Obituaries

Gary Emerson, July 10, 1943 - July 29, 2024

Gary Paul Emerson of Tyrone, New Mexico, died on July 29, 2024, after a long illness. He was 81. He was known in Silver City for his astronomy presentations and his many friendships, including a special relationship with Sally Stewart, who died in 2011. Emerson was born on July 10, 1943, in Los Angeles to Lenova Klutts Emerson and Paul Emerson. He grew up in California, Chicago, Arkansas and Oklahoma. It was in Chicago where a favorite teacher developed his lifelong interest in astronomy. As a high school freshman, he was selected by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for Operation Moon watch, a volunteer observer program established after the Soviet launch of Sputnik. After high school, Emerson joined the Marine Corps and graduated from its electronics school. He also studied at the University of Hawaii, Arizona Western College and New Mexico State University. In 1966, he was in Las Cruces on assignment for Northwestern University to observe the moon for NASA's Apollo missions. He then worked as a solar observer for the National Center for Atmospheric Research Center's High-Altitude Observatory while attending the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Ernesto Baca Garcia passed away at the age of 62 on July 30, 2024 after he peacefully lost his battle with cancer.

Ernesto and his twin sister, Carol, were born at Hillcrest General Hospital in Silver City, New Mexico on September 23, 1961 to the late Ernesto D. and Carolina B. Garcia. Ernesto, also known by friends and family as "Ernie", was a lifelong resident of Bayard. He graduated from Cobre High School in 1980 where he joined track and field. That became one of his passions. He would jog along Highway 180 from Bayard, through Arenas Valley, and back again. You might have been one of many who honked or waved as you passed him along the way. In 1982, he enrolled in a trade school in El Rito, New Mexico and received a trade certification for butcher. His passion for karate began in high school. At the age of 23, he became a 1st degree black belt. By the age of 30, he had become a 2nd degree black belt. Throughout those years, he became an instructor and shared his passion with his students. He was a good, hardworking man. He was employed at Phelps Dodge Corporation for seven years. He retired from Gila Medical Regional Center last year where he worked for twenty- one years. He married his wife, Martha, in 1998.

Angel Del Rio Mondragom, 64, a resident of Deming entered eternal rest on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born August 2, 1959 in San Luis del Cordero, Durango, Mexico to Delfino Del Rio and Antonia Mondragom.

A viewing will be held Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 3 to 7 o'clock in the evening at Baca's Funeral Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11 o'clock in the morning at St. Ann's Catholic Church. The rite of committal and interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Fr. Francis Gyau will officiate.

Angel is survived by his wife Marina Del Rio; his children, Israel Del Rio, Homero (Brenda) Del Rio, Angel Del Rio, Miguel Angel Del Rio, Hilda (Victor) Torres, Rita (Felix) Del Rio Rocha, Angelica Del Rio (Joseph Garcia) and Marina Del Rio; his 5 siblings, Eleuterio (Juanita) Del Rio, Miguel (Hermila) Del Rio, Gonzalo (Lorena) Del Rio, Soledad Del Rio and Pilar Del Rio (Manuel Pacheco); 13 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild; as well as many extended family and friends.

ORTEGA: Corrine P. Ortega was born May 18, 1939, to her parents, Manuel and Ciria Ortega, in Gila New Mexico. The family moved to Silver City on wagon, and started a family Legacy of Ortega and Polanco. She was proceeded in death by twin sister to Lorrine Ortega, brother's Manuel (June) Ortega, Rudy Ortega, Ramon (Monie) Ortega, nephew Louie Ortega, great- great nephew Andres Amias Ortega, great-great-great niece, Alize Hernandez. She is survived by Sister Mary Lou Ortega (Junior Reyes). Nephews and Nieces, Robert Ortega, Ronald Ortega, Orlando Ortega (Chi Ortega), and Sonya Lorraine Ortega, Steven Ray Ortega, Angela Arroys, Patricia (Popie) Ortega, Angela Armijo. Great Nephews and nieces, Robert J. Ortega Jr. (cacanooni) (Latoucha Ortega), Gordo Ortega , Veronica Hernandez (Jose Hernandez), Matthew Ortega, Alec Ortega, Nathan Ortega, Kirsty Ortega, Mercedes Ortega, Steven O. Ortega (Donna Ortega), Mercedes Castillo(Ezekiel Castillo), Dustin Armijo (Alicia Armijo), Patrick Mena, Isaac Mena, Delicia Lopez (witchy poo) (Carlos Lopez( Chaz), Gabriel Ortega (pretty boy), Xander Ortega (werinchie), Steven Jr. Ortega, Raiden Ortega (Pansas), Christian Ortega. Great-great Nephews and Nieces Christopher Ortega, Emanuel Ortega, Santos Ortega, Antonio Hernandez, Alisa Hernandez, Alyia Hernandez, Danny Lorenzo Rubio Jr., Giovanni Adam Betita, Syrenity Elise Kaska-Castillo, Maddison Adylia Grace Kaska-Castillo, Robert James Ortega III, Rozalia Honey Lopez, and one on the way. Great-great-great nephew Javier Rentana.

