Florencio Lawrence Salazar Rodriguez was born on October 27,1926 and eternally passed on to be with our Savior, July 13,2013.

He was the second oldest of 10 children to Emilio and Antonia Rodriguez near Poteet, TX. He attended school up to the 2nd grade. He then commenced working from his young life up through his adult life. Dad developed a strong work ethic which we his children, developed as well.

Florencio made Poteet his home even when he left for months at a time to work in the agricultural fields, harvesting anything and everything from cherries, cotton, potatoes, you name it, he did it. Florencio loved music and played a variety of instruments. He also had the opportunity of playing in bands. A peculiar trait he picked up was learning different languages. How fun it was to hear him speak German, Polish, Italian, and our favorite, pig Latin!

From 1941-1945, he made Michigan his home. In 1945, Florencio, his parents and siblings traveled the states working until 1965 where he and his family settled in Santa Rosa, Texas. It was there he met his beautiful wife, Raquel Olivarez.

Florencio and Raquel were wed in Harlingen, Texas on April 23, 1965. In May, they moved to Burlington, Colorado. They were the first Hispanic couple to the community.

Having lived in Burlington for the last 48 years, he was first employed as a laborer for Art Martin where he planted cucumbers and potatoes. He would also haul beets to neighboring towns. As time went on, he was employed by the USDA, Bonny Lake Reservoir, sugar beet factory, and many farmers.

Florencio and Raquel are proud parents, grandparents and great grandparents of many, many, and I mean many children.

On a serious note, we learned strength, perservance, to have faith and trust in God, family unity, and a strong discipline that ranged from whippings 23 times ( Larry ), getting run over 2 times and barely survived ( Larry ), but mostly, we all have experienced the healing power of humor which our dad always portrayed throughout his life.

Florencio could make a friend anywhere he went and was liked by many people. On the night Florencio passed, he was surrounded by many loved ones. As he breathed his last breath, his children shared memories of the father they love. He will be greatly missed. We love you dad!


He is survived by his wife, Raquel Rodriguez; Sons, Florencio Jr. Rodriguez, Alonzo Rodriguez, Jose Rodriguez, Rene Fonseca, Loyd Rodriguez, Lawrence Rodriguez, Chris Rodriguez, Dale Rodriguez, George Rodriguez, Antonio Rodriguez; Daughters, Elizabeth Aguirre, Nancy Rodriguez, Angela Peele, and Dolly Zamerra. Other Survivors include his sisters, Catarina Alvarez, Dora Rizo, Manuela Jaramillo. He is preceded in death by his parents, Emilo & Antonia Rodriguez; Sons, Ricardo Rodriguez, and Domingo Rodriguez; his brothers, Rumaldo Rodriguez, Nicholas Rodriguez, and Jose Cruz Rodriguez; sisters, Petra Trevino, Dominga Rodriguez, and Helen Rodriguez.


A visitation will be held Wednesday July 17, 2013 from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Brown and Latimer Funeral Home in Burlington.


Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Baptist Church of Burlington with inurnment in the Poteet, Texas Cemetery at a later date.


Contributions can be made in the name of Florencio or Lawrence Rodriguez at the Frontier Bank.