Cruz Acosta

Services are scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, December 17, 2015 at Our Lady of Grace Church for Cruz Lopez Acosta of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Acosta, 76, passed away Friday, December 11, 2015 at his home.

Fr. Martin Cornejo O.F.M. will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Matthew Hernandez, Cilio Cruz Hernandez, Tino Hernandez, John Baca IV, Simon Rendon, Tomas Najera, and Mark Salgado. Honorary pallbearers will be all of his friends and family.

Visitation will be at Terpening & Son Mortuary Wednesday beginning at 10:00 a.m. A rosary will be at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Cruz was born July 10, 1939 in Atoka, New Mexico; the son of Cruz Acosta and Pablita (Benavidez) Acosta. His mother died at an early age and he was raised by Mama Julianita Carillo Lopez in Ruidoso, N.M. He attended Ruidoso schools, St. Michael's Catholic School in Santa Fe, N.M. and graduated high school in Artesia. Cruz was the manager of the Artesia Bulldogs in the 1950's for 4 years and then later in life he became the owner of "Humphrey" and "Babe", the bulldog mascots in the early 1990's. He was a longtime Artesia resident.

On April 18, 1962 he was married to Isabel Baca in Carlsbad, N.M.

Cruz loved the Bulldogs and the Dallas Cowboys. He was in Golden Gloves as a boxer in his younger years, and coached boxing, Little League baseball, Catholic Youth Organization basketball, and the Artesia Head Start mini olympics. He was an active member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and had served mass for the Arch Bishop in Santa Fe and the members of Our Lady of Grace with Fr. Steven Bono in Artesia, and a Crucillista. Cruz pioneered the Senoir Citizen Nutrition program in Chaves and Eddy counties, established meal sites in Roswell, Midway, Hagerman, Artesia, Carlsbad, and Loving and was instrumental in obtaining money to build the Artesia Center to serve the needs of the youth and elderly. He loved his family, dogs, and many friends, and enjoyed music and making people laugh.

He was preceded in death by his parents; mama Julianita Lopez; son Howard Acosta; daughter Judy Acosta; sisters Susie Rendon Ignacia Lozano, Virginia Sanchez, Elena Everheart, Geneva Hernandez, Anna Almanza, and Maria Polaco; brothers Inez Acosta, Adolfo Acosta, and Max Lopez.

Survivors include his wife Isabel Acosta of the family home; daughters Ginger Acosta of Artesia, and Lorraine Hernandez and husband Tino of Artesia; grandchildren Ava L. Acosta, Matthew Hernandez and Aimee, and Cilio Hernandez and Destiny; great-grandchildren Zachaysa, Makayla, Sammy, De'Angelo, and Mila on the way; sisters Chavela Acosta of Hobbs, N.M., Josie Najera of Hobbs, and Flora Lowrey of Pembroke, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation

Terpening Son Mortuary
611 W. Grand Ave.
Artesia, NM  88210
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Service

Rosary

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
1111 N. Roselawn Ave
Artesia, NM  88210
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
6:30 p.m.

Mass

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
1111 N. Roselawn Ave
Artesia, NM  88210
Thursday, December 17, 2015
9:30 a.m.

Cemetery

Woodbine Cemetery
200 E. Hermosa Drive
Artesia, NM  88210