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Our Dad, Gillie"Gil" Sanchez, 82, a lifelong resident of Belen, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his family on Thursday, July 1, 1999, due to complications after suffering a stroke in March. Dad, the fifth of 12 children, was born September 21, 1916 in Jarales, NM to Nestor and Carlota Sanchez. He attended Jarales Elementary School and graduated from Belen High School. At the age of 14, he began working as a baker for Harrell's Bakery of Belen. Gil married his wife, Priscilla in February, 1941. In 1942, they moved to Nevada, where Gil worked in the Hawthorne Bakery. They returned to Belen and opened Gil's Bakery and Restaurant in 1947. Gil's Bakery and Restaurant served the community for 40 years. Gil was very active in the civic, business, and social community. He served as a councilman for the City of Belen for many years and was President of of the Belen Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church and a Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus. Gil was a Charter member of the Elks Lodge #57, as well as a member of the Lions Club, Moose Lodge #1680, and a committee member of the Boy Scouts of America. He was selected Citizen of the Year in 1981 by the Belen Chamber of Commerce, appointed by Governor King as an Advisory Council member for the University of New Mexico Valencia Campus, a member of the Belen School Board for 31 years, and inducted into the New Mexico School Board Hall of Fame in 1993. Gil Sanchez Elementary School in Jarales was also named in his honor. Gillie served as Magistrate Judge, Division II, of Valencia County for 28 years. In 1999, the State of New Mexico dedicated the New Magistrate Building located on 901 W. Castillo in Gil's honor. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nestor and Carlota Sanchez; five brothers, Nick, Ralph, Martin, Ted, and Aurilio; two sisters, Eloisa Miller and Stella Gallegos. Gil is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Priscilla of the family home in Belen; four children, Speaker of the House of Representative for the State of New Mexico, Raymond G. Sanchez (D.) of Albuquerque, Regina M. Elkins and her husband, Gary of Belen, Gloria J. Pena of Albuquerque, Senator Michael S. Sanchez (D.) and his wife, Lynn of Los Chavez; eight grandchildren, Sandee Elkins-Whitehead and her husband, Shannon of Belen, Raymond Michael Sanchez and his wife, Andy of Albuquerque, Christina Pena and his wife, Jody of Los Lunas, Melissa Lucero and her husband, Edward of Belen, Jason Pena and his wife, Ragina of Belen, Joshua Sanchez of Albuquerque, Nolan Sanchez and Katrina Sanchez of Los Chavez; eight great-grandchildren, Kristin R. Elkins, Skyler and Shayla Elkins-Whitehead, Dylan, Chelsea and Gavin Sanchez, Katee Lucero and Brittany Vallejos; his two sisters, Suzie Jaramillo of Belen and Christina Baca of Albuquerque; four sisters-in-law, Elidia Bezzeg of Belen, Clara Krause, Julia Smith and Sally Thomas, all of California; three brothers-in-law, Robert, Marion, and Abe Sanchez and his wife, Julie, all of California. Gillie is also survived by his many loving nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Friday, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Romero Funeral Home, with another public viewing following at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, followed by a Rosary at 8:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. also at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. Interment will follow at the Parish Cemetery. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital, 6600 Zuni Rd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM.
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