Samuel Trujillo

Samuel R. Trujillo died Sunday, December 16, 2012, in his home in Durango. He was 74. Son of Jose Anastasio Trujillo and Anita Aguirre Trujillo, Sam was born in Pagosa Junction, Colo., on December 3, 1938. He grew up in the Pagosa area with his parents and siblings. He attended school in Pagosa and served in the U. S. Navy, receiving a medical discharge in 1962. As a boy, Sam was discovered by cartoonist and filmmaker, Fred Harmon, creator of the Red Ryder character. Harmon chose him to play the role of Little Beaver in his movies and to travel around the country, performing for large audiences. After his career he returned to Colorado before entering the Navy and lived in Durango for his remaining decades. Although unable to work because of his health, he enjoyed music and following the Denver Broncos. He also treasured the time spent with his sister, Angie, his nieces and nephews and friend, Tom Casper, a Durango health worker. He is survived by sisters Angelina T. Trujillo of Durango, Isabelle Lazona of Los Angeles, Louisa Hale of Arkansas, and Emily T. Millich of San Jose, Calif., and extended family. He is predeceased by his brother Ben Trujillo, and sisters—Eloida T. Chavez, Cydelia Ortega, and Judy T. Romero. A rosary will be recited for him at 6 p.m. Thursday, December 20, 2012, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and he will be interred at Greenmount Cemetery in a military service at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 21, 2012.