Official Obituary of Gabriel Cordova March 24, 1961 ~ January 20, 2024 (age 62)

The Rosary for Gabriel Cordova, 62, of Portales, will be recited at 9:00 AM, Fri., Jan. 26, 2024 at St. Helen Catholic Church, and the Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Fr. Francisco Carbajal at 10:00 AM.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Dominic Soria, Emilio Aranda, J. J. Gonzales, Eric Saenz, Mario Cordova, Jonathan Cordova, Haidin LeClear and Joshua Mondragon serving as pallbearers.  All of his grandchildren and nieces and nephews will be honorary pallbearers.

Gabriel Cordova was born Mar. 24, 1961 in Portales to the home of Adelina “Nina” (Baca) and Fortunato Evaristo Cordova, and passed from this life on the evening of Jan. 20, 2024 at his home in Portales.  Gabriel was a 1980 graduate of Portales High School.  During his school career, Gabriel was a full-back for the Ram football team.  While he was still in high school, he began working at the local Kentucky Fried Chicken where his brother was the manager.  By the time the restaurant was closed in the early 1980’s, he had advanced to the position of Assistant Manager.

At that time, he moved to Lovington, and began working as a derrick hand in the oil fields.  In the mid 1990’s he was injured on the job, and became permanently disabled.  Gabriel was an avid sports fan, and enjoyed watching virtually any kind of competition.  His favorite sport was football, but his favorite teams were the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos.  He and his friend, Tommy Ervin went to garage sales together every Saturday morning.  He loved to be outside, except if it was cold.  Then he was the first to say “Let’s go in!”  He was a member of St. Helen’s Catholic Church.

He is survived by his two daughters, Monica Cordova of Burbank, CA and Michelle Cordova and husband, Isaac Nicolas of Farwell, TX; his son, Gabriel Montano of Portales; eleven grandchildren and a great-grandchild expected in May; his mother, Maria Adelina “Nina” Cordova of Portales; two brothers, Manuel Cordova and Adolpho “Fofo” Cordova and wife, Veronica all of Portales; four sisters, Regina Gonzales and husband, Jimmy of Lubbock, TX, Angela Cordova and husband, Phil Aranda of Lovington, NM, Stephanie Cordova of Portales and Mary Cordova of Amarillo, TX; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his father, Fortunato Cordova who died Dec. 2, 2019, a brother, Augustin “Tino” Cordova who died Feb 15, 2020 and a sister, Manuelita Cordova who died in 1958.

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