Mother, sister, daughter, friend, artist, photographer, activist, animal advocate, and a lifelong champion of sobriety, Cynthia “Cindy” Leigh Roddy Blue Horse was born on August 17, 1954, in East Orange, New Jersey, and she died from cancer on April 14, 2023, in Corrales, New Mexico. Cindy took the road less traveled, and she spent her life helping others live sober, creative, caring, and examined lives too.

In her early years, she lived in Belgium as an au pair, adventured around Europe, and attended Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Political Science. After college, she moved to West Virginia and began an exciting career working in the legal field as a litigation paralegal and as a forensic photographer. Her career as an ace paralegal took her from West Virginia to Texas and then to New Mexico. In Houston, she worked for the prestigious law firm of Bracewell & Patterson.

Her proudest accomplishment was becoming a mother to Grant, and she beamed with pride at his creative abilities as an artist and graphic designer. Her favorite art was his and she proudly displayed his creations on the walls of her home.

In 1984, Cindy began a recovery journey that impacted countless lives around the world. She would go on to dedicate over three decades of her life to helping others in their sobriety journeys. On February 12, 2023, she celebrated 39 years of sobriety.

Cindy moved to Corrales, New Mexico in 2001. When asked what she loved about Corrales most, she said, “Everything,” and she adored the American Southwest, the people, and the comingling of cultures there. The wildlife, sunsets, open expanse of night sky, and her beloved view of the Sandia Mountains deeply impacted her photography. Later, she became heavily involved in the Lakota community, where she was afforded the great honor of participating in Sun Dance ceremonies.

A lifelong lover of gardening, Cindy obtained her Master Gardener certification. She had a deep respect for the Earth, her resources, and sustainability issues, as well as teaching younger generations how to grow food sustainably.

Art and creativity were also great loves of Cindy’s life. She was an accomplished photographer, and she photographed Native American life, wildlife, and Southwestern landscapes. Her work was displayed in galleries, notably at a Smithsonian American Art Museum exhibition in Washington, D.C. in the late 1980s with Native American artist and author Lee Marmon. She also apprenticed under Marmon from 2005 to 2007.

Cindy was predeceased by her father Whitney H. Roddy, and she is survived by her beloved son Grant Edward Thompkins IV (Tracy), her wonderful mother Sally (Jim) Smith, her two incredible brothers, Bruce (Susan) Roddy and Brian (Dina) Roddy, nieces and nephews, her soul cat Alphie, and countless friends around the world.

In place of a traditional ceremony, Cindy would encourage her loved ones, friends, and others to enjoy life sober, care about the Earth and Her people, pursue creativity and the things that make your soul come to life, lean into Higher Power, be still, and take many walks as you listen to the soundtrack of life around you and the serenity found in nature.

“Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.”- from The Big Book.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.   https://donate.cancer.org

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