Luis Garcia

Luis Garcia, 87, was called home on Saturday, January 2, 2016. He died at home, lying in their bed, hand in hand, with the love of his life and mother of his children. He was born on May 19, 1928, in Garfield, New Mexico, to Jose Salvador and Lucy Garcia. He was the third oldest of thirteen children; Isabel Weinhardt, Salvador Garcia, Lelia Macias, Willie Garcia, Estela Castillo, Eliseo Garcia, Samuel Garcia, Virginia Garcia, Mike Garcia, Elena Garcia, Larry Garcia and Merlinda Misquez. He married his soulmate, Luciana "Lucy" Maynes from Deming, NM on September 18, 1954, and settled on a small farm in Fairacres, NM. He attended school in Garfield and Hatch, NM, but enlisted before he graduated high school. Among farming and sheep herding, during World War II, he was a maritime /able seaman, which later became the Merchant Marines and made part of the armed forces. He was then drafted and served in the 28th Military Police Co. during the Korean War. Upon discharge, he worked for the Department of the Army as a Firefighter at White Sands Missile Range. After 20 years of service as a firefighter, he acquired his GED and attended the police academy, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class and returned to law enforcement which was his passion. He was a town marshal and deputy sheriff. He also worked as a Park Ranger throughout the State of NM. He loved to hunt and fish and even played volleyball on a men's league at Court Jr. High School, but music was his passion. He taught himself to play the guitar and accordion at a very young age, which accompanied with his voice was music to our ears. We can say that he never sang the same song twice in one night and he could play and sing for hours. He was a parishioner at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, member of the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Posse, Farm Bureau and VFW. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Lucy; his children; Maria Delores Martinez, Henry Louis Garcia, Rosalinda Garcia and Cecilia "Cissy" Garcia; six grandchildren, Joshua Martinez, Rosalinda Suzanna Almaguer, Leilani Marie Garcia-Novak, Audra Vanessa Telles, Louis Shane Garcia and Hanna Bradshaw; and three great-grandchildren, Danika Lynn Almaguer, Taylor Jordan Almaguer and Cameron Justin Almaguer. He is predeceased by his father Jose Salvador, mother Lucy, brothers Eliseo and Willie; and sisters Isabel and Lelia. Visitation for Luis is on Monday, January 11, 2016, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Getz Funeral Home, followed by the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass will be on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral at 10:00 a.m. followed by burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery where he will be laid to rest. Pallbearers are Salvador Garcia, Larry Garcia, Ralph Misquez, Jerome Garcia, Michael Garcia and Mike Lucero; Honorary pallbearers Ignacio Bustamante, Benjie Bouvet, Steve Bouvet, Justin Garcia, Frank "Ponky" Ramirez, Jerry Acosta and Tommy Lucero. PDF Printable Version