JOE LOUCK, 34, of Santa Fe died Nov. 28, 2004, of pneumonia at Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque.
He was born in Los Alamos and grew up there. He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1988. He enjoyed the outdoors, camping, hiking, caving and horseback riding with his brothers and friends. He loved children and entertained many at Halloween with his unique costumes, decorations and personally prepared handouts to the trick-or-treat callers. He loved animals, especially dogs, and his kindness opened the door to many. He was a graduate of the University of New Mexico in 1993 with a degree in biochemistry. He held himself and his colleagues to the highest standard of integrity and honesty in his chosen profession of environmental engineering, which led him through a number of challenging jobs, the most recent being with Adelante Consulting.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Sam.
He is survived by his parents, Jim and Marge Louck, former Los Alamos residents, now in Santa Fe; brother, Tom of Albuquerque; and many other friends and relatives. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Heart and Soul Animal Sanctuary, 369 Montezuma Ave, Suite 130, Santa Fe, NM, 87501. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 at the United Church of Los Alamos, 2525 Canyon Road, 662-2971.
Dated: December 3, 2004
BOBBY MAESTAS, 53, of Dilia died Nov. 29, 2004, at Alta Vista Regional Hospital.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roberto Maestas and Dulcinea Tenorio Maestas; and brother, Ronnie Maestas.
He is survived by his son, Ross Maestas of Albuquerque; brothers, Tommy Maestas of Las Vegas, N.M., and Gerald Maestas and wife Renee of Dilia; and many other relatives.
Cremation has taken place. A rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. followed by Mass at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dilia with burial to follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Dilia.
Nelson Funeral Home, 425-6551.
Dated: December 3, 2004
RICARDO MEDINA, 82, of Llano de San Juan died Nov. 30, 2004, after a long illness.
He was an iron worker and a blacksmith. He loved animals, building fences and corrals and digging ditches. He was a master of home remedies that were used for both people and animals. He loved to recite dichos and listen to choridos. He enjoyed eating.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucia Medina; son, Dennis Medina; parents, Anatasio and Rebecca Medina; brothers, Erasto Medina and Audelio Medina; and many other relatives.
He is survived by his sons, Richard Medina of Gypsum, Colo., Abel Medina and wife Maggie of Avon, Colo., and Larry, Rudy, Sammy and Melaquias Medina, all of Llano de San Juan; daughters, Lupita and husband Mike Trujillo of Leadville, Colo. and Geraldine Atencio and husband Louie of Gypsum, Colo.; three grandchildren; sister, Mary Pacheco of Llano de San Juan; brothers, Norris Medina of Llano de San Juan and Manuel Medina and wife Grace of Leadville, Colo.; and many other relatives and friends.
A public visitation will be held at 9 a.m. today at the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Peņasco, followed by a funeral at 10 a.m. with burial at the Presbyterian Cemetery in Llano de San Juan.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Espaņola Valley, (505) 747-7477.
Dated: December 3, 2004
JAMES O. PITTMAN, 55, of New Mexico died Nov. 26, 2004.
He was born to Roy and Beulah (Jones) Pittman, missionaries to the Navajo. He grew up in the Four Corners region and attended Chinle High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1973-1977 and was stationed in San Diego, followed by another 16 years in the Naval Reserve in Albuquerque, retiring in 1993 as a chief petty officer. He worked for the city of Santa Fe police and fire departments, then served over 20 years with the state fire marshal's office, retiring in 1999. He was a charter member of Rodeo Road Baptist Church in Santa Fe and served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher, and assisted with construction of the first church building. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed woodworking and sang with the Santa Fe Harmonizers barbershop group. He was a member of the Gideons International, Santa Fe and Rio Rancho camps. He wore a handlebar mustache and used walking sticks.
He is survived by his wife, Cynthia of Rio Rancho; son, Jim and wife Stephanie of Las Vegas, Nev.; daughter, Shawna of Las Vegas, Nev.; mother, Beulah Pittman; sisters, Mary Cody and husband Willis and Ruth Cody and husband Charles, all of Kentucky; brothers, John and wife Penny of Washington and Paul and wife Nancy of Arizona; and many other relatives.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rodeo Road Baptist Church in Santa Fe with burial at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 44432, Rio Rancho, NM 87124.
