Lionel Vargas

Services are scheduled at 9:30 am. Monday, October 6, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church for Lionel Valdez Vargas, 1309 W. Yucca Ave., Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Vargas, 47, died Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at his home. Father Brian Guerrini will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Tim Leyba, Ramiro Valencia, Angelo Briseno, Richard Anaya, Eddie Trujillo, Juan Bustamante, and Pete Gomes. A rosary is also scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. Visitation will be at Terpening Son Mortuary beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday. Mr. Vargas was born May 23, 1961 in Artesia, New Mexico; the son of Gregorio Alaniz Vargas and Marina Valdez Vargas. On Aug. 1, 1980 he was married to Belinda Leyba in Odessa, Texas. He was a lifelong resident of Artesia. He was a foreman and truck driver for Haul Services and was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, uncles Ismael, Cleto, Celestino, and Silverio Vargas, and aunt Petra Trujillo. Survivors include his wife Belinda Vargas of the family home; parents Gregorio and Marina Vargas of Artesia; daughters Sabrina Valencia and husband Ramiro of Artesia, Veronica Vargas of Artesia, and Emery Vargas of Artesia; grandchildren Mariah Osburn, Alisa Valencia, Cielo Valencia, Amor Mia Olivos, Jonah Vasquez, and Julian Ochoa Jr.