Leucaria “Lea” Baca Venable

Leucaria “Lea” Baca Venable, age 91, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2021, at her home in Grants, New Mexico, surrounded by her family. Lea was born January 12, 1930, in the Village of San Mateo, N.M. to parents Rafeal Baca and Seferina Gonzales Baca and was the second of nine children. Rosary and services will be held on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at 1l a.m. at the Compassion Mortuary Chapel. Interment will immediately follow at the Grants Memorial Park.

When Lea was 15 years old her family moved to a home on Mountain Road in Grants, N.M. Lea graduated from Grants High School in 1948. In 1950 Lea met her husband, T. W. "Pete" Venable, while she was working at the Yucca Cafe. They had four children. Lea was widowed at age 53 and she never remarried.

Lea was a small business owner first with her husband, co-owning Pete's Garage and next on her own, as a widow, running Sierra Vista Daycare. Lea also worked as a cook for the Cibola County School District and Cibola General Hospital. Additionally, Lea was an accomplished home cook who always made sure no one went away from her home hungry.

Lea was a devout Catholic and active in her church, St. Theresa of Avila. She was a member of the Ultreya group and attended many retreats in Glorietta, N.M. Lea volunteered daily at the Cibola Senior Citizens Center where she held positions on the center's advisory board and traveled extensively to represent Cibola County. Lea participated in the Senior Olympics and received many medals for her efforts. Lea was always involved with the Senior Talent Show and went on to perform at the state level. Lea loved to dance and was quite an expert dancer. Lea will bs remembered for her kind heart, loving ways, willingness to listen and lend a hand and her problemsolving expertise. She never stayed angry and often told those who were mad or sad that they needed to “Get glad again." All those who knew and loved her are comforted in the knowledge that she is safe in heaven in the arms of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Lea was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandsons: Jonathan Reynolds and Marc

Venable; brothers: Estevan Baca and Norman Baca sister Clorinda Evans.

She is survived by her children, sons: Billy Venable and wife Shirley, Gerry Venable and wife Donna, Adrian Venable and wife Joan; daughter: Barbara Reynolds and companion Leroy Garcia all of Grants, N.M. Her brothers: Arsenio Baca Poteau Oklahoma, Edward Baca Grants, N.M, her sisters: Sara Foyil, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Frances Hardman Williams, Heavener, Oklahoma Grandsons: Billy, Jay, and Michael Venable. Granddaughters: Tanya Venable and Amy Williams and many great-grandchildren: nieces, nephews, and cousins.