Benigno "Bennie" G. Barreras, age 91, passed away on Thursday, October 13, 2016 at his home in Socorro, NM.
Benigno was born in Gallup, NM on February 9, 1925, to Felix and Damacia (González) Barreras.
His family then moved to San Marcial, NM, where as a young man, he worked on his father's property, local farms, as a ranch hand on many ranches dotting south central New Mexico and the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In 1943 he answered the call to arms and served as a United States Navy Radioman attached to the 6th Marines during World War II. Benigno was honorably discharged in August of 1946 and married the love of his life, Luisa Díaz, the following month on September 21, 1946 in Socorro.
Bennie worked for Gambles for 25 years, but never strayed away from his love of the land and purchased a small family farm before building a home "in town" where he lived and raised his family. Bennie than worked as Area Coordinator for the Office of Economic Opportunity and finally for the City of Socorro in multiple positions and retired as the Director of Economic Development, where he diligently and tirelessly worked with people from city, state and federal agencies to pursue grants and funds to benefit the City of Socorro. Bennie always sought and was actively involved in many community roles and capacities; Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner, School Board of Education, Knights of Columbus, Fiesta Committees, Veterans of Foreign Wars and on the founding committee for the Socorro Mental Health Foundation. In his retirement years, New Mexico's rich cultural history became a great interest to him and he helped lead the effort to help establish the El Camino Real International Heritage Center.
Bennie was comfortable in almost any environment and took the effort to make people he met feel the same. This was true in a chance meeting on the street, in a local store, a formal business setting, or at community and political events he was so eager to attend.
Of late, you could find Bennie visiting friends, at home in his garden, maybe even chopping and stacking wood for winter, or as long as he was able, around a campfire in the mountains he knew so well, surrounded by the family he loved and was loved by so much.
Adios Benigno. Vaya con Dios.
Bennie was preceded in death by his two sons, Bennie Jr. and Frank, daughter, Elaine Mata and his wife of 65 years, Luisa.
Bennie is survived by children, Luís Barreras and his wife, Mary Rose, Ben Barreras and his wife, Carol, Luz Barreras, Felix Barreras, Cal Barreras and Aaron Foster, John Barreras and his wife, Liza and Mary Vallejos and her husband, Richard, sisters, Emma Silva and Stella Craig, 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
The Holy Rosary will be recited on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at San Miguel Catholic Church, 403 El Camino Real, Socorro. Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Monday, October 17, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at San Miguel Catholic Church. Celebrant Rev. John Anasiudu. Burial will take place at San Miguel Catholic Cemetery following service. Pallbearers will be his children, Luís Barreras, Ben Barreras, Luz Barreras, Felix Barreras, Cal Barreras, John Barreras and Mary Vallejos.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to support the community outreach programs supported by Socorro Mental Health.
Benigno was born in Gallup, NM on February 9, 1925, to Felix and Damacia (González) Barreras.
His family then moved to San Marcial, NM, where as a young man, he worked on his father's property, local farms, as a ranch hand on many ranches dotting south central New Mexico and the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In 1943 he answered the call to arms and served as a United States Navy Radioman attached to the 6th Marines during World War II. Benigno was honorably discharged in August of 1946 and married the love of his life, Luisa Díaz, the following month on September 21, 1946 in Socorro.
Bennie worked for Gambles for 25 years, but never strayed away from his love of the land and purchased a small family farm before building a home "in town" where he lived and raised his family. Bennie than worked as Area Coordinator for the Office of Economic Opportunity and finally for the City of Socorro in multiple positions and retired as the Director of Economic Development, where he diligently and tirelessly worked with people from city, state and federal agencies to pursue grants and funds to benefit the City of Socorro. Bennie always sought and was actively involved in many community roles and capacities; Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner, School Board of Education, Knights of Columbus, Fiesta Committees, Veterans of Foreign Wars and on the founding committee for the Socorro Mental Health Foundation. In his retirement years, New Mexico's rich cultural history became a great interest to him and he helped lead the effort to help establish the El Camino Real International Heritage Center.
Bennie was comfortable in almost any environment and took the effort to make people he met feel the same. This was true in a chance meeting on the street, in a local store, a formal business setting, or at community and political events he was so eager to attend.
Of late, you could find Bennie visiting friends, at home in his garden, maybe even chopping and stacking wood for winter, or as long as he was able, around a campfire in the mountains he knew so well, surrounded by the family he loved and was loved by so much.
Adios Benigno. Vaya con Dios.
Bennie was preceded in death by his two sons, Bennie Jr. and Frank, daughter, Elaine Mata and his wife of 65 years, Luisa.
Bennie is survived by children, Luís Barreras and his wife, Mary Rose, Ben Barreras and his wife, Carol, Luz Barreras, Felix Barreras, Cal Barreras and Aaron Foster, John Barreras and his wife, Liza and Mary Vallejos and her husband, Richard, sisters, Emma Silva and Stella Craig, 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
The Holy Rosary will be recited on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at San Miguel Catholic Church, 403 El Camino Real, Socorro. Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Monday, October 17, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at San Miguel Catholic Church. Celebrant Rev. John Anasiudu. Burial will take place at San Miguel Catholic Cemetery following service. Pallbearers will be his children, Luís Barreras, Ben Barreras, Luz Barreras, Felix Barreras, Cal Barreras, John Barreras and Mary Vallejos.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to support the community outreach programs supported by Socorro Mental Health.
