Phyllis - Age 69 - La Mesilla - Garde

PHYLLIS GARDE, 69, a resident of La Mesilla, passed away on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 following a lengthy battle with cancer. Phyllis was born October 31, 1940 in Santana, Kansas and lived in western Kansas until receiving her nursing degree from Saint Mary of the Plains in Dodge City, Kansas in 1963. After graduation, she joined the Catholic Lay Volunteers and served a year in Las Vegas, N.M. She then worked as a registered nurse in Los Alamos, Oklahoma City and Amarillo, Texas until November 29, 1974 when she married Ray Garde from Española, N.M. They built their home in Española where they raised their 2 sons, Victor and Joe. \r\nA devout catholic, Phyllis devoted much of her free time to protecting the unborn child. She supported many local, state and national pro-life organizations. Her car could easily be found in even the busiest of parking lots. It was the one with the “Abortion Stops a Bleeding Heart” sticker on the rear bumper. She was always among the Española contingent of Pro-life supporters at legislative sessions in the State Roundhouse, trying to make a difference in protecting life. She also helped prepare and serve food to the needy at the Española Food Kitchen until her health failed.\r\nPhyllis still found time to provide the best for her family. After Victor was born in 1977, she became a stay at home mom until Victor and Joe were in school. She returned to nursing but chose school nursing to be able to take her boys to school and to be available to them after school. She spent many hours supporting their school, scouting and 4-H activities. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, sewing, fishing and life in general; but especially loved the company of her 4 grandchildren.\r\nShe was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Jewell Conover and brother, Jimmy Conover.\r\nMrs. Garde is survived by her husband, Ray of Española; sons, Victor Garde of Española and Joe Garde and wife Nina of Rio Rancho; grandchildren, Samuel, Hailey, Natalie and Adam; sisters, Pat Wilhite and husband George Perry of Wayne, OK, Glenda Gowens and husband Terry of Oklahoma City, OK and many nieces and nephews and friends.\r\nPublic visitation will begin on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in San Juan Pueblo, located 2 miles North of Española on Highway 65 with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated on Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. also at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Burial to follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Vaughn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her nephews, Tom Garde, Brahaim Hindi, Ramon Alvarez, Jamil Hindi, Joe Alvarez, Charles Wilhite, Jeff Gowens, Orlando Garcia and Jaime Garica. Food and refreshments will follow the services at the Garde residence. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to a favorite charity. The Garde family has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.\r\n

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