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GARCIA, MARY LOUISE JOHNSON was born November 11, 1918, in Cardeth, Illinois, the third of seven children born to Ed and Mary Johnson. Louise was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Garcia; son David; her parents; and five brothers - Arthur, Johnny, Edward, Clarence, and Albert - as well as Albert's son, Danny. Albert, was a prominent Gallup resident, working first for the Gallup Police Department, followed by a career with the New Mexico State of Taxation and Revenue Department, and after retirement, he worked for an armored car company. Louise is survived by her only sister, Dorothy Marie Johnson Sulier of Plano, Texas; Dorothy's two sons and their spouses, Joe and Kimberlee Sulier and Gary and Nona Sulier of Plano; as well as 3 great-nephews, Jonathon & Jeffrey Sulier of Chicago and Ryne Sulier of Washington, D.C. In addition, she is survived by Clem Johnson of Gallup; great-nephews Lance and Billy Bob Johnson (Clem's sons); Julie Johnson of Albuquerque; and great-niece Charla of Albuquerque (Julie's daughter). From Louise's fifteen-year marriage to Nick Bubany, she is survived by her loving stepchildren Nick Bubany of Gallup, Rose Marie Bubany Pajuen of Albuquerque, and Carol Bubany Biava of Rio Rancho. From the time Dorothy was born, Louise became a second mother to the sister she endearingly nicknamed "Do." They shared a bedroom until Louise married Art Garcia at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1938. Afterwards, Louise and Art moved to Gallup, where Dorothy visited every summer from the age of 8 until she graduated from Las Vegas High School. Art and Joe became best friends when Dorothy married Joe Sulier in 1952. The four spent vacations, holidays, weekends, and every summer together, often with their children, Louise's two sons, David and Robert, and Dorothy's two sons, Joe and Gary. Louise and Arthur opened a small grocery store on the north side of Gallup. While Art worked for the Port of Entry, Louise ran the store, living in an apartment in the back. Under Louise's keen management, the store thrived, allowing Louise and Art to relocate their store to the middle of Coal Avenue, where they again lived in an attached apartment. In addition to managing the store, Louise handled car registrations and license plates while raising two sons. Due to Louise's astute business sense, Louise and Art were able to buy a house on the hill on Green Avenue, Louise's first dream home; she was ecstatic. Eventually 514 West Coal became available for purchase. In order to buy the property and move the store, Louise and Art had to sell their house. Louise's father, a licensed and professional contractor in Las Vegas, New Mexico, remodeled the store and built an apartment for the family. Ed Johnson promised her a postage stamp-sized yard with grass and a picket fence that Louise had always longed for, and he didn't disappoint his eldest daughter! From that point on, Louise's two sons were old enough to visit Grandpa and Grandma Johnson every summer in Las Vegas. It was then that Art's brother, Bill Garcia, stepped into the picture to help run the store. Louise and Bill were a good team, working seamlessly and tirelessly together to make Art's Market a huge success, and Art successfully ran for State Representative. After Art's untimely death, Louise continued to run and grow her businesses, adding rental properties to her portfolio, leaving a rich legacy to her only living son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Louise's widowed mother, Mary, bought a home in Gallup to be close to her now widowed daughter. Mary moved to Albuquerque in 1979 to live with her other daughter, Dorothy, newly widowed, until Mary's death at the age of 92. Louise and Dorothy had always had a special bond, but now they became closer than ever. With sons grown, Dorothy moved to Gallup to be near Louise, living next door to each other on Aida Court. Daily phone calls between the two sisters continued for well over a decade when Dorothy moved back to Plano, Texas. They often talked for an hour or two every evening. Louise and Dorothy were not only the soul survivors of their family, they were best friends. Dorothy's move from Gallup would have left a tremendous void in Louise's life had it not been for her two most cherished friends who lived across from Louise in the cul-de-sac. Nancy Kester, a registered nurse now living in Farmington, and retired Franciscan nun Sister Mary "Midge" Doiron, now of Jamestown, spent countless hours together. If they weren't talking or running around together, they were playing Scrabble. Not surprisingly, Louise was the Queen of Scrabble! Dorothy's son, Joe, and his wife bought a Victorian home in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 2005. Dorothy and Louise would meet there, along with valued friend, Sister Midge. Reminiscing, strolling the gardens, dining on Joe's gourmet cooking, going to Mass at the church where Dorothy was married, and spending evenings playing Scrabble or Canasta with Midge and family filled their days and nights. Carol, Marilyn Scott, long-time friends, new friends and neighbors came to see the Grand Dames of 6th Street, sitting on the big front porch, filling the air with endless conversation and merriment. These visits back in their hometown of Las Vegas were precious moments for Louise and Dorothy. Louise had many good years, and though she was greatly loved and revered by her Johnson family, stepchildren and friends, the last few years took its toll on her. Louise and Dorothy were kept from communicating in any way with each other, and the same happened to Louise's closest friends, Midge and Nancy, and Louise's devoted stepchildren. With much time and effort, Nancy finally found Louise in a nursing home in Belen. Word quickly spread so that others could also see or talk with Louise. Each time Louise was moved, Nancy, Midge, and Carol persevered in their quest to find her. Their unrelenting pursuit paid off and The Lord smiled down upon Louise. Nancy and Carol were able to visit with Louise, offering the comfort, companionship, and affection that Louise was so grateful for and desperately missing. Unfortunately, Midge would never again be able to see or talk to Louise after she was moved from Gallup. Louise managed to call her adored "Do" a couple of times in the last year, confirming the eternal bond the two shared. Those calls and visits will forever be treasured. By the Grace of God, and the river didn't rise, Dorothy learned of Louise's passing on January 23, 2013. With this advanced knowledge, Dorothy was able to attend the funeral service, accompanied by her two sons, daughter-in-law, Midge, Nancy, and Carol and her husband, John. Louise would surely have approved of and appreciated our need to pay tribute to this truly remarkable lady! Louise had always told Dorothy that nothing could ever come between them. Louise was right. Walk in Peace, dear sister, until we are together again forever!
        Published on: Sun February 17, 2013