We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Ramon Miguel Luna in his home on November 30, 2025. He was born July 13, 1942, in El Paso, Texas and was a lifelong resident of Las Cruces, NM. He was a graduate of the Old Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School, Court Junior High and Las Cruces High School class of 1960.

He was a proud resident of the Historic Mesquite Street District in downtown Las Cruces where he lived in one of the original homesteads architecturally modified by his grandfather Amando Prieto, who was a master carpenter and one of the original Santeros of the region. He was an altar server at the original St Genevieve's Catholic Church before it was demolished, and numerous members of his immediate and extended family fought to try to keep it from being torn down. His upbringing in a family that performed traditional Folklorico Mexican and Spanish dances, provided a foundation of multi-cultural awareness and historical pride of descending from some of the founding New Mexico Conquistador Families as well as his Aztec roots with a grandfather being born in Amecameca, Mexico.

In that time era, the neighborhood kids grew up like brothers and shared his love of the outdoors, becoming lifelong friends. They could often be found having sword fighting battles on the adobe fences or heading to the surrounding mountains on bikes or on foot on frequent mischievous adventures. His circle of friends extended in later years with everyone camping, fishing or hunting together with their kids and grandkids.

Throughout life he was exceptional competitor and marksman. As a child he was a pistol "fast-draw champion" and later was on the Army Pistol Team. As an avid archer and bowhunter he traveled to regional and international archery tournaments and was ranked in the top 25 archers nationally in the "bowhunter" class.

His love of cars made him a life-long hot-rodder, and as a young adult would drag race in a car he called "Grumpy" during the exciting "heads-up racing era." Later he became a Leader of a Military Ordinance Unit where he took pride in maintaining combat vehicles for the US Army, and where his hot-rodding background led to him designing modifications to the Army vehicles that were later patented and standardized for future generations of machines. He held 8 MOSs (military occupational specialties) and attended numerous Military Schools, proudly being honor graduate of many of them, and eventually became the 1st Sergeant of the 316th in Rio Rancho where he retired from in 2002.

He proudly served as the 1st Sergeant for 7 years under several generals and different incarnations of the Rio Rancho Units. At that time, it was the standard to only keep a 1st sergeant at such a post for one year. He was repeatedly granted an extension there because of his leadership proficiency, fairness, equity to his soldiers, and dedication to serving the people of New Mexico. He was said to have had one of the most ethnically diverse National Guard/Reserve units in the history of New Mexico with soldiers choosing to come to drill under him from surrounding states and numerous Indigenous Nations.

He was preceded in death by his Twin Brother Miguel Ramon Luna who died at birth, his Daughter Josefina Aurelia Luna of Las Cruces; Mother Maria Prieto Luna of Las Cruces and Father Frank Gonzales Luna of Hondo. Maternal Grandparents Amando and Josefina Prieto and his Aunts Isabel and Angelina.

He is survived by his wife Maria Louisa "Mica" Alvarez Luna of Las Cruces, His Daughter Maria Luisa "Lu" Luna of Seal Rock, OR; Son Ramon Alvarez Luna and Daughter-in-Law Mary Olga Luna of Chaparral, NM; Carlos Jaime Luna and Daughter-in-Law Robin Luna of Lordsburg NM. Grandkids: Kevin Alfaro of La Pine, OR: Jewel Amanda Alfaro of El Paso TX; Jaimie Marie Roman of El Paso, TX; Nieve Aurelia Luna of Lordsburg, NM; and great-grandson Bruce Atreyu Roman of El Paso. He has one First Cousin, Amanda Trujillo of Las Cruces and her Children Monica, Felicia and Cruz, and their many children.

He was a father figure and mentor to many of the friends of his children while they were growing up. He was a field-trip volunteer for Immaculate Heart of Mary School to Aguirre Springs even long after his kids had graduated and assisted his longtime friend in the formation of a competitive Judo club for the school. He was known as "Papa Luna" to the car clubs of the region, with many generations of car enthusiast spending time in his garage watching him work on Hemis.

His legacy lives on in the soldiers he trained, the skill he taught all of our fatherless and mentor less friends over the years, the kids he guided in archery, fishing, Judo, wildlife, scouting, soccer and cars, and generations of those yet to come who benefit from the lessons that previous generations learned from him.

A prayer vigil will be held on Friday, January 16, 2025, at 10am at St. Albert the Great Newman Center, 2615 South Solano Drive.  A memorial mass will follow at 10:30am. Inurnment of cremains will follow at Masonic Cemetery, 760 South Compress Road with military honors.

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