Gabriel Jess Garcia made Heaven his home at age 92 on August 1, 2023, in Grants, New Mexico. Jess was born on March 24, 1931, at a ranch in La Junta, Colorado. From there on, Jess lived in Branson, CO, Pueblo, CO, Wagon Mound, NM, Las Cruces, NM, Santa Fe, NM, Albuquerque, NM, and Grants, NM.
Jess received an education from Branson High School and Midwest Business College. After school, Jess served as a U.S. Army Soldier in the 865th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion for three years in the Korean War. After serving, Jess met his wife, Grace, in Wagon Mound, and they married on July 27, 1957. They had three children, moved around a bit, and settled in Grants. Jess worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Kerr-McGee, and at one point owned a landscaping business in Albuquerque.
Jess was known for being a friendly bus driver to so many – driving for the Grants-Cibola County School District, for firefighters fighting fires across the southwest region, Calvary Christian Fellowship church, and the Village of Milan. Jess played guitar and loved to play songs of worship at home and at Calvary Community Church of Milan. Jess never lost touch with his humble beginnings and always enjoyed attending rodeos, watching westerns, and sharing his cowboy stories. Jess was a self-taught handyman, building a home and gazebo that was the family’s favorite place to return to throughout his life. Jess passed this work ethic on to the many young men he mentored both in and outside the family throughout his life. Jess loved to joke and join in laughter with everyone who heard the joke. Most importantly, Jess loved Jesus, and loved people well as a result. Jess spent his final days wishing he could marry his sweetheart Grace one more time, making his family laugh, and singing of how good God has been to him in his life.
Jess was proceeded in death by his parents: Juan D. and Maria Garcia; siblings: Bernice, Adeline, Inez, Lee, Joe, Josephine, and Mose Anthony; and Baby Garcia.
Jess is survived by his wife of 66 years: Grace Garcia; siblings: Irene and JD Jr.; children: Gabriel Garcia, Paul (Shawna) Garcia, and Nancy (Kevin) Hicks; grandchildren: Rebecca (Danny) Dickson, Margeaux (Chris) Peters, Eugene (Laurie) Tellez, Tammy (Isaac) Hernandez, Stephanie (David) Woeslaw, Megan (Derrick) Garcia, Johnathan Garcia, Kylie Garcia, Kayla Garcia, Madison Hicks, and Sophia Hicks; and great-grandchildren: Talan Stohl, Kendal Stohl, Shawn Tellez, Lilly Tellez, Tobias Hernandez, Ezekiel Hernandez, Leah Hernandez, Christopher Woeslaw, Arianna Woeslaw, Aaron Garcia, and Rylee Garcia.
Jess was a true cowboy, a Korean War veteran, a beloved bus driver, an incredibly hard worker, a sincere and heartfelt musician, a faithful servant to the Lord, and he will be remembered for his dedication to God and his family.
Celebration of Life services will be held on September 9, 2023, at 11 a.m., at Calvary Community Church of Milan, located at 703 Valencia Ave, Milan, NM 87021. Special thanks to Mt. Taylor Funerals & Cremations/Compassion Mortuary for helping with service arrangements, and to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Cibola General Hospital for their help, care, and kindness during Jess’s final days here on earth.