Locally Owned
Family Operated
|
d: 02/18/2025, La Sal, Utah Viewing: No viewing will be held but a Rosary Service will be held on 02/27/2025, 5:30 pm at St Pius X Catholic Church Service: 02/28/2025, 11:00 am St Pius X Catholic Church with live streaming on Spanish Valley Mortuary facebook page. Service Video Interment: 02/28/2025, 1:30 pm La Sal Cemetery OBITUARY On February 18, 2025, our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and husband breathed his last breath. Tomas (Thomas, Tom) Belisario Garcia, our cherished cowboy, was born in Coyote, New Mexico in 1936 to Jose Thomas Garcia and Suzana Lobato. He made his first trip to La Sal in 1954, after his junior year in high school to begin working in La Sal. He spent the summer working on the ranch haying and feeding cattle. Thus, began his long career working for Redd Ranches. He returned to New Mexico to finish high school returning to Utah shortly after graduating. In November 1957, he married a cute little senorita, Margarita (Margaret) Jaramillo, who had caught his eye earlier in the year. He even had to warn off a couple of other local guys about Margaret, informing them that she was his girl. After getting married they lived in La Sal for a short period before moving to Farmington, New Mexico, where all their children were born. They returned to La Sal after their children were born and have been residing here since. During these years, Tom worked a variety of jobs to provide for his young family. Dad’s legacy, however, was built working with cattle. He lived and breathed cows. Sometimes described as “one of the last true cowboys.” He would often get up before sunrise, saddle up a horse, pack a rifle and set off to work the cows only to return home after sundown. His home was where the cows were located. He especially loved staying at Geyser Camp which became a second home to him. Come rain or sunshine, blistering heat or icy, freezing cold, the cows were to be looked after. He loved his job. He earned the respect and admiration of everyone he worked with and for from kids to managers, to bosses. Tom was an icon in the local community. It seemed like everyone knew him. To many, he was known as a “kid whisperer” as kids young and old everywhere flocked to him. His knowledge of the cows, the mountains, the terrain, where to find the “big game”, was sought after. He mentored many young wannabe cowboys who looked to him as a mentor, friend, second father and all around great person. His son Steve and grandsons TC and Lelo worked many summers learning the trade from him and more importantly many life lessons. Dad’s work took its toll on him. He finally had to hang up his spurs in 2015. We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the special relationship that dad developed with the Redd family and their children. Thank you for caring about him over the many years. Though he lived practically all his life in La Sal, he could not forget his New Mexico roots. Every time he crossed the New Mexico state line to visit family, he would take a deep, deep breath and proudly exclaim, “smell that New Mexico fresh air”. He loved his New Mexico family and travelled often to visit and participate in their lives. He is the youngest of fourteen children -which includes nine half brothers and sisters by his father and one half-sister, by his mother; and four full siblings. He is preceded in death by all his half siblings and their spouses; one full sister (Atocha Gonzales); five sibling in-laws (Agueda Garcia, George Gonzales, Apolinario Trujillo, Mary Montano, and Victor Lovato). He is survived by his wife, a sister (Adelires Trujillo); a brother (Pete Garcia); six sibling in-laws (Mike and Rose Lovato, Casey Jaramillo, Terry and Alex Leech and Erla Lovato); numerous nephews and nieces. Family was very important to him. They were always in his heart. Tom and Margaret’s posterity includes his four children and their families. Steven and Paula, Patrick, Leanard, and Theresa and Mike Rutter; five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, TC (Thomas Christopher) and Johnna Garcia and their children Marilyn, Stevey, Samy and AJ (Amos Jiggs), Jennifer and Chess Johnson and their child Benito, Lelo (Cirilo) and his children Nash and Kyron, Tara and Corbin Johnson, and Bryanna and Cody Younglove and their children Hayven, Emery and Maverick; two bonus step-grandchildren Tim and Shelby Rutter and her boyfriend Victor Najera. Tomas’ family would like to acknowledge and thank the many doctors, nurses and other staff at Moab Regional Hospital and Grand County Hospice that treated and cared for him during his illness and failing health. He was treated with dignity, compassion and professionalism. A Holy Rosary will be prayed Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Moab, UT. (122 W. 400 N.) A Remembering Tomas dinner will follow the rosary at approximately 6:30 p.m. It will be held at Grand Center in Moab. (230 N 500 W.) The Most Holy Catholic funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St Pius X Catholic Church. The burial will take place at La Sal Cemetery in La Sal at approximately 1:30 p.m. The cemetery is located off Highway 46 on La Sal Road approximately 8 miles East of La Sal Junction. Family and friends are invited to share tributes online at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com TRIBUTES Leanard -- Our condolences on the death of your father -- one of the last true cowboys. Our best to your mom (she probably does not remember our trips to the LaSal store, but we do).- Bill and Katie Stevens Dear Patrick, Please accept my condolences on the death of your father. I know how much care you have given him in recent years. You've been a very good son. Please take care. Love, - Carolyn As a young wanna be Cowboy, I idolized Tom Garcia. The opportunity to ride and work with him as a teenager was an invaluable experience for me. Not only did I learn from his advice and example about cows and horses, most importantly, I learned invaluable life lessons about loyalty, respect for others, work ethic and integrity. One of my best memories was 'helping' Tom shoe the horses that he rode. I would listen and marvel as he would carry on a conversation with the horse the whole time. Sometimes Tom would have to remind the horse who was in charge but he did it in a way that would make a professional physiologist proud. Tom always showed genuine concern for my family. He would always tell me that the most important thing for me to remember was to respect and obey my mother. Most of all, I admired Tom for the positive, optimistic outlook on life that he had. Through the many challenges that he faced, he was always quick with a smile and a kind word. I would dare say that most who knew and associated with him are better for it. - Doug Coombs May all find comfort and peace knowing a grand reunion is happening in heaven with those who went before Tom. - Marilyn Costamza I was blessed enough to be able to know Tomas and his family. He was an amazing, nice man and my life is better for knowing him. Sending prayers and love to Margaret and the family. - Tina Nyland kelch I met Tom and Margaret when I was 5 or 6 years old. My dad had been transferred to Moab and we were fortunate enough to meet Bill Tatton and Tom while they were working for Redd Ranches. Tom and Bill were kind enough to take me and my brother and teach us what it was to be a cowboy and a man. I was so young but Tom expected us to do our share of chores. I got to spend several weeks each summer with Tom and met his wife and family. They treated us so kind. I've always thought about my time with Tom and thought how lucky I was to have experienced life as a cowboy with him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Tom was a wonderful person. Your family was lucky to have him; now it's time to share him with the lord. Bless you all and Thank you Tom for letting a little kid feel grown up! - Troy Pardue PHOTO GALLERY   
|
Recent Obituaries See our Facebook page for videos of recent funerals.
|
They Live On
