Camilo Baca

Camilo Baca, age 89, passed away March 30, 2008 at the Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell following an illness. Camilo was born on August 18, 1918 in Encinosa, NM to the home of Isabel De La Fe and Josefita Sisneros Baca. At an Early age Camilo started tending cattle and sheep until he joined the Army where he served in WW II. After his military discharge he became a Ranch Hand working with many Guadalupe and Torrance County Ranchers. Camilo and his family were also longtime Torrance County Ranchers. Camilo made his home with his daughter Nancy Campos and her family in Santa Rosa and in 2003 he moved to Roswell to be with his daughter Fabe and her family. Camilo was a member of St. Rose of Lima Church in Santa Rosa and while living in Roswell he attended Assumption Church. He enjoyed fishing, ranching, camping, and was up early every morning, and to him 5:00 AM was already mid day. Camilo was a family man and was devoted to all his family. He cherished family reunions just because all of his family was around him. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Juana Gonzalez Baca, his grandsons; Joseph and Eric Baca, brothers and sister; Antonio Baca, Arturo Baca and Marianita Sandoval. Survivors include his children; Ernest Baca and wife Shelly of El Paso, TX, Harold Baca and wife Mae of Albuquerque, Fabe Martin and husband David of Roswell, Nancy Campos and husband Armando of Santa Rosa. Also surviving are 17 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild as well as numerous nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends. Rosary services will be held on Wednesday, April 2, at 7:00 PM from St. Rose of Lima Church in Santa Rosa. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 3, at 10:00 AM also from St. Rose Church with Father Leo Padget Officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Anton Chico. Serving as Pallbearers will be Jesse Baca, his grandson’s; Loren Baca, Mario Baca, Christopher Bentacu, Adam Martin, Armando Campos, Justin Baca. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers will be the rest of his grandchildren; Alonzo Campos, Rico Baca, Nicholas Baca, Corinna Hults, Cara Martinez, Danette Chumbly, Adrienne Martin, Alexis Martin, Andrew Martin, Amanda Campos, Aaron Campos and Abraham Campos. All services are entrusted to the Chavez Funeral Home, 923 South 3rd St. Santa Rosa, NM (575)472-3369. For online condolences please log onto our website at www.chavezfuneralhome.com. My cowboy church is big and wide. From horizon to horizon, big as all outside. From the country I ride to the sky above, that’s where I worship and know God’s love. Sometimes I ride to the top of a hill and pray to the Lord and ask His will And beg forgiveness for my sinful ways, and vow to Him, there will be better days. I thank Him for the rain that came. I thank and praise Him in the Savior’s name. I thank Him for the horse I ride, and for the love of Jesus that does abide. I thank Him, too, for the miracle of birth, and all good things that bless this earth. So I will always have cowboy work to do, and to Christ our Lord I’ll always be true. So in this great temple of earth and sky, I can ride and tend cattle and my skill apply. There will be storms and hardships, too, but I’ll do just fine, for my Lord is true.