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ORTIZ, LAWRENCE J. If you love something, set it free. If it returns, it is yours. If it doesn't, then it never really was. We are here on this Earth on borrowed time, knowing the day will come when we must leave and return home. Such is the case with our beloved brother, devoted son, doting uncle, and faithful friend, Lawrence J. Ortiz. Larry (as he was known to his family and friends) was called home by our Heavenly Father, and passed away suddenly on April 10, 2014. He was born November 30, 1956 in Snyder, Texas. He was the second of four children and the only son of Eloy and Monica Ortiz. He moved to New Mexico in 1971 with his family. He attended Del Norte High School and subsequently earned his GED. He attended TVI, and received advanced training in Automotive Repair, and earned his CDL. He began his career with Chevron Oil in Albuquerque driving gasoline tanker trucks and subsequently relocated to Long Beach, California where he worked on the docks unloading oil tankers. After several years he returned to New Mexico, and in 1985 went to work for Dial Oil. He also spent time at the Albuquerque International Airport Jet Hangar where he was in charge of jet refueling. He went on to work for Jay Walton Automotive, and his last job was working for El Bar Trucking in Albuquerque hauling the U.S. Mail to Los Angeles and Ponca City, Oklahoma. He is one of only a handful of long distance truckers that had an accident free driving record. His career was cut short by an on the job injury which resulted in complete disability, forcing Larry into retirement in 1997. He would never again be the same person we knew and loved. Larry was a motorcycle and hot rod enthusiast, as well as an avid hunter and gun aficionado. There wasn't a car that he couldn't fix or a gun he couldn't take apart and put back together with his eyes closed. Underneath it all, Larry could be a big teddy bear. He loved his two nieces, Madeleine and Brooke Palmer, more than life itself. He would buy them toys from Toys R Us when they were young. Even if he were broke, he would somehow find some change to buy them an ice cream cone. Larry was preceded in death by his father, Eloy Ortiz, as well as his best friend, Joe Tudesque. He is survived by his mother, Monica Ortiz; his sisters, Marquita and Mary Ortiz and Dr. Elizabeth Palmer; his nieces, Madeleine and Brooke Palmer, all from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Funeral services are on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 with the funeral mass scheduled for 11:00 AM at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Albuquerque, followed by a committal service at Mount Calvary Cemetery. A reception is scheduled to follow the committal service at the Daniels Family Funeral Services- Carlisle Reception from 1:00PM to 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Larry, you will be greatly missed as you were a constant source of jokes and non-stop laughter till it hurt. At last your suffering is over. Go and rest. Visit with Dad and other family who have gone home to the Lord. Be at peace, dearest brother, and watch over us as our guardian angel. We pray that you are in paradise today without the pain that you endured here on Earth. To view information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com Daniels Family Funeral Services 3113 Carlisle Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-884-1188
        Published on: Fri April 18, 2014