Elias Balencia, Jr.

Services are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 14, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church for Elias H. Balencia, Jr. of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Balencia, 47, died Saturday, July 10, 2010 in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Fr. Paul Murtagh SS.CC. will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his cousins and friends.

A rosary will be at Our Lady of Grace Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.

Mr. Balencia was born January 19, 1963 in Artesia, New Mexico the son of Elias Balencia and Juana Hernandez Balencia.

He was a lifelong Artesia resident.

He was a laborer in the construction industry where he did a lot of different jobs. He was also a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church.

Elias was preceded in death by his father brother Fred Balencia and sister Flora Anaya.

Survivors include his mother Juana Balencia of Artesia sons Elias Balencia and Michael Balencia both of Las Cruces, N.M. brothers Domingo Balencia of Artesia, and Ramon Balencia of Portales, N.M. sisters Lupe Martinez of Alamogordo, N.M., Mary Lou Salas of Artesia, Vicky Dominguez of Ruidoso, N.M., and Mary Helen Sosa of Artesiaand a grandson.