On June 17, 2024 at 10:50pm, Brian Duncan Cowan, a loving father, grandfather, and friend to many passed away in Sacramento, California.

He was born in Silver City, New Mexico on October 22, 1945 to his parents Earle Albert Cowan and Alma Mae Duncan Cowan. He spent the first few months of his life living in Bayard, New Mexico with his Aunt Pearl Cowan Talley and Uncle George Talley.

Brian and his parents moved to Johannesburg, Kern County, California in 1946 where his parents worked at the U.S. Naval Ordinance Test Station (Naval Air Weapons Station) at China Lake, California. They eventually moved into base housing and lived in homes on Hornet, McIntire and Rowe Streets, where Brian spent his childhood years.

As a young boy, Brian always looked forward to going back to New Mexico in the summer and staying with Aunt Pearl and Uncle George and playing with Russel Hyde (Cousin) during the summer days, including playing baseball with Russel for the Bayard baseball team. Nothing was safe when Brian and Russell had their BB guns, including themselves. Brian also enjoyed fishing with his Uncles George and Bill (who he called Wild Bill) on Lake Roberts and Elephant Butte.

Richard Dale Rice, 91, Deming resident passed away Friday, July 26, 2024 at Willow Manor in Deming.

Visitation will take place Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at Baca's Funeral Chapels at 9 o'clock in the morning. Funeral Service will follow at 11 o'clock in the morning led by Deacon Glenn Newswanger. Interment will be Thursday August 8, 2024 at 11 o'clock in the morning at Ft. Bayard National Cemetery in Santa Clara, NM.

Richard was born on July 10, 1933 to Gladys Easton and Omar Rice at Nampa, Idaho. Richard (Dick)was mechanical engineer. He graduated from the University of Idaho. Dick was a professional engineer in several western states. He was employed by the Veterans Administration in Spokane, WA where he met his wife, Mary. Both transferred to the Veterans Hospital in Augusta, Michigan. This led to a move from Spokane, Washington to Galesburg, Michigan. Dick and Mary became involved with antique tractors while living in Galesburg. Dick also designed a fertilizer plant that was built in Central Ferry, Washington.

Maria de los Angeles Sanchez, 57, passed away Monday, July 15, 2024 at her residence in Deming.

Born July 22, 1966 in Tepehuanes, Durango, Mexico and was known by many as Angela. She was the youngest child out of 14 children from Domingo and Mercedes Sanchez. Maria moved to Los Angeles, California at the young age of sixteen with her family. She was passionate about working, loved to spend her days being productive in her daily life. She loved to go out dancing with her friends after work and on the weekends. Her favorite job was working at the LAX airport where she assembled food and beverages for airline carts. On May 7, 2004 she gave birth to her pride and joy Natalie Sanchez. Natalie and her mother moved to Deming, New Mexico in 2010 to be closer to family. She wanted to be close to her beloved sister Domitila Sanchez and her brother Ramon Sanchez. She was around many of her nephews, nieces, and cousins. Family was everything to her. She loved talking to her sister Domitila every day. She was given the nickname by her sister "Newspaper" because she loved to gossip. She spent the rest of her days with her beautiful daughter and talking to her sister. She will be always remembered as the fun, very loving, beautiful Tia Angela to her family.

Charles "Chuck" Fiorentino, 75, Deming resident passed away Monday, July 29, 2024 in Las Cruces, NM. Chuck was born November 12, 1948 in Cleveland, OH to Jospeh Fiorentino and Dorothy Evans.

A viewing will be held on Monday, August 5, 2024 from 10 to 11 o'clock in the morning at Baca's Funeral Chapel. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 at Mountain View Cemetery. Pastor Mason Davis will be officiating.

Chuck leaves behind his loving wife, Beverly Fiorentino; his children, Charles Edward Fiorentino, Aaron Fiorentino, Gerald Fiorentino and Ashley Fiorentino; 2 brothers, Errol, and Jospeh Fiorentino, as well as his 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jospeh Fiorentino and Dorothy Evans; his step-father, Ralph Bellars and his 3 siblings, Tony Fiorentino, Nancy Canady, and Sandy Krischano.

Serving as pallbearers will be Charles Fiorentino, Aaron Fiorentino, Gerald Fiorentino, Michael Lujan, Aaron Rodriguez, and Jesus Lee.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Charles "Chuck" Fiorentino, please visit our floral store.