Eloy Sanchez (1932 - 2007)

Born 6 Feb 1932 in Yoakum, Texas, United States

Biography

Funeral services for Eloy Sanchez, 75, of Roswell will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 7, 2007, at Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home with Eloy's children officiating. Burial will follow in South Park Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Roswell Veterans' Honor Guard. Eloy passed away Thursday, April 05, 2007, at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center.

Eloy was born on Feb. 6, 1932 to Benito Sanchez and Geronima Matta Sanchez in Yoakum, Texas. Eloy served his country with the United States Army with the rank of Staff Sergeant in the llt Division Army Air Borne as a paratrooper. He and Josephine Hernandez were married on July 20, 1956 at the Spanish Methodist Church here in Roswell; Josie survives him at the family home. Eloy retired from the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier in September of 1976. He was a land surveyor for the highway department for many years, owned a restaurant in Ruidoso Downs for thirteen years, and one of his proudest accomplishments was coaching his son's baseball team to the State and Regional Championships in the Mickey Mantel Baseball League. Eloy enjoyed traveling, fishing, hunting, and camping.

Eloy will be remembered as always smiling, caring for others, being witty, and as a good Christian man. He loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and shared him through song and fellowship. Eloy felt very honored when two of his sons became Ministers of the Gospel and all his children serve the Lord through ministry.

In addition to his wife, Josie, Eloy is survived by his children, Helen Sedillo and her husband, Joe of Roswell, Eloy Sanchez Jr. and his wife, Petrita of Colorado Springs, Colo., Lawrence Sanchez and his wife, Margie of Roswell, and Julian Sanchez and his wife, Robin of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandchildren, Carissa Mestas and her husband, Ramon, of San Antonio, Texas, Jacob Sedillo and his wife, Rhonda, of Roswell, Joshua Sanchez, Esperanza Sanchez, Oliva Sanchez, Matthew Sanchez, Paul Sanchez, Michael Dunn, and Marissa Villegas and her husband, Chris, all of Colorado Springs, Colo., Lawrence Sanchez Jr. and his wife, Sandra, Isaac Montoya, Vanessa Casey and her husband, Jonathan, Michelle Sanchez, Lauren Sanchez, and Elijah Sanchez, all of Roswell; 12 great-grandchildren; sisters, Elizabeth (Lisa) Vaquera of Roswell, Erlinda Sedillo of Wilmington, Calif., Elvira Lucero and her husband, Sam, of Roswell, and Rose May Lucero and her husband, Martin, of Roswell; sister-in-law, Vickie Sanchez of Roswell; brothers, Efraim (Frank) Sanchez and his wife, Cecelia, of Roswell, Ismael Sanchez and his wife, Sara, of Carson, Calif., and Le Roy Sanchez of Roswell; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

Eloy was preceded in death by his parents, Benito and Geri Sanchez, brother, Eliver Sanchez, and a great-granddaughter, Rylie Sedillo.

Pallbearers will be Isaac Montoya, Larry Sanchez, Jacob Sedillo, Joshua Sanchez, Ramon Mestas, Matthew Sanchez, Jonathan Casey, and Chris Villegas.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Le Roy Sanchez, who went above and beyond his duties as health care giver for his brother, Eloy, to the staff and doctors at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center for their care of Eloy, and to the family and friends who have brought great comfort and support to the family.

Services are under the direction of Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory.

Sources

• Roswell Daily Record, New Mexico, April 5, 2007