John Luciano Garcia, age 75, died on Friday, January 26, 2018 in Amarillo, Texas.
A memorial service will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday. January 31, 2018 at the Clayton Seventh Day Adventist Church, 401 Harding St, Clayton, New Mexico. A private family services will be held at his home in Grenville, New Mexico on Tuesday, January 30.
John was born on May 15, 1942 in Des Moines, New Mexico and graduated from Clayton High School. Raised in Grenville, he read every single book in Union County. He was drafted into the Army in 1966 and was honorably discharged two years later. John worked as a surveyor and civil engineer technician in Albuquerque and retired to Sampson, New Mexico in 2000. While this is how he made a living, the way he lived his life was to put comfort into the world. John was an active Elder of the Clayton Seventh Day Adventist Church. Through teaching, guiding, listening, and laughter, he nurtured every person who crossed his path; every child was hita or hito; every relative was fed; every tear soothed; every smile returned. When he wasn’t helping others, he spent his time gardening, hunting with his brothers, canning, bible studying, reading, and watching the sun in the canyon. Famous for his bushy eyebrows, his dancing feet, his stubborn integrity and his love of land, he will be missed profoundly by his family and community. He is love embodied. John was preceded in death by his father Ferdinand Garcia II on July 13, 1962; his mother Emilia Rivera Garcia on October 25, 1985; his brother Eli H. Garcia on October 14, 2015; and his first wife, Marcella Anne Garcia on November 23, 1980.
SURVIVORS:
WIFE: Sandra Garcia of Sampson, New Mexico.
2 DAUGHTERS: Johnna Anne Shotridge and Shadiin Garcia of Eugene, Oregon.
1 SON: Wesley Nicholas Garcia of Salem, Oregon and his mother Mary Andre of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
1 STEPSON: Jacob Charles Wernicke and wife Anne stationed in Maryland.
2 SISTERS: Leonora Garcia Howell of Sampson, New Mexico and her husband James; and Bea George of Lakin, Kansas
3 BROTHERS: Ferdinand Garcia III and his wife Kay and Jerry M. Garcia and his wife Cleo all of Clayton, New Mexico and Leon E. Garcia of Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
GRANDCHILDREN: Leonard Katlian Shotridge; Gabriel Koihomma Koiishe; Isaiah Luciano Koiishe; Shadiin Luciana O’Conner; Brayden and Draycen Wernicke.
NIECES AND NEPHEWS: Allan George, Teri George, Lorraine George, Richard George, Kimberly Vasquez, Bridget Maestas, Farah Sandoval, Peter Carlos Garcia, Ferdinand Garcia IV, Francesca Martinez, Jeanette Sartain, Emily Strobel, Rhyan Fraser.
