Rodolfo "Rudy" J. Gonzales, age 71, died Friday, August 12, 2011, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Public visitation will be held on Thursday, August 18, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Peace at DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 19, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ohkay Owingeh. The family of Dr. Rodolfo (Rudy) J. Gonzales has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 5055-747-7477 Please visit www.devargasfuneral.com to view the online obituary and sign the guestbook.

Rudy was born in Capulin, NM on April 9, 1940, to Maria and Jose Oliver Gonzales. Rudy was the youngest of 12 children. Maria his mother was a mid-wife, his father passed away when he was five. As a young child, Rudy was involved in an accident and became very ill. After multiple doctors' visits, his mother Maria took him to see a chiropractor who was able to heal him. At that point, Rudy chose his lifelong skill of healing people through practicing chiropractic. He attended St. Michaels Catholic School and graduated in 1958 with a basketball scholarship. Even with his athletic skill, he chose not to pursue basketball but attended Palmer Chiropractic College in Daven Port, Iowa and graduated in 1961 with his Doctorate in Chiropractic. He married Marilyn Fickle and parented eight children. Rudy began his first practice in Santa Fe, NM in the early 60's. In his early 30's Rudy moved to Colorado and practiced for 15 years. In 1976 Rudy moved back to the Espanola Valley where he joined his brother Dr. Elmer Gonzales and began working at the Fairview Chiropractic Clinic, which was located next to Dollies. He was currently practicing alongside his brother before he became ill in Arroyo Seco at Healthcom Chiropractic. Rudy's focus in life was to heal not only through chiropractic but also through laughter. He had many friends and devoted his life to his family and helping those in need. He lived one day at a time, had no worries about the past and never stressed about the future. His approach to life was to kill people with kindness and to greet people with one of his famous quotes. For example he loved to say "You look finer then frog hair split four ways, and that's fine!" There was never a dull moment in his life, he and his partner Amelia Gonzales resided in Fairview, where they raised two children and combined showered thirty-nine grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren with love. As each child and grandchild entered his life, he baptized them with their own original nickname. He provided so much joy, love and devotion to his children. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and singing in the living water choir with St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. He continually encouraged young adults to attend college and to continue expanding their knowledge through life experience. He is preceded in death by his parents, Maria and Jose Oliver Gonzales; sisters Beatrice Perea, Elsie Montoya, Eloyda Gutierrez, Henrietta Flores, and Susan Gonzales; and brothers John, Raymond, Joe, and Isidro Gonzales.

SURVIVORS:

WIFE: Amelia Gonzales

4 SONS: Phillip Gonzales, Steven Gonzales and his wife Peggy, Greg Gonzales and his wife Annette and Brad Gonzales

6 DAUGHTERS: Charyse Litton and her husband James, Michelle Phillips and her companion Clint Jones, Shawna Partlow and her husband Tim, Kristen Litton and her husband Ray, Stephanie Gonzales-Salazar and her husband Derrick and Megan Gonzales and her husband David Lucero.

3 STEP-DAUGHTERS: Rachel Herrera and her husband Robert, Yvonne Herrera, Anna Garcia and her husband Herman.

2 BROTHERS: Eloy Gonzales and his wife Jeri and Elmer Gonzales and his wife Betty.

FORMER WIFE: Marilyn Gonzales

He is also survived by many grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and numerous other loving family and friends.