Rita Loy Simmons

Our beautiful mother, Rita Loy Simmons left this earth on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 surrounded by her children and family.

There are not enough words to express our loss as she taught her family everything that truly matters - love for family, friends, be kind to all you meet, show up for people you love, find joy in the little things in life and never take a single moment together for granted. She exemplified unconditional love for her children and a fierce love for her home and community in Edgewood NM and the rest of the East Mountains.

Rita Loy was born in Rehoboth NM on the Navajo reservation on Friday, February 3, 1939. After two months when the snow melted her father Tom Horton brought his wife Rita and his new baby daughter Rita Loy home to what is now called Edgewood NM. Rita Loy was brought up in a farming ranching family learning the many ins and outs of managing land, resources and animals. As she grew up, she attended School in Stanley, Estancia and Moriarty finally graduating from Highland High School.

As she entered her 20's she started raising her children in Albuquerque and spent many days and weekends on the family ranch helping her parents. When she was in her late 30's she obtained her Real Estate License working as a Realtor in the East Mountains for 52 years, becoming one of the area's most trusted and enduring professionals. She guided generations of families through the process of buying land, building homes, and planting roots. Her knowledge of the region was unmatched, and her reputation for honesty, warmth, and perseverance made her a cornerstone of local real estate. In 1972, when her parents founded Entranosa Water, she became an integral part of its early operation, helping build the foundation of an essential utility that continues to support thousands of families today. Her dedication to community infrastructure was matched only by her commitment to helping people find their homes.

She was instrumental in securing water for PaaKo Development through Entranosa as well as developing subdivisions on Mountain Valley Road, Steeple Chase, and Los Hermanos. Upon her parents passing, she continued to carry the light of community development and growth of Entranosa water. Her community service went deeper as a Town Councilor for the Town of Edgewood for 12 years, a member of the Bernalillo County Water Advisory Committee, member representative of the New Mexico Municipal league, and she also spent time with the NM Road Advisory Committee meetings to promote paving of roads in the town of Edgewood. Rita Loy said she never wanted to be the leader, but she wanted to be part of the leadership team to bring balance through her extensive knowledge and working history of the Edgewood community to optimize steady growth and prosperity. Her rich life in the East Mountains often led to her sharing stories about the land and the homesteaders. Often, she would be asked to share these stories in public forums as she was a wealth of knowledge about the region.

Rita Loy loved to experience every opportunity of traveling and meeting people that she could. She was part of the Model T club in Albuquerque and for many years enjoyed a monthly social with several Women from the Edgewood Community as well as the weekly dinners with several members of her Highland High School graduating class. Even as her health declined, she enjoyed having her High School Classmates over for a brown bag dinner the week before she passed with the assistance of her sister Sharron.

Rita Loy continued to be an active Real Estate Broker up until the Month of July when her health wouldn't permit her getting out. However, she was still fielding questions from others via text and phone regarding real estate the week prior to her passing.

Rita Loy is survived by her children James Garnet Thomas of Edgewood, Leslie Claudine Miller of Albuquerque, Marian Clair Bradbury of Santa Fe and her sister Sharron Geilenfeldt of Albuquerque as well as her 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She is also survived by extended family of nieces, nephews and stepdaughters. She was looking forward to being reunited with her husband, Jarrod Simmons, her parents Tom and Rita Horton as well as her first husband Bob Thomas and his mother Marian Romero Thomas. She said she had lived a wonderful life and left this earth with no regrets. Her legacy will continue via the many people she impacted, both professionally and personally in her lifetime with her knowledge, kindness, helpfulness and most of all love.

A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, September 3, 2026 at Valley View Christian Church, 170 State Road 344 Edgewood, NM 87015. In Lieu of flowers the family would prefer donations to New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranches/The Ranches or Menaul School.