Socorro Gamez Kiefer

Socorro “Coco” Gamez Kiefer, beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, and Latter-day Saint, passed away on Sunday, June 25, 2023. Her last days were spent surrounded by her loving family. Coco was cheerful, jovial, loving, and full of faith.

She was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico on June 27th, 1946, to Arnulfo Gamez Acevedo Bernal and Maria Castillo Jimenez. She was the third of eleven children, with Daniel, Sara, Mely, Caty, Lupe, Fito, Julian, Nacho, Malena, and Leticia.

Coco had wonderful memories of her childhood. At her grandma’s house, there were trees which included Mango, Papaya, Guava, Lime, Puanes, Tamarindo, Almonds, and Zapotes. Her older sister Sara and brother Daniel would often climb the trees and eat mangoes while sitting on the branches. But Coco was afraid of heights so she would stand at the bottom of the tree looking up at them, asking them to send down fruit to her, which they happily did.

Coco raised six wonderful children, Marisol, Peggy, Nancy, Jack, Betty, and Chris, who love and revere their mom for all that she did for them.

Although she only completed a 6th grade education, Coco had a love of learning and she always exemplified a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit. In her earlier years, she owned a bed and breakfast, worked as a bilingual secretary for the Mexican American government, and later she owned several businesses in Utah, including a Wedding Boutique in Ogden, a Mexican restaurant “Mexicombo Express” in Orem, Cornerstone Bakery in the Provo mall, and Utah Alterations in Pleasant Grove. She also participated in several cosmetology competitions, with her daughters Marisol and Peggy as her models, winning awards including 1st place.

Faith and family were everything to Coco. In 1989, Coco was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her faith in God and Jesus Christ was central in her life and central to who she was. She always said it was her love for God that gave her the strength to forgive those who hurt her and change for the better when she needed to change. It was her faith and trust in God that helped her overcome obstacles, and not allow life’s hardships to make her bitter, discouraged, or lead her into vices. She was sealed in the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple on November 5, 2022.