Roberto Garcia

While staying with his family, Roberto Armando Benavidez Garcia, known as "Berto" to everyone close to him, entered into eternal rest on April 20, 2012 in Hurley, New Mexico. He was the victim of a homicide and was 22 years old at the time he died. Berto and his twin sister Camila, were born in Albuquerque, NM on June 8, 1989. The Garcia-Benavidez family lived in Silver City, NM until 1997 at which time they moved to Las Cruces, NM. He , His brother and sister were students at Picacho Middle School and Mayfield High School. He was very active with local politics insofar as canvassing for individual candidates. Throughout his high school years, Berto and his sister were members of the local LULAC Council and were amoung Las Cruces LULAC youth delegates sent to Washington DC for the national LULAC Conference in 2008. A graduate of Mayfield High School, Class of 2007, Berto was involved with the school's annual art/poetry publication, The Inkslinger. He received an award in his senior year for the dedication and work he did for the publication. He loved to skateboard, hang out with his friends, read and spend time with "the older generation". He thoroughly enjoyed listening to his grandparents and uncles tell stories of times past and he loved going into tipi (teepee) meetings. He and his family were and are active members of the Native American Church. Berto Benavidez was a fairly quiet, sensitive, and gentle young man who loved life and new experiences. In 2009 he left Las Cruces to attend the Academy of Art in San Francisco, CA. His studies and time at the Academy of Art were interrupted by the death of his brother Kahlo Benavidez. At that time he returned to the family home in Las Cruces and helped support the family by working. In 2011, his family relocated to Hurley, NM. Roberto lived with father in Bayard, NM and enrolled at WNMU in the fall of 2011. In January of 2012 he moved in Eckles Hall at WNMU, and was living there at the time of his death. He is survived by his twin sister Camila Benavidez Garcia, his mom Kathy Benavidez of Hurley, NM, father Peter Garcia of Bayard, NM, his sister Yvette Romero Chavez and husband Gary Chavez and nieces Brianna, Jasmine, Mhia and Celeste Romero. Maternal grandparents are Ubaldo and Josephine Benavidez of Silver City and their adult children Ubaldo Jr., Johnny, Robert and Eddie Benavidez of Silver City. His paternal grandparents reside in Oxnard, CA and they are Armando and Vera Garcia, and their adult children Jaime and Frank Garcia. Berto had many cousins, aunts and uncles too numerous to mention on both sides of his family. He is preceded in death by his older brother Kahlo Benavidez, who passed away in 2009. He leaves behind his blue heeler Buster, who was with him at the time of his death. Memorial services are scheduled for Thursday, May 3, 2012 at Baca's Funeral Chapels beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the rosary recited by Gilbert Arizaga. On Friday, May 4, 2012 Native American Church services will be held in Gila to honor the passing of Roberto Armando Benavidez Garcia from this world to the world of Creator and Spirit where he will join his relatives and ancestors for eternity. To send condolences, please login to: www.bacasfuneralchapels.com Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels of Silver City, Baca's Silver City Crematory, 3805 Delk Drive. Phone 388-2334. Exclusive provider for "Veterans & Family Memorial Care".