Joe "Chompi" Najera

Joe (Chompi) F. Najera, 74, of Hill St., Carlsbad, NM, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather peacefully passed away Friday, August 21, 2015, at home surrounded by his wife, children and family. Visitation will be 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. A Vigil is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at San Jose Church with Deacon Melvin Balderrama reciting. Mass of Christian burial is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at San Jose Church. Fr. Martin Cordero will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Joe F. Najera was born March 3, 1941 in Carlsbad, New Mexico to Ruben Fabian Najera and Manuela (Franco) Najera. He met and married the love of his life, Gloria Hernandez on January 1961. They made Carlsbad their home and had 3 children; Suzy, Joey and Bonnie who also reside in Carlsbad. Joe's first job was with his father, brother Pete and brother-in-law Juan, doing carpentry work and building several homes around Carlsbad. He then worked for Houston Lumber Company before working for the Potash mines for 20 years until he retired. He was a jack-of-all-trades. Chompi enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing bingo and going to casinos and had numerous hobbies like raising chickens, rabbits, goats and dogs. He was an extreme animal lover and had a loving and caring passion for his pets. He helped raise his grandchildren as his own, and other children who adopted him as their grandfather, teaching them hunting, fishing, camping, and carpentry skills. He enjoyed going to the Guadalupe Mountains (Queens) with his kids to go hunting and spending Easter Sundays there. He was an extraordinary husband, father and grandfather and will be dearly missed and will never be forgotten. He lived to dance and play jokes on his love ones and make people laugh, up to the very end. You rest now Dad and enjoy seeing us from heaven.He was a parishioner of San Jose Catholic Church. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Pedro (Pete) Najera. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Gloria Najera, three children: Suzy Najera and companion, Victor, Bonnie Najera and companion, Lee, Joey Najera and wife, Shannon, all of Carlsbad, NM; 10 grandchildren; 19 great- grandchildren; sisters: Lily N. Hernandez, Virgina (Ginny) Najera, Yolanda Valdez and husband, Frank, Carol Avitia and husband Larry and Lorrine Najera, all of Carlsbad, NM, Corrine Peterson and husband Orville of Magdalena, NM, Delia Alvarez and husband, Abel of Albuquerque, NM, Rosalinda Davis and husband, Kim of Albuquerque, NM; brothers: Richard (Dickie) Najera and wife, Martha, Manuel Najera and wife, Marcella and David Najera, all of Carlsbad, NM and numerous nephews and nieces. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren: Eric Marquez, Rudy Marquez, Samantha Marquez, Trinie Carrasco, Keono Orgain, Jurias Dominquez, Ciara Najera, George Herrera and Estrella Herrera. Honorary Pallbearers are his great- grandsons, and great-granddaughters. The family will have a meal following the burial at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 606 W. Shaw. Please join them and share your stories on "Chompi". Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.