Benigno "Bennie" G. Barreras, age 91, passed away on Thursday, October 13, 2016 at his home in Socorro, NM.
Benigno was born in Gallup, NM on February 9, 1925, to Felix and Damacia (González) Barreras.
His family then moved to San Marcial, NM, where as a young man, he worked on his father's property, local farms, as a ranch hand on many ranches dotting south central New Mexico and the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In 1943 he answered the call to arms and served as a United States Navy Radioman attached to the 6th Marines during World War II. Benigno was honorably discharged in August of 1946 and married the love of his life, Luisa Díaz, the following month on September 21, 1946 in Socorro.
Bennie worked for Gambles for 25 years, but never strayed away from his love of the land and purchased a small family farm before building a home "in town" where he lived and raised his family. Bennie than worked as Area Coordinator for the Office of Economic Opportunity and finally for the City of Socorro in multiple positions and retired as the Director of Economic Development, where he diligently and tirelessly worked with people from city, state and federal agencies to pursue grants and funds to benefit the City of Socorro. Bennie always sought and was actively involved in many community roles and capacities; Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner, School Board of Education, Knights of Columbus, Fiesta Committees, Veterans of Foreign Wars and on the founding committee for the Socorro Mental Health Foundation. In his retirement years, New Mexico's rich cultural history became a great interest to him and he helped lead the effort to help establish the El Camino Real International Heritage Center.
Bennie was comfortable in almost any environment and took the effort to make people he met feel the same. This was true in a chance meeting on the street, in a local store, a formal business setting, or at community and political events he was so eager to attend.
Of late, you could find Bennie visiting friends, at home in his garden, maybe even chopping and stacking wood for winter, or as long as he was able, around a campfire in the mountains he knew so well, surrounded by the family he loved and was loved by so much.
Adios Benigno. Vaya con Dios.
Bennie was preceded in death by his two sons, Bennie Jr. and Frank, daughter, Elaine Mata and his wife of 65 years, Luisa.
Bennie is survived by children, Luís Barreras and his wife, Mary Rose, Ben Barreras and his wife, Carol, Luz Barreras, Felix Barreras, Cal Barreras and Aaron Foster, John Barreras and his wife, Liza and Mary Vallejos and her husband, Richard, sisters, Emma Silva and Stella Craig, 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
The Holy Rosary will be recited on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at San Miguel Catholic Church, 403 El Camino Real, Socorro. Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Monday, October 17, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at San Miguel Catholic Church. Celebrant Rev. John Anasiudu. Burial will take place at San Miguel Catholic Cemetery following service. Pallbearers will be his children, Luís Barreras, Ben Barreras, Luz Barreras, Felix Barreras, Cal Barreras, John Barreras and Mary Vallejos.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to support the community outreach programs supported by Socorro Mental Health.
Benigno was born in Gallup, NM on February 9, 1925, to Felix and Damacia (González) Barreras.
His family then moved to San Marcial, NM, where as a young man, he worked on his father's property, local farms, as a ranch hand on many ranches dotting south central New Mexico and the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In 1943 he answered the call to arms and served as a United States Navy Radioman attached to the 6th Marines during World War II. Benigno was honorably discharged in August of 1946 and married the love of his life, Luisa Díaz, the following month on September 21, 1946 in Socorro.
Bennie worked for Gambles for 25 years, but never strayed away from his love of the land and purchased a small family farm before building a home "in town" where he lived and raised his family. Bennie than worked as Area Coordinator for the Office of Economic Opportunity and finally for the City of Socorro in multiple positions and retired as the Director of Economic Development, where he diligently and tirelessly worked with people from city, state and federal agencies to pursue grants and funds to benefit the City of Socorro. Bennie always sought and was actively involved in many community roles and capacities; Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner, School Board of Education, Knights of Columbus, Fiesta Committees, Veterans of Foreign Wars and on the founding committee for the Socorro Mental Health Foundation. In his retirement years, New Mexico's rich cultural history became a great interest to him and he helped lead the effort to help establish the El Camino Real International Heritage Center.
Bennie was comfortable in almost any environment and took the effort to make people he met feel the same. This was true in a chance meeting on the street, in a local store, a formal business setting, or at community and political events he was so eager to attend.
Of late, you could find Bennie visiting friends, at home in his garden, maybe even chopping and stacking wood for winter, or as long as he was able, around a campfire in the mountains he knew so well, surrounded by the family he loved and was loved by so much.
Adios Benigno. Vaya con Dios.
Bennie was preceded in death by his two sons, Bennie Jr. and Frank, daughter, Elaine Mata and his wife of 65 years, Luisa.
Bennie is survived by children, Luís Barreras and his wife, Mary Rose, Ben Barreras and his wife, Carol, Luz Barreras, Felix Barreras, Cal Barreras and Aaron Foster, John Barreras and his wife, Liza and Mary Vallejos and her husband, Richard, sisters, Emma Silva and Stella Craig, 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
The Holy Rosary will be recited on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at San Miguel Catholic Church, 403 El Camino Real, Socorro. Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Monday, October 17, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at San Miguel Catholic Church. Celebrant Rev. John Anasiudu. Burial will take place at San Miguel Catholic Cemetery following service. Pallbearers will be his children, Luís Barreras, Ben Barreras, Luz Barreras, Felix Barreras, Cal Barreras, John Barreras and Mary Vallejos.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to support the community outreach programs supported by Socorro Mental Health.
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