Manuel Vargas

Our beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Manuel O. Vargas, 85, of Las Cruces entered eternal life Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Memorial Medical Center surrounded by his loving family. He was born April 7, 1927 in Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico to Manuel and Guadalupe Ochoa Vargas. Mr. Vargas retired from highway construction as a heavy equipment operator. He was a communicant at Our Lady of Health Catholic Church. Those left to mourn his passing include three sons, Manuel, Richard and Raúl Vargas, all of Las Cruces; four daughters, Lupe De La Rosa and husband, Benito, Yolanda Vargas, Flora Torres and husband Reynaldo, all also of Las Cruces, Julie Gonzales and husband Michael of Tucson, Ariz.; four sisters, Socorro Troncoso of Sunland Park, Mercedes Ochoa and Luz Maldonado, both of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, and Maria Ramos of El Paso, Texas. Other survivors include 26 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Maria Medina Vargas; two sons, Pete and Felipe Vargas and a sister, Carmen Duarte. Visitation for Mr. Vargas will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21, 2013 in Baca's Chapel of Prayer, 300 E. Boutz Road where the prayer vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. Family and friends will join together to celebrate the funeral mass at 10 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2013 in Our Lady of Health Catholic Church, 1178 N. Mesquite St. with Fathers of the Augustinian Recollects officiating. The rite of committal and interment will follow in Masonic Cemetery, 760 S. Compress where he will be laid to rest. Serving as casket bearers will be Laura Wood, Cynthia Vargas, Diana Enriquez, Jose Duarte, Phillip Carrillo and Luis Rigales. Honorary bearers will be Olivia Enriquez, Zaneta Avalos, Elizabeth and Stephanie Torres. Entrusted to Baca's Funeral Chapels of Las Cruces. 527-2222. Your exclusive providers for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For online condolences, log on to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com.