Gonzalo Perez

Services are scheduled at 10 am Thursday, January 12, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church for Gonzalo C. "Gonzo" Perez of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Perez, 88, died on January 6, 2023 at his home in Artesia.

Father Vijay will officiate at the services with burial to follow at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Renwick Jacket, Agapito Joseph Araujo Jr., Luiz Perez Jr., Joe Galindo, Joe Freddie Ramirez, and Israel Perez Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Juan Chavez and Martin Moreno. A rosary is also scheduled for 9:30 am on Thursday at Our Lady of Grace Church. Visitation will be at Terpening & Son Mortuary from 2 to 4 pm on Wednesday.

Gonzalo was born on July 17, 1934 in Marfa, Texas; the son of Eliborio Perez and Paula Campos Perez.

On May 4, 1955 he was married to Erlinda Luevano. She preceded him in death on June 5, 2020.

Gonzalo was known as "Gonzo". At a young age of 17 years old he started his lifelong career at carpentry.

He worked throughout the state of New Mexico and Denver, Colorado building homes, schools and government buildings. He worked Monday thru Sundays, on weekends always working and helping family and friends.

He knew carpentry very very well from start to finish. So well, he started his own company Perez Construction. He was very proud of his work and along the way taught many of his workers the trade.

He worked throughout Artesia for several General Contractors, and was loved by all. He loved and respected everyone. He liked to joke around and going deer hunting when he had the time. He enjoyed eating at restaurants, finishing his meal with ice cream or three cookies.

He enjoyed riding around town! Many of you know he would say "I drive good!" He loved all his family very much and spending time with all of them. He missed his wife very much.

When asked after retirement, "when are you going to quit working?" he would say, "When I build my last step to Heaven." He finished building his last step January 6, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and sons Jose Alfredo Perez and Fernando Perez, and also by several brothers and sisters.

Survivors include his sons Israel Perez, Luis Perez and wife Nora, and Albert Perez; daughters Corrina P. Torres and husband Joe, and Margaret Lee and husband Paul; grandchildren Agapito Araujo Jr., Michael Araujo Jr and wife Christi, Yvonne Perez, Crystal Baca, Serrina Gonzalez and husband Abraham, Israel Perez Jr., Denise Ordonez and husband Lucio, Luis Perez Jr and wife Sarah, Eve Shetterly and husband Brian, Renwick Jacket and wife Ashleigh, and Emily Fisk Herrell and husband David; great-grandchildren Dieon Molina, Ayanna Silas, Agapito Araujo III, Michael Araujo Jr. and wife Adysyn, Mia Aruajo Barnett and husband Michael David, Alyssa Araujo, Abraham Gonzalez III, Natalia Gonzalez, Isabela Gonzalez, Santana Baca, Caesar Baca, Nehemiah Baca, Apalonia Baca, Riley Shetterly, Marlie Shetterly, Teak Shetterly, Daniel Jacket, Eddy Fernandez, Daniel Fernandez, Sara Sanchez, Miranda Perez, Brooklyn Perez, Isabel Perez, and Luis Perez III, D. J. Herrel, Jesse Herrel, and Joe Herrel; great-great-grandchildren Landyn Michael Araujo, Liam Araujo, and Leilani Fernandez; also by lots of nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Olga and Jerry Fernandez, Lindsey Johnson, Carrie Chavarria, Erlinda Briseno, Mya Briseno, Izaac Brizeno, Jayvian Ochoa, Christina Chavez, and Hospice workers Yvonne, Jamie and Cierra for all of the love and care given to Gonzalo and his family.