Maria Florinda Quintana "Flora," as she would be known, was born in Turkey Creek, Huerfano County, Colorado to John Francisco and Nicolacita Trujillo Quintana on November 21, 1909 - eight days before her cousin Jose Tobias Vigil (Find A Grave Memorial # 130187089). Likely for convenience of the priest both children were baptized on Friday December 17, 1909. Flora's godparents were her father's half brother Maximiano Vigil (Find A Grave Memorial # 127875249) and Jacinta Trujillo Vigil (Find A Grave Memorial # 130182603). Max and Jessie would have more one child, Andres "Andy" Vigil (Find A Grave Memorial # 127873041).

Family lore says that Nicky and Jacinta were sisters; however, the evidence is more likely that Nicky was Jacinta's aunt. We have record that Geronimo Trujillo was Nicky's father and Jacinta's grandfather, and Edwigen Trujillo was Jacinta's mother. Turkey Creek was a small community and its residents were bonded by their religious faith as well as the remoteness of the mountain.

Flora's cousin Toby died as a toddler and shortly thereafter Jessie also passed away. Max in deep mourning over the loss of his first born son and then his wife, joined the Colorado National Guard and then was called up for the Regular Army. The families were close and would do anything for one another, so Max left his second born son Andy with John and Nicky to raise. Andy and Flora grew up as brother and sister. Andy even carried the surname of Quintana until 1940. John and Nicky would have a total of ten children and Andy fit in as one of the boys.

Flora had another uncle, Jose "Joseph" Olegario Vigil (Find A Grave Memorial # 130077219). Joseph was Max's full brother and their father was Jose de la "Luz" Vigil. Luz raised John, Flora's father, as his own son when John's father (Jose Manuel Quintana) drowned along the Raton Pass between New Mexico and Colorado.

For reasons unknown, Joseph and his wife Ramona M. Bernal with their children moved from Colorado to California in the mid 1920's, and they may have well brought Flora with at that time. What is known for certain is that Flora lived with and regarded Joseph and Ramona as her parents, and had five more cousins as to add to her roster of brothers and sister. From her time with Joseph and Ramona until she married John Clifford Clark, she carried the Vigil name.

Swapping children was every common between the Vigil and Quintana families for at least four generations. Flora's heart was enormous, much much larger than her stature.

The love she received from her extensive Quintana Vigil family, she generously gave to her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews… no matter what surname they carried. Her legacy is one of family and enduring love.