Phillip Horacio Gonzales

Graveside services for Phillip Gonzales, 77, of Portales, will be held at 10:00 AM, Wed., Jan. 27, 2021 in the Portales Cemetery with Fr. Francisco Carbajal officiating.  Derek Gonzales, Alexandria Gonzales, Gerald Gonzales, Phillip Gonzales, Julian Gonzales and Lance Hill will serve as pallbearers.

Phillip Horacio Gonzales was one of a set of twin sons born May 26, 1943 in Santa Rosa, NM to the home of Isabel (Martinez) and Benito Gonzales, and died at his home in Portales, NM early on the morning of Jan. 24, 2021.  As a teenager, he and his family moved first to Clovis and finally to Portales where Mr. Gonzales graduated from Portales High School in 1961.  On Feb. 13, 1965 in Clovis, he was married to Josie Madrid.  From 1969 until the mid-1990’s, he was employed by the Portales Public Schools as a custodian.  During that 27-year period, he worked at Steiner Elementary School, and finally at the Portales Junior High School.

All of Mr. Gonzales’ life he enjoyed playing music.  For many years he played the bass guitar with his family band.  He was a very active and faithful member of St. Helen Catholic Church where he played in the church for more than 30 years.

Much of his leisure time was spent playing pool and dominos.  As long as the pool hall was open on the square, he played there.  In later years he enjoyed the fellowship and playing with his friends at the Portales Senior Citizens Center.

He is survived by Josie Gonzales, his wife of nearly 56 years of their home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Julian and Brenda Gonzales and Phillip and Sulema Gonzales of Portales; three grandchildren, Derek Gonzales, Alexandria Gonzales and Gerald Gonzales; five brothers, Nick Gonzales of Clovis, Billy Gonzales of Clovis, Johnny Gonzales of Portales, Jake Gonzales of Clovis and Floyd Gonzales of Albuquerque; three sisters, Betty Balderas of Moses Lake, WA, Grace Chavez of Portales and Bonnie Gonzales of Moses Lake, WA; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and other family members and his many friends.  Mr. Gonzales was preceded in death by a son, Gerald Gonzales, his infant daughter, Mary Gonzales, his twin brother, Magin Gonzales, as well as two other brothers, Martin and Robert Gonzales and by both of his parents.

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