( November 3, 1972 – February 29, 2024 )
Gavin Ryan Haas was born in Seattle, Washington, on November 3, 1972. He went to be with our Lord on February 29, 2024, at the age of 51 in Raton, NM, following a brief illness. Gavin is survived by his wife Christina Hope Brown and his beloved dogs Lady and Puppy Pendleton; his mother, Susan Haas, brother Eric Haas, Daughter Kaitlin Cummings ad grandfather Clayton Naset, He was preceded in death by his father Jerry Haas, brother Marc Haas, Grandmother Marie Naset and paternal grandparents Leo and Loretta Lutz.
In elementary school, Gavin enjoyed playing T-ball and soccer. He loved the ocean and forests of the Pacific Northwest where he grew up. In 1985 his family moved to Denver, Colorado, where he took a serious interest in fishing and working on cars. The highlight of his teenage years was a family trip to the Pacific Island Nation of Palau in 1989. Gavin met his first wife in Colorado and they married in 1991; in 1993 they welcomed a daughter Kaitlin Renee into the world. Later he worked for his father in the mid-90s for several years when the family owned a business in Pojoaque, NM. He earned his G.E.D. from Northern New Mexico Community College in El Rito in April 1999.
In January 1999, Gavin was introduced by mutual friends to his future life partner, Christina. Always a working man, during the early 2000’s he held various retail jobs, then worked as a tire tech and mechanic for Big O Tires in Espanola for about 6 years. Gavin loved automobiles, both repairing and driving them, and dreamed of becoming a race car driver. Another major life experience he achieved was completing a four-day professional driving school course at Road Atlanta with Ponaz Racing School in Braselton Georgia in August 1999.
Around 2009 Gavin switched employment gears and began working in construction with his friend Sam, which started a years-long friendship, where he learned how to build and restore homes, plumbing, roofing, and many related skills. The knowledge and abilities he acquired during this time served him well later in life when he moved to Raton.
Chris and Gavin lived together in the village of Chimayo, NM. from 2001 to 2015, where they enjoyed their shared interests and each other. Always a love of nature and animals he was into fishing, boating, camping, hiking in the hills and woods of Northern, NM, and raising and loving numerous dogs and a few special cats. He was also a bit of a farmer and raised ducks, chickens, and even a pair of geese. Gavin also loved video games, music, and fun times and adventures with Chris and his good friends.
In early 2016 Gavin and Chris moved to OJO Sarco, a tiny 300-year-old Hispanic Village in the Mountains near Dixon and Penasco, NM. Sarco is a magical mysterious, absolutely beautiful place where they spent four truly special years together. The challenges of living in the mountains brought out Gavin’s free spirit, made them both “country tough”, and was a treasured time in their lives, but God had other plans in the Spring of 2019. They relocated to the Brown family home in Raton. At that time they both gave their lives to Christ Jesus and were finally married on April 10, 2019. With the support of family friends and neighbors, Gavin was able to re-invent himself as a handyman and “Jack of all trades” utilizing his many skills to create a new career and provide much-needed help to many folks here. He was very grateful for the new friends he made in the last 5 years.
Gavin was a one-of-a-kind, very unique individual. He was creative, super intelligent, fearless, tenacious, fiercely independent, and extremely loyal to those he loved. He had a wicked, dry, and sometimes racy sense of humor, and could make you laugh in spite of yourself. Compassionate and empathetic, especially towards those less fortunate or struggling. Gavin was always ready to lend a hand to those in need. He made a huge impact on the lives of everyone who knew him and will be sorely missed and forever remembered.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church in Raton, NM.
Arrangements for Gavin Ryan Haas are under the direction of the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home.
