It is with heavy hearts that we announce our beloved matriarch, Maria Luisa "Licha" Marquez passed away peacefully in her home on August 25th, 2024.  Licha was born on June 28th, 1934, in Anthony, NM to Eulalia and Ramiro Moralez. She spent her entire life in Anthony and was loved by many in her community. Licha was an adventurous child and was considered to be the tomboy of her family. She often spent her early days seeking out mischief, climbing trees, and swimming in the canals with her older brothers. Licha and her husband, Ruben Marquez married on March 31st, 1953, and remained together until his passing on April 10th, 2018. Licha loved bowling and earned numerous trophies from tournaments she participated in over the years. She was also a skilled crafter and would gift beautifully crocheted blankets to her loved ones. Licha's sense of adventure did not diminish with age, and she would occasionally be seen with her sister-in-law, Nena taking Ruben's motorcycle out for a spin. Licha attended beauty school and continued as an instructor after graduation until establishing a beauty shop of her own which she later relocated to her home. She was also a school bus driver with Boone Transportation for many years until her retirement. Licha was an incredibly generous and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She is preceded in death by her parents, Eulalia and Ramiro Moralez, her husband, Ruben Marquez, her sons, Jose Luis Marquez and Jose Maria Marquez, and her siblings, Alicia Tellez (Serafin), Ramiro "Milo" Moralez (Dolores), Ofelia Reyes (Ramiro), Raymundo "Tober" Moralez (Rachel), and Emilia "Molly" Ramirez (David). Licha is survived by her daughters, Sandra Garvey and Leticia Marquez, sisters, Martha Terrazas (Armando) and Antonia "Toni" Jester (Ray), and grandchildren, Marissa Renee Garvey, Bernadette Tirre, Micaela Garvey, Angelica Robles, who Sandra raised as one of her own, Ruben Marquez, Diego Marquez, and Gregory M. Barcenas. Licha was a great AND great great grandmother and had numerous nieces and nephews who all mourn her passing.

Memorial services for Licha and Ruben Marquez will be held on September 27th, 2024, at 10:00 am at St. Anthony's Church,  342 Lincoln St.,  Anthony, NM.

Family will gather after services at Llañez Farms to share in the love and memories we have of our beloved Licha and Ruben.

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