Mary Helen Villalobos Garcia

It is with loving hearts that our wife, mother, grandmother, sister, family member and friend, Mary Helen Villalobos Garcia, 67, passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 16 th, 2023, in Castle Rock, Colorado. Her strong, vibrant spirit shined brightly as a breast cancer survivor of 23 years and through her long courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mary was born to Francisco G. Villalobos and Maria Luisa Marquez Villalobos in Canutillo, TX on March 7th, 1956. As the middle of five daughters, Mary grew up in the Las Cruces area where she created cherished memories including meeting her husband, Herman, while attending a dance at New Mexico State University. Instilled in her from her upbringing, hard work and resilience were proven during her studies at NMSU, owning and operating a gas station and managing two Blakes Lotaburgers. She graduated from NMSU with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Herman and Mary married on June 30 th, 1979, and spent the first 21 years of their marriage in New Mexico raising their three children. In 2000, her and her family moved to Colorado. After their youngest child went off to college, her and Herman moved to Arizona for a short while, but the heat brought them back to her beloved state of Colorado in 2014.

As a loving mother, Mary participated in many activities with her children. She was a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts, attended sporting events, and took them on travel excursions. The most memorable trips included a whale watching tour from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia, and numerous trips to Alaska. Mary enjoyed outdoor activities like hunting and fishing. Her trophy Barbary sheep is twice the size of her husband’s. The pair are mounted side by side in their living room, next to her favorite recliner. Her favorite location to visit was Seward, Alaska. There she enjoyed fishing for halibut and taking in the beautiful scenery. During her breaks from adventure, Mary cooked and baked delicious food for her family and friends. One of her signature dishes is green chili con queso, which can be put on anything. It even goes on pancakes as tried by her “adopted” sons. She had many “adopted” children who are friends of her children. They referred to Mary as “Mom” and she cared for them and shared her cherished recipes with them. Her most admired hobby was creating memorial blankets from clothing of those who have passed. She felt honored to be asked to make these for family members and close friends to aid in their grieving process. Her daughters plan to continue the tradition just as Mary did for her mom.

Mary devoted her life to her children, however she also held different careers in both New Mexico and Colorado. While living in Tucumcari, NM she worked at the NMSU Experimental Station. In Rio Rancho, NM she worked with PepsiCo in the payroll division. The move to Colorado is when she began her work with the U.S. Department of the Interior as a Payroll and Debt Management Specialist. She retired from the U.S. Department of the Interior to spend time with her family and babysit her grandson.

Mary is survived by her husband, Herman B. Garcia (Castle Rock, CO), her son Herman Michael V. Garcia (Castle Rock, CO), her daughters Maria Teresa V. Garcia (Castle Rock, CO) and Francesca Anne Garcia Wheeler, her husband Quinn Michael Wheeler and grandson Orlando Mark Garcia Wheeler (Commerce City, CO), her sisters Maria Dolores V. Duran and husband Bobby R. Duran (Mesilla Park, NM), and Soledad V. Lopez and husband Leon M. Lopez (Santa Fe, NM), her brother-in-law Richard R. Ramirez and wife Connie Ramirez (Lakehills, TX). She also has numerous beloved relatives who she enjoyed visiting and being a part of their lives, including Herman’s mother Carmen who Mary referred to as “Mom”. Carmen always held a special place in Mary’s heart after her own mother’s passing.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents Francisco G. Villalobos and Maria Luisa Marquez Villalobos (Mesilla Park, NM), her sister Maria Teresa V. Ramirez (Mesilla Park, NM), her sister Yolanda Friday (Las Cruces, NM), her daughter Felicia Anne Garcia (Tucumcari, NM), and her father-in-law Antonio H. Garcia (Artesia, NM).

In honor of their wedding anniversary, her husband Herman has chosen June 30^th, 2023 to be the day Mary will be laid to rest at the Tortugas Cemetery in Tortugas, New Mexico. Services are scheduled to start at 9am Friday June 30^th, 2023 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shine and Parish 3600 Paroquia St., Tortugas, NM 88001. Serving as Pallbearers will be her nephews Robert F. Duran, Joseph A. Duran, Gabriel Garcia, Leon Keith Lopez, Sean Maliq Hutson, and niece Danny Garcia. Honorary Pallbearers will be her grandson, Orlando Mark Garcia Wheeler, and goddaughters Angelica Garcia Leon, Yvette Rodriguez, Brianna Carter, Nevaeh M. Duran, and Monica Cardwell.           

Her family is planning a celebration of life for Mary’s family and friends in Colorado in late July.

Getz Funeral Home will be providing the arrangements for Mary in Las Cruces and Horan & McConaty Funeral Home will be providing arrangements in Colorado.