On Tuesday January 24, 2023 Nieves Ortiz "Don Nieves" passed away at home surrounded by his children and many grandchildren.

He was born August 5th 1931 in Durango, Mexico.  He came to the United States around the late 1950s. Alongside his wife, he raised 12 children. He lived many years in Brush and is well known throughout the community for selling tamales, chicharrones, and many other things. He loved going to horse races and had a few horses of his own. Don Nieves raised a very close family, and they would often gather to play cards or lotería or to just hang out. No one on Spruce Street will ever forget how the police would show up every year around the 12th of December because the "Lady of our Guadalupe" celebration would last hours longer than was permitted by the city of Brush.  He is truly missed by his whole family.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Maria Cruz Ortiz, and his son Guadalupe Ortiz. He is survived by his 11 children, Beto (Lazara) Ortiz of Los Lunas NM, Remedios Hernandez of Gardena CA, Esteban and Emma Ortiz of Aurora CO, Floriberta and Jose Angel Rivera of Brush CO, Pacho Ortiz of Brush CO, Samuel and Lilly Ortiz of Brush CO, Maria and Jose Garcia of Brush CO, Felix and Jennifer Ortiz of Yakima WA, Jose and Gloria Ortiz of Greeley CO, Olga and Rodolfo Cerda of Fort Morgan CO, Sabina and Alfredo Avalos of Log Lane CO. He is also survived by 44 grandchildren, 85 great grandchildren, and 21 great-great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 2nd from 5 to 7 p.m. with The Recitation of the Holy Rosary Rosary to follow.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Mary's Catholic Church on Friday, February 3rd at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Brush Memorial Cemetery.