Celia Avitia Gomez

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Malaga, New Mexico, though not big on a map, is the familial heart and birthplace to Celia Avitia Gomez.

Born February 25, 1930, to parents Ventura Avitia and Dolores Herrera, Celia is the last surviving of this beautiful family of 3 daughters and 2 sons. Nothing was more important than her family.  She delighted in time spent with family and cherished each holiday in family presence. Celia was a devoted member of the Catholic Daughters of America and adored our Lord through the life she lived. During her life, she was the assistant teacher and Spanish instructor at Harding Webster Pre-School and Dance Studio.  Fearless, as she was, she spent most of her working career as a Park Ranger at the Carlsbad Caverns, speaking to crowds from across the world of the bats who made their home there. She found happiness in gardening, dancing and traveling and had an undefined love for animals, especially the ones who called her farm home, as she radiated kindness, love, warmth in her hugs, and beauty to all.

Celia was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Pete Gomez and son, Pedro, Jr.

She was blessed with a big family and is survived by 4 daughters: Belinda Yantis of Pflugerville, Texas, Lorinda Liggins of Chandler, Arizona, Jenny Gomez of Castle Rock, Colorado, Rhonda Warren and her husband Bill of Cedar Park, Texas.

She was blessed with seven grandchildren: Joslyn Tomlinson and her husband Steve of Chalfont, Pennsylvania, Nikola Rabo and her husband John of Chandler, Arizona, Casandra Stanphill and her husband Chad of Casa Grande, Arizona, Marisa Peikert of Round Rock, Texas, Jesse Liggins and wife Melissa of Chandler, Arizona, Seth Yantis and wife Jessica of Round Rock, Texas, and Morgan Warren of Cedar Park, Texas.

She had fifteen wonderful great-grandchildren: Heidi Yantis of Austin, Texas, Seth Yantis Jr. of Round Rock, Texas, Athena, Amara, and Avery Tomlinson of Chalfont, Pennsylvania, Jordan and Hunter Peikert of Round Rock, Texas, Kadin Rabo of Tempe, Arizona, Kailani and Knox Rabo of Chandler, Arizona, Leilauni and Luca Stanphill of Casa Grande, Arizona, Graycen and Gialani Liggins of Chandler, Arizona, and Garrett Chamberlin of San Diego, California.

Mrs. Gomez, 92 received her angel wings on Friday, January 27^th at Serenity Senior Living in Pflugerville, Texas where she lived for the past 1.5 years.

Visitation is scheduled from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Sunday, February 5, 2023, at Denton-Wood Funeral Home, followed by a vigil at 6:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 2:00 PM Monday, February 6, 2023, at St. Edward Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Sunset Gardens Memorial Park in Carlsbad, NM.

Condolences may be expressed online at dentonwood.com