McGee Memorial Chapel Mortuary, 983-9151.
Dated: December 3, 2004
CAPT. TODD TYLER CHRISTMAS, 26, of Wagon Mound died Nov. 29.
He was born in Las Vegas, N.M. He was the son of Brad and Becky Christmas. He served in the U.S. Army. He was traveling in a Black Hawk helicopter when it collided with a guy wire near Waco, Texas, killing all aboard. He was a 1998 graduate of the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell where he received an associates of arts degree. He went on to attend Texas A&M University where he received a bachelor of science degree in agriculture economics and was the distinguished military graduate in August 2001. He was married to Erica Lane Smith of Arlington, Texas, in 2001. He was commissioned through the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets as an air defense officer and graduated from the Air Defense Officer Basic Course in 2002. He then attended the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga., where he was awarded the parachutists badge. He joined the 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in 2002. While in the battalion, he served as an Avenger Platoon Leader, Linebacker Platoon Leader and Battery Executive Officer. He served as both Platoon Leader and Battery Executive Officer while deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom. In 2004, he was selected to serve as the Aide de Camp for Brig. Gen. Charles Allen, the Assistant Division Commander (Support). He was a member of the Corp of Cadets at Texas A&M where he graduated and was commissioned in 2001. He was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. His military awards included the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Army Parachutists Badge.
He is survived by his wife, Erica Smith Christmas of Killeen, Texas; parents, Brad and Becky Christmas of Wagon Mound; brothers, Matt Christmas of Albuquerque and Will Christmas of Las Cruces; and many other relatives and friends.
Military services were held in Ft. Hood, Texas. A graveside service for all family and friends will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Christmas Ranch, nine miles south of Wagon Mound. In the event of bad weather the services will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church on 7th and Lutheran Lane, Las Vegas, N.M.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the NMMI Alumni Association at 101 W. College Blvd., Roswell, NM 88201 or to the Corp. of Cadets, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas.
Rogers Mortuary, Las Vegas, N.M., (800) 479-3511.
Dated: December 4, 2004
JOSE L. GARCIA, 63, of Ribera died Dec. 1 at St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe.
He was born in Sena to the late Patricio Garcia and Rita Medina Garcia. He was married to Isabel Sena in 1960.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Toni Sena, and daughter, Diana Garcia.
He is survived by his wife, Isabel Garcia of the family home in Ribera; children, James Garcia and companion Lita Garcia, Archie Garcia and wife Elizabeth, Karen Garcia and companion Joe Griego, Dennis Garcia and companion Dahlia Romero, all of Las Vegas, N.M., Stephanie Garcia of Ribera and Jamie Albertson and husband Jason of Albuquerque; 11 grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Abelina Aguilar and Lucy Ortiz, both of Santa Fe, Mike Garcia and wife Vicky of Albuquerque, Clorinda Aragon of Serafina, Polly Torres of Portales, and Joe "Cleto" Garcia and wife Tessie of Las Vegas, N.M.; and many other relatives and friends.
Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at San Miguel del Vado Catholic Church in San Miguel with burial to follow in Sena.
Nelson Funeral Home, Las Vegas, N.M. (505) 425-6551.
Dated: December 4, 2004
E. JOHN GREER, JR., 84, of Santa Fe died Dec. 2 after a long illness.
He was the eldest grandchild of Nathan Salmon and son of E. John and Salome Greer, who built and operated the motion picture theaters in Santa Fe, most notably the Lensic Theatre. He developed and managed the La Casa Loma Apartments from 1969 until his retirement in 1993. He was an avid outdoorsman and sports enthusiast.
He was preceded in death by his son, E. John (Jay) Greer III; sisters, Sara Greer, Lila Koury, and Mary Soldow; and brother, Nathan Greer.
He is survived by his wife, Ola; daughter, Diane; brother, Charles Greer and wife Gene; and many other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday at Berardinelli Family Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at Cristo Rey Catholic Church with burial to follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 983-4331.
Dated: December 4, 2004
