Britnie Burds

Catherine Britnie Burds, 31 of San Rafael, New Mexico passed away Friday, October 12, 2018 in Grants, NM. Britnie was born October 8, 1987 in Grants, NM the daughter of Debbie J. Garcia and Joseph R. Burds. She grew up in San Rafael and Grants, graduated from Grants High School in 2006. Britnie continued her education at Eastern New Mexico University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Cinema Arts in 2010 and her Masters Degree in Mass Communications in 2015. While at ENMU she worked as Senior Producer at KENW TV News 3. She also had the opportunity to work as a production assistant for Motion Pictures Industries on two movie sets, The Rambler and The Signal. Britnie worked as an Office Assistant for the City of Grants Code Enforcement Office in 2014 and later as Marketing Director for the City of Grants. From July 2018 she worked as the Executive Director of Gallup Mainstreet Arts and Cultural District. A job Britnie enjoyed, she put many hours of her time and talents into her work. Britnie was also an instructor at NMSU Grants Campus where she taught Creative Media classes since 2014. Britnie was a member of San Rafael Catholic Church, and a member of Chi Omega Women’s Fraternity at ENMU. She loved the Fall season, October was her favorite month. She enjoyed scary movies, her favorite movies were the Harry Potter series, and favorite TV shows were Friends, and Supernatural. Britnie loved to bake, enjoyed painting, traveling, spending time at the lake with Daniel, photography, and caring for her fur baby cat, Basil. Britnie is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Jack Burds and Kathleen Burds, her step mom Deborah Burds, a cousin Reed Kenyon, her maternal grandparents Dimas and Helen Garcia, uncles George Garcia, Leroy Garcia, Rick Roybal, and Tom Freeman. A loving daughter, sister, and friend Britnie will be missed by her mom Debbie Garcia of San Rafael, NM, her dad Joseph (Nadia) Burds of El Paso, TX, her siblings Eric Garcia of Plano, TX, Brian (Stephanie) Burds of El Paso, TX, James (Rose) Burds of Kansas, Keily (Chase) Longo of Crosbyton, TX, and Jeffrey Burds of Austin, TX, her boyfriend Daniel Candler of Blue Water Lake, NM, aunts and uncles Anna Roybal  of Grants, NM, John (Nancy) Burds of Glenview, IL, Sherrie (Bill) West, Molly (Clifford) Kenyon both of Fort Sumner, Jacqueline (Virgil) Kenyon of Sierra Vista, AZ and Jeff (Beckie) Freeman of Mexico along with a host of other relatives, many friends, and co-workers. Rosary devotional services will be held at 7:00 pm Thursday, October 18, 2018 at San Rafael Catholic Church in San Rafael, New Mexico. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am Friday, October 19, 2018 also at San Rafael with Rev. Father John Cormack officiating. Pallbearers will include Amanda Churchill, Megan Mayhew, Erica "Erie" Miller, Beth Nava, Leslie Notah, and Gabrielle Roybal. Honorary bearers are Krystal Candler, John Kirby, Joseph "JoJo" McKinnon, Jadavyon Nava, Dimas Roybal, Alfred Tomlinson, and Chi Omega Women's Fraternity. Memorial contributions in memory of Britnie Burds may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 6100 Indian School NE, Suite 110, Albuquerque, NM 87110, or the American Diabetes Assn., 525 San Pedro Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N, Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575)355-2311. You may sign the online guestbook or leave a note of condolence at www.chavezfuneralhome.com