Leonard Garcia

Leonard Garcia, age 51, was welcomed into heaven on August 20, 2012 at the Christus St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe following an illness, while surrounded by family members and best friend/brother Mark Montano. Leonard was born on May 13, 1961 in Albuquerque, NM to the home of Ezequiel and Oma (Gerhardt) Garcia. While attending Santa Rosa Schools, Leonard lived with his grandmother Eugenia Gerhardt in Puerto De Luna. He graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1979 where he played football. He remained a Santa Rosa Lions fan his entire life. Leonard attended New Mexico State University where he obtained his Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering in 1988. He worked for his Uncle Robert Gerhardt at Sierra Transit Mix for over 18 years. Leonard loved anything to do with the outdoors. He loved hunting, fishing, and playing golf, and most of all he loved cheering for his children as they played sports. He is preceded in death by his brother, Steve Garcia, his grandparents, Eugenia and Jessie Gerhardt and Ezequiel Sr. and Victoriana Garcia. Survivors include his parents, Ezequiel Jr. and Oma Garcia of Albuquerque; his children, Jessica Garcia , Aimee Garcia and Gabriel Garcia and their mother Delia Garcia; his granddaughter, Emily Baca and her father Estevan Baca all of Las Vegas; brothers, Gene Garcia of Santa Rosa; Danny Garcia and wife Mary of Salt Lake City, UT; his sister, Vicki Dare and her husband Mike Dare of Broomfield, CO. Also surviving are his uncles and aunts, Gilbert and Mary Gerhardt, Bob and Dolores Gerhardt, Nestor Garcia, Arsenio and Mary Garcia, Mike and Laverne Garcia, Tircia Garcia and Isabel Anaya along with numerous nieces, nephews and a host of cousins, relatives and friends. Rosary services were held Wednesday, August 22, from the Immaculate Conception Church in Las Vegas, NM. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, August 23, at 10:00 AM from Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Puerto De Luna, NM, and burial followed at El Calvario Cemetery in Puerto De Luna. Pallbearers were Elmer Pacheco, Mark Montano, Danny Garcia, Estevan Baca, David Baeza and Tony Moncayo. Honorary Pallbearers were, Gabriel Garcia, David Joseph Baeza, Mike Dare, Gene Garcia, Pablo Baca, Eric Baca, Marcelino Ocana, Bobby Gerhardt and all his relatives and friends. All services were entrusted to the Chavez Funeral Home of Santa Rosa. To place an online condolence please visit our website at www.chavezfuneralhome.com