Consuelo Connie Garcia

Consuelo Dulcinea Garcia (Connie Martinez), 84, A resident of El Prado, passed away peacefully on March 24th, 2021. Connie was born on January 9th, 1937 in Dixon, New Mexico to Ernest and Rosanna Martinez.  Connie went to McCurdy Mission School for six years and attended Taos High School and graduated in 1956. She also attended Brigham Young University.  In 1957 She returned to Taos and Married Bernie Garcia.  She began her employment career at 13 years of age at La Cocina followed by Raglands Café, Credit Bureau of Taos, Manager of Fry’s Western Wears on the Plaza.  In 1970 Bernie and Connie opened the El Pueblo Shop next to Michaels Kitchen and two years later moved their business to the plaza and renamed it The Village Shop, retiring in 2020.  During their 50 years of business Connie collaborated with Jesse Castenada to supply and print all the t-shirts for the teams of the first Taos Youth Soccer League.  During the later years of business, Connie created hundreds of Southwest nativity sets and thousands of southwest ornaments which found homes around the world.  She grew up on the plaza and spent her adult life working on the plaza.  She was known as the Plaza Matriarch, whom people went to for information about the history of the plaza.  Connie loved to ride the Tio Vivo when she was a little girl which her father Ernest found and helped to restore as part of the Taos Lions Club for the Taos Fiestas. Connie was a cheerleader at Taos High School. She played tennis and was on the Kit Carson Alley Cats softball team as a pitcher. She had a wicked fastball and was a feared pitcher.  She was a Fiesta Queen Attendant in 1953. Connie became a member of the Taos County Historical Society, was a  Little League Coach for the El Prado Boys, Lady Kiwanis, Lady Tiger Booster, THS Cheerleader Coach, formed a team for the  Taos Woman’s Bowling League, TOP’s of Taos and served on many Civic Committees. She loved the Sheriff Posse picnics and camp outs. Also, she was an avid fisher woman and enjoyed hunting, being outdoors and loved having her family close. Connie was a huge sports fanatic, especially football.  Connie had a smile for everyone that lit up the room and warm hugs to welcome you. She was a really great businesswoman and had a magnetic personality developing lifelong friendships through-out her life.  She joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints when she was 18. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints she served as a Primary President, Relief Society President and held many other callings.  Connie was sealed to the love of her life, Bernie, in the Provo, Utah Temple for Time and All Eternity. The Lord blessed them with 64 years of marriage and wonderful memories. Connie’s family was everything to her.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents Ernest Martinez and Rosanna Martinez, in-laws Bernabe Garcia and Marina Garcia. She is survived by her husband Bernie Garcia, Children- Bernadine De Herrera (Eric), Mark Garcia, Janette Burnside (M. Reed), sisters- Carmen Lieurance (Stephen), Rosita Trujillo (Phillip), sisters-in-law Preciliana Garcia, Jacintita James (Nick). Loved Grandchildren- Nicole Cromwell (Brandon), Jennifer Carriaga (John), Anthony Garcia (Tiffany), Emilio De Herrera (Ashli), Sonya Gomez (Gabriel), Amber Wayman (Justin). Great-Grandchildren- Caleb, Vincent, Andrew, Tyler, Charlotte, Maverick, Clementine, Addison, Cassidy, Jared, Isaiah. Special Nephews who were like sons to her- Steve Rivera, Donovan Lieurance.  Private family services will be held.  The family of Consuelo Connie Garcia has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home of Taos. www.devargastaos.com 1-866-657-4019