Andres Gonzales,

A memorial gathering will be held for Andres Herrera Gonzales, Jr. 74, of Roswell at 2:00 pm Saturday, April 13, 2013 at Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home with Scott Seymour officiating. Andres passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at a local nursing home. Andres was born January 21, 1939 to Andres Gonzales, Sr. and Sostena Gonzales (Herrera) in Roswell, NM. Andres was always a free spirit wondering where ever the wind took him. As a father during the day he worked on the kill floor at Glovers Packing Company carving meat from 1968 – 1983. Afterhours and on weekends my father turned his hands to carving wood, everything from a handle for my mom’s potato washer to a five foot tall sculpture of an Indian Chief. He would carve toys and things for us until my mom told him to carve something worthwhile. He did, he made my mom’s kitchen into his own studio, from a bust of Christ to a 22 carved stocked rifle and ribbons won for entering in the Eastern New Mexico State Fair hung on the walls. Sometimes he would even give his projects away, one sculpture was given to Governor Jerry Apodaca, which stood in the governor’s mansion. Other pieces stood in his beloved brother-in-law’s office, Bobby Ramirez county magistrate, an eagle was purchased by a Hobbs High School teacher for use as a mascot as well. He told me one time he would have an idea in the middle of the night and would get up and draw it out and start carving right away. He would focus he worries and stress through his art. My fondest memory would be waking up in the middle of the night and finding him carving, and giving me water and sending back to bed. I’ll always love you, Andres, husband, father, friend and provider. He is survived by his children, his daughter, Lulu Gonzales-Palacios; his son, Andres Gonzales III and his wife, Victoria and his daughter, Petra Gonzales all of Roswell, NM; his wife, Mary Gonzales of Roswell, NM; four grandchildren, David E. Palacios-Gonzales, Zaccheans Palacios – Gonzales, Deliliah Eliseo Gonzales, his god daughter, Susie and Filomino Gonzales of Roswell, NM; his sisters, Naomi Gonzales, Blacita Kinkle and Juanita Valdez of Roswell, NM; his brothers, Roy Gonzales and Filomino Gonzales of Roswell, NM; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andres Gonzales, Sr. and Sostena Gonzales (Herrera), his sister, Lupita Urbina, nieces, nephews and cousins. The family would like to invite family and friends to the Club 51 908 E. McGaffey St. following the service. Services are under the direction of Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory. John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it will and you hear the sounds it makes but do not know where it comes from and where it is going, so it is with everyone who is born of the spirit.

Andres Gonzales,

January 21, 1939 - April 10, 2013