Obituaries

Alice M. Gandara- Diaz, age 66, a resident of Belen, NM, formally of Santa Clara, passed away on May 29, 2024. After a long battle with cancer, she passed peacefully at home with family.

Services will take place on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church beginning with a Visitation at 8:30 a.m., Rosary at 9:30 a.m., with a Memorial Service to be Celebrated at 10:00 a.m. A second service will take place on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Santa Clara Catholic Church in Silver City, NM beginning with a Rosary at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Cremation has been entrusted to Baca's Funeral Chapels and will follow after funeral services have taken place. Inurnment will take place on Monday, June 10, 2024, at Santa Clara Cemetery at 10:00 a.m.

Alice is survived by brother, Frank Johnson; three sons, Manuel "Manny" G. Torres (Aimee), Narciso "Cecil" G. Torres (Lila), and Jesse G. Diaz (Isela); and 7 grandchildren and great children. Alice is preceded in death by her husband, Hector L. Diaz; parents, Narciso P. and Alice Nevarez Gandara.

RACHEL PONCE, June 20, 1954 – May 2, 2024

The family of Rachel Gonzales Ponce announces, with sorrow, her passing on May 2, 2024. Rachel bravely finished her 4-year fight with cancer and went home to be with Jesus surrounded by family and friends. A memorial service was conducted on May 10, 2024, in Albuquerque, NM. 

She is survived by her husband Jesse Ponce; daughter Jessica Jaramillo (JJ), son Gabriel all of Albuquerque; sisters, Rebecca (Daniel) Castillo and Rozenda Limon of Silver City; mother, Jennie Gonzales of Silver City.

She was preceded in death by her father, Reymundo Gonzales of Silver City; her in-laws, Jess and Mary Ponce of Silver City; her grandchildren, Estrella and David Abeyta of Albuquerque.

Gloria Villines Rascon, 89, of Silver City passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at Gila Regional Medical Center. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels.

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

Fred Jess Shanks, 75, a resident of Deming, NM, entered eternal rest on Friday, May 24, 2024 at Fort Bayard Medical Center, in Santa Clara, NM.   He was born to his parents Robert and Vada (Ellis) Shanks in Silver City, NM on May 2, 1949.

Fred was a man of many talents and had the best sense of humor.  He was well known as the "fiberglass man" throughout the southwestern states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Texas and into Mexico; laying tile and spraying dairy flooring.  When mentioning the name Shanks, people would ask "are you Fred's brother?" He loved traveling for his businesses.

Fred is survived by this mother, Vada Ellis Early; his two daughters Amber Shanks of Silver City, NM and Alicia Shanks of Mimbres, NM; his brother Robert Shanks also of Silver City, NM.  He was preceded in death by his father.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 2, 2024 at the American Legion in Deming, NM.

Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory.  Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trust care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777.  To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com .     

Eugene George Lynn Jr., 62, a resident of Pinos Altos, NM, entered eternal rest on Monday, May 20, 2024 at his residence.   Arrangements are pending with Terrazas Funeral Chapels ~ 575-537-0777.

Fred Jess Shanks, 75, a resident of Deming, NM, entered eternal rest on Friday, May 24, 2024 at Fort Bayard Medical Center, in Santa Clara, NM.   Arrangements are pending with Terrazas Funeral Chapels ~ 575-537-0777.

Marian Serna, 79, a resident of Silver City, NM passed away quietly in her home on Sunday morning, May 19, 2024 surrounded by all her loving family.  She was born to her parents Simon Bustamante and Helen (Juarez) Salas on July 14, 1944.

Marian was born and raised in Los Alamitos, CA, the eldest of four daughters. She met, fell in love with and married Ernie Serna there.  They started their first home together and began to raise a family. Later, they moved their family from Cerritos, CA and built their home in Silver City, NM.  Marian and Ernie enjoyed a wonderful life together in New Mexico. Marian was an adoring, loving wife and mother who spoke with such pride and joy about all of her "boys". She was always a nurturing and guiding part of her sons' lives. She was known by family and friends to be a gifted hair stylist, having graduated from Marinello School of Beauty. In high school she excelled in Culinary Arts and sometimes like to practice her assignments at home for her father. She was an amazing cook and baker, making delicious treats for family and friends during the Holidays. It was her Love Language. Marian was a strong woman of faith who always had a positive outlook, no matter the circumstance.

Dora Dean Childress Leithead born March 10, 1932 passed away at her home in Mule Creek NM at the age of 93. Her Parents were Arthur and Averil Taylor.

Her Family homesteaded in Separ before relocating to Mule Creek when she was three. When she was sixteen, she met her future husband of forty-seven years Charles Richard Childress when he drilled a water well for the family. They had two daughter Carol Shadron of Los Luna's NM. and Sherlene Williams of Mule Creek, NM. In 2013 Dean re-married to her second husband James Leithead of Wilcox AZ. They enjoyed traveling and attending gospel meetings for a few years before Mr. Leithead passed. Shortly after she moved back to the Taylor Ranch in Mule Creek NM. to be closer to family. Dean had six grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren. All of whom she truly adored.

There will be a graveside memorial June 15, 2024 at 5pm at the Gila Mesa Cemetery in Gila NM. After we have said our goodbye and dried our eyes, we will meet at the Gila Baptist Church for a potluck for family and friends.