Obituaries

Ysela M. Rodriguez, 89 of Bayard passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Thursday, October 2, 2025. 

Ysela was born October 31, 1935 in El Paso, Texas to Elias Morales and Maria Rodriguez.  Ysela is survived by her husband, Daniel P. Rodriguez; two sons, Robert (Janet) Rodriguez and Blas (Angela) Rodriguez; two daughters, Anna (Norman) Arellano and Cindy (Mike) Guzman; and one brother, Jesus Morales.  Also surviving Ysela are her ten beloved grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Ysela was preceded in death by her mother, Maria Cunningham; her father, Elias Morales; a sister, Evangeline Allison; two sons, Antonio Rodriguez and Daniel Rodriguez as well as a grandson, Robert Rodriguez, Jr.   At Ysela's request, cremation will take place.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ysela Rodriguez, please visit our floral store.

Joyce Bresee, 87, died peacefully on September 25 in Las Cruces, NM.  There will be a celebration of life in Deming on November 12 at Kingdom of the Sun Retirement Center dining room 4 from 1-3pm.

Joyce was born to Tracy and Ethlynde Upson July 18 1938 in Syracuse NY.  Joyce graduated from Phoenix High in Phoenix NY. 

Joyce met the love of her life Robert (Bob) Bresee and they were married for 60 years until his death in 2016.

Joyce was very dedicated to her family and community and volunteered and donated to various charities.  She was an avid reader and shared her love of reading with friends and her daughter Michelle.  She moved back to Deming in 2017 after her husband's passing.

Joyce is survived by her children, Mikel (Geralyn), Lance (Julie), Michelle (Douglas), her three grandchildren Chris, Jay, Jesse (Julia) and two great-grandchildren Daniel, Kurt, and sister Laura.

Joyce will be laid to rest along with her husband at Mountain View Cemetery in Deming, NM.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joyce Ann Bresee, please visit our floral store.

C. Christina Loew passed from the world on Sept 26, 2025, after a long illness, in Deming, NM. A Master Bridge player and gardener, she resided in Scottsdale AZ for 60 years.

She is survived by her three children: sons John Galka (Melissa) and Frank Galka (Mary), of Deming NM. and Emilie Shriver (Robert) of Anchorage, AK, six grandchildren (James, Justin, Michelle, Melanie, Joshua and Christine) as well numerous great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. Chris is also survived by two siblings Virginia (Gia) Casto of La Quinta, CA and James Ottoes (Mary) of Cheyenne, WY and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Born Clara Christina Bangs in Rockville, NE. on Dec 25, 1933, to John and Josephine Bangs (Ahrens) and relocated to Cheyenne, WY in her youth.

She was proceeded in death by her loving husband Francis (Frank) Thomas Galka Sr. on Nov 2, 1963 – in Cheyenne, WY.

Thomas (Tom) Loera Chavira, 56, entered eternal rest on Friday, September 12, 2025, at Gila Regional Medical Center, in Silver City, NM surrounded by his loved ones.

He was born on March 1, 1967 to his parents, Thomas Chavira Sr, and Corina (Loera) Chavira. Thomas took pride in working at Borchardt Rifle Corporation with Al Storry. Tom was a machinist and gun smith servicing Grant County, NM. He enjoyed tinkering on his vehicles, fishing, hiking, and hunting. He loved the outdoors, especially the mountains.

We love him dearly and will miss him, we take comfort knowing he is at peace and resting in the presence of our Lord.

On Sunday, September 7th Walter "Lee" Jackson (84), of Buckhorn, went home to the Lord, where he longed to be. Lee was born to Walter and Doris Jackson on August 12, 1941 in Albuquerque, NM. The family moved to Grant County in 1947 when his dad went to work for Kennecott/Chino in Hurley. Lee grew up in Apache Tejo with his five siblings. Lee grew up showing FFA animals at both the Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair and NM State Fair through which he learned a great deal from Ag Teacher Dwight Houston. He attended and graduated from Cobre High School in 1960 where he was quite a football player. He earned All-South, All-State and All-American his senior year. Lee was offered a college football scholarship to North Texas University.

He worked for the Gas Company of New Mexico before becoming a pipe fitter for Phelps Dodge first in Arizona and then in Hurley. He spent most of his adult life as a butcher, working for DPac in Deming and going on to run his own butcher shops "Last Chance" in Pinos Altos and then "Uncle Lee's" in Arenas Valley. After retiring, he spent a short time living in Mimbres but spent the last five years of his life in Buckhorn raising "spoiled beef". He firmly believed the more you spoiled those feeder calves, the more tender the meat would be.

Adolfo G. Marquez, 81, of Silver City passed away on Monday, September 29, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona surrounded by his family.  Services will be announced at a later time.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Adolfo Genera Marquez, please visit our floral store.

Steven Montoya, 50, of Silver City passed away Thursday, September 25, 2025 at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas. Arrangements are pending.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Steven Montoya, please visit our floral store.

Belisario Molinar Alvarez, 92, lifelong resident of Deming passed away Saturday, September 20, 2025 at his home.

Visitation will begin Wednesday, October 1, 2025 from 5 to 6 o'clock in the evening at Baca's Funeral Chapel. The recitation of the Holy Rosary will then be recited at 6 and will be led by Christine Milo. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 11:30 in the morning at St. Ann's Catholic Church followed by the rite of committal and interment at Mountain View Cemetery. Fr. Tony Basso will be officiating.

Belisario was born April 17, 1933 in Deming, NM to Belisario Alvarez Sr. and Perfecta Molinar. Belisario was a Korean War Veteran and served between 1953 – 1955. He was a Untied States Army Corporal and served as an Artillery Gunman. After his service to our county was over, he met and married Mary Correa and spent the remainder of his life of 63 years of marriage until her passing on October 30, 2021. They raised six children together, and lived a very peaceful and quiet life together. Belisario followed his fathers' footsteps and earned a job with the City of Deming in the Utility Department as a Supervisor for over 35 years. During his employment with the City of Deming he was well known to have his little fur companion riding along with him in which was his little white chihuahua, Easter.