James Vance

Father James Vance was born in Tucumcari, NM on November 23, 1938. He passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2023. He attended St. Anne School, Tucumcari High School, Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Santa Fe and St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1963, at St. Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe by the Most Rev. Edwin Vincent Byrne. As an assistant, he served in the parishes of Our Lady of the Assumption in Albuquerque, Santa Rita in Carrizozo, Our Lady of Sorrows in Bernalillo, Cristo Rey and St. John the Baptist, both in Santa Fe. He was pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Maxwell, St. Anthony in Questa, Immaculate Conception in Cimarron, St. Anne in Tucumcari, St. Francis Xavier in Clayton, St. Joseph in Raton, San Martin de Porres in Albuquerque and San Ysidro in Corrales. He served as the dean of the northeast deanery from 1984 to 1992.

Father Vance was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mary Vance. He is survived by his brother, Robert and wife, Lynn, and cousin, Frances Shay and husband, William.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 28, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., followed by a Rosary at 6:00 p.m., at San Ysidro Catholic Church, 5015 Corrales Rd, in Corrales, NM 87048.

A Rosary will also be held on Monday, July 31, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m., St. Anne Catholic Church, 306 W. High St. in Tucumcari, NM 88401.
Interment will follow at Tucumcari Memorial Park at 12:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, Father Vance requested donations be made to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe for the education of seminarians, 4000 St. Josephs Place NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120.