace with a tune. He taught them to whistle and sing anywhere just because the tune and time is right. He taught them that another man’s trash is another man's treasure through “Senior Tuesdays” down at “Macy’s”. He taught them jokes that weren’t all that bad and some that really were. He taught them to be patient and observant when an elder of our people was teaching something. He taught them to be proud of the colors of their nation... the Navajo and Apache nation. And although most didn’t like them, he remained loyal to the “Raider Nation,” “win, loose, or tie, I'm a Raider till I die”. He taught them that peeling chili in the sink, isn’t for the weak at hand. He taught them to take all they wanted, but to eat all they took and to never put the heat past 4 or 5 on the stove even if dinner needed to be done quickly. Because he was not ever too much in a hurry not to measure out the flavor of Love. The list can go on and on of all the valuable, timeless wisdom he passed on to them, but before his final breath, he taught them the most precious, valuable, and costly lesson.

The final lesson he left them with was accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. His life he lived, was a stupendous reflection that Jesus calls us to be and that is the image of Him. He married his One, built his home, multiplied his “talents” through his crafts, created his family, loved like no other, served his people, led with integrity, was meek with wisdom. And his last moments in this world, as he made his way to Jesus, he accepted the gift of salvation and surrendered his life and spirit into the hands of The Father.

Abe’s legacy will continue to live on through his many family members, music, food, photos/videos, and memories. We can live a life that exalts Christ and follows Abe’s posture of surrender so we may see him again. Until then, he will be helping build the streets of gold.

With all our love,

La Familia Vigil