Former New Mexico State Senator MARY JANE GARCIA, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 5, 2024, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, at age 87. As a Member of the New Mexico Senate, Garcia represented the 36th District for twenty-four years, from 1988 to 2012, serving as Majority Whip from 1996 to 2012. She will be deeply missed by her large and loving family, her treasured friends, and colleagues, and by the communities and organizations that she assisted during her lifelong commitment to public service.

Mary Jane Garcia was born in Doña Ana, New Mexico, in 1936. At the time of her passing, former Senator Garcia was the last living survivor of ten children born to Isaac Cuaron Garcia and Victoria Madrid Garcia of the village of Dona Ana. She graduated from Las Cruces Union High School in May of 1955. Garcia earned an Associate degree from City College of San Francisco in 1957. She furthered her education at New Mexico State University, earning a B.I.S. in 1981, a B.A. in Anthropology in 1983, and a M.A. in Anthropology in 1986.

Former Senator Garcia's dedication to civil service was greatly inspired by her travels abroad. She traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East, Far East Asia, the USSR, Southeast Africa, Egypt, South America, and Mexico.

Former Senator Garcia lived for four years in Madrid, Spain, and six years in Saigon, Vietnam. While in Madrid, she worked as an Interpreter and Translator for a USAF Captain. She also procured contracts for local entertainers at the Officers Club of the Hotel Balboa in downtown Madrid and worked at Torrejon Air Force Base for the NCOIC, Military Pay Section. While in Saigon, she worked with a private contractor as a part of what is known as the largest military construction project in history. She also served with the Red Cross during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1972.

When former Senator Garcia returned home to New Mexico after her time in Vietnam, she made her mark as an accomplished businesswoman. In the 1970s, she and her sister Elodia Garcia opened, owned, and operated Billy the Kid Gift Shop on the Plaza in Old Mesilla, New Mexico. The gift shop specialized in world-wide folk art, as well as Native American arts and crafts. Garcia travelled abroad regularly to Mexico, South America, Africa, Egypt, and Spain on buying trips for the shop. For many years starting in 1980, Garcia was a co-owner of the family-owned business, Victoria's Lounge and Nightclub, a popular gathering space for Las Cruces locals and members of the surrounding communities.

Many of Garcia's most commendable achievements are from her time as a state senator. Former Senator Garcia fought for the protection of children and families, introducing, and passing Megan's Law, the Deadly Child Abuse Act, the Family Violence Act, and the Missing Children's Act. Her community service extended across many areas of advocacy to include at-risk youth programs, animal rights, border health issues, education, historic preservation projects, human trafficking, subdivision, and welfare reform.

Former Senator Garcia was a cultural and historic preservationist who worked for decades to preserve the history of her beloved community, the Village of Dona Ana. In 1985, Bishop Ricardo Ramirez from the Diocese of Las Cruces appointed Garcia as Director of the Dona Ana Church Conservation Committee. Garcia was also a catalyst in the founding of the Dona Ana Village Historic Preservation Committee, an organization dedicated to preserving cultural heritage. Under her leadership and guidance, DAVHPC played an integral role in saving Nuestra Senora de Candelaria Catholic Church from demolition at the heart of the village of Dona Ana.

Former Senator Garcia received numerous awards and accolades for the tremendous impact she had on the communities and causes she helped. In the year 2000, she received Animal Protection New Mexico's Executive Director's Milagro Award for distinguished achievement in assuring the humane treatment of animals. Former Senator Garcia was such a magnificent champion for animals that APNM later named a Milagro Award for her, beginning in 2007. The Mary Jane Garcia Champion for Animals Award, for exceptional leadership, courage, and persistence in the face of opposition, resulting in positive change for animals, has been presented to three winners since the award was created.

In 2005, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Santa Fe at the 33rd annual Heritage Preservation Awards Ceremony for her work toward the preservation of historic buildings, neighborhoods, and communities in New Mexico. In 2011, she was honored with the Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award, an honor bestowed by the NEA, which recognized Garcia as a champion for children.

Those who knew former Senator Garcia best will miss her kind and caring nature, her love for storytelling, the contagious warmth of her laughter, her insistence on calling friends and family members by their lifelong nicknames, and her knack for making someone feel like the most important person in a room full of people.

Former Senator Mary Jane Garcia is survived by her sister-in-law, Erlinda Garcia; her brother in-law, Mike Gonzales, Sr., and her niece, Barbara Winn, who was raised as her sister. She is also survived by numerous extended-family members including more than thirty-five nieces and nephews, and many beloved cousins.

Former Senator Mary Jane Garcia is preceded in death by her parents Isaac Cuaron Garcia and Victoria Madrid Garcia; her sisters, Angelina Lucero, Emma Chavez; brother, Reymundo Garcia and his wife, Emma Garcia; brother, Leroy Garcia and his wife, Rita Garcia; sister, Elodia Garcia; brother, Jerry Garcia, and sister, Yolanda Gonzales. Former Senator Mary Jane Garcia had two additional siblings, Max, and Roy, who departed as toddlers.

The Garcia family extends sincere thanks to the doctors, nurses, management, and staff of Mesilla Valley Hospice who cared for former Senator Garcia in her final days with tremendous professionalism, compassion, and kindness. The family is also exceptionally grateful to the doctors and medical staff members who provided former Senator Garcia with outstanding medical care over the years.

Services will be held at the Cathedral of Immaculate Heart of Mary, 1240 S. Espina, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001 on Monday, January 22, 2024. The Rosary will be recited at 10 AM followed by a Funeral Mass. The Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jerry Garcia, Jr., Michael Gonzales, Jr., Gabriel Gonzales, Isaac Garcia, Richard Gonzales-Amado, Nicolas Granados, Jessie Nowell, and Jackson Garcia. Mike Gonzales, Sr. is serving as Honorary bearer.

In lieu of sending flowers, please consider donating to Casa De Peregrinos, Dona Ana Village Historic Preservation Committee, or another New Mexico based charity or non-profit organization of your choosing.

Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels of Las Cruces, 300 E. Boutz Road, 527-2222. Your exclusive provider for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com