The Mass of the Resurrection for Alejandro Ontiveros, 62, of Portales, will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Fri, Aug. 24, 2018 at St. Helen Catholic Church by Fr. Charles Ugochukwu. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with his brothers acting as pallbearers.

Alejandro Leyva Ontiveros was born Dec. 16, 1955 in Cardinas, Mexico to the home of Soledad Leyva and Abel Ontiveros, and died Aug. 20, 2018 in Clovis, NM after a lengthy illness. His family were migrant workers, and so they moved various times to where there was work. Most of his youth was spent in the Texas Panhandle. He graduated from high school in Muleshoe, TX. For several years he lived in Kansas where he took courses to become a certified mechanic. While living there, he often helped with the wheat harvest. He was always busy working at something. In 1991, following the death of his father, he moved back to Portales, but soon moved to Muleshoe, where he worked at a cotton gin. He maintained the equipment and ran the gin during the cotton season. Several years ago he was forced to retire due to his health.

Even though he worked and had his home in Muleshoe, he spent every spare moment in Portales with his son and grandchildren. Whatever his grandchildren were involved in, he was there to support them. Alejandro loved going fishing with his grandson. He played softball his whole life until he was about 54 years old. He was a diehard Cowboys fan.

He is survived by his son, Jason “Alex” Ontiveros of Portales; three grandchildren, Alex “Darien” Ontiveros, Alanah Dacey Ontiveros and Abbigail Danae Ontiveros; 9 brothers, Alonzo Ontiveros of Muleshoe, TX, Abel Ontiveros of Goodland, KS, Alvaro Ontiveros of Clovis, Albert Ontiveros of Portales, Arnold Ontiveros of Clovis, Armando Ontiveros of Portales, Artemio Ontiveros of Brownfield, TX, Arturo Ontiveros of Portales and Adam Ontiveros of Muleshoe, TX; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and other family members. He was preceded in death by both of his parents as well as by a sister, Vicki Ontiveros.