LAS CRUCES – Doña Ana County will hold its annual unclaimed burial ceremony Wednesday, October 21, honoring 39 individuals whose remains have not been claimed by family members or other authorized individuals.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Cemetery East, located at 100 S. Espina Street in Las Cruces.
The ceremony provides an opportunity for community members to remember those who have died and ensure they receive a respectful final resting place.
According to the Doña Ana County Health and Human Services Department, the individuals included in the ceremony have been cremated, and their remains have been held by the department while awaiting claims.
The county provides cremation and burial services for individuals who die within Doña Ana County and whose remains are not claimed.
The annual ceremony allows the county to provide a final resting place for those individuals with dignity and respect.
Individuals Being Remembered
Doña Ana County released the following names of individuals to be included in the October 21 ceremony. Birth dates and dates of death are provided as listed in the county’s announcement.
- Keith Adle — August 29, 1960 – October 17, 2024
- Maria Aguilar Hernandez — March 18, 1998 – June 16, 2024
- Focia Alan — April 22, 1955 – March 4, 2024
- Robert Archuleta — November 10, 1979 – August 22, 2024
- Herbert Bracy — September 20, 1963 – April 12, 2024
- Lori Burke — January 4, 1969 – July 2, 2024
- Cleofas Castillo — June 26, 1964 – May 30, 2017
- Jesse Clements — December 18, 1961 – July 30, 2024
- Dublin Driskill — April 25, 2024 – September 22, 2024
- Harvard Eberling — February 12, 1966 – June 7, 2024
- Steven Gerdes — May 14, 1964 – August 24, 2024
- June Evelyn Hargraves — April 8, 1950 – June 28, 2024
- Wayne Harris — August 3, 1967 – June 25, 2024
- Fabiola Alfaro Hernandez — December 22, 2001 – June 16, 2024
- Baby Hernandez — July 27, 2024 – July 27, 2024
- Joann Hill — May 7, 1967 – June 17, 2024
- Sonja Ihu — September 4, 1944 – March 26, 2003
- Francis Kemrer — March 24, 1939 – October 20, 2024
- Billy King — January 17, 1950 – August 26, 2024
- Alan Lee — December 17, 1956 – March 11, 2025
- Joseph Leonardo — February 12, 1941 – July 14, 2024
- Jose Lopez — May 17, 1964 – October 16, 1988
- James Lowe — March 22, 1950 – July 31, 2024
- Lino Mejorado Jr — August 14, 1968 – August 14, 2024
- Tommy Miles — November 12, 1961 – March 25, 2024
- John Pectsch — November 25, 1942 – June 3, 2025
- Jeanna Pierce — May 18, 1962 – January 30, 2024
- Juan Reyes — June 13, 1953 – March 28, 2024
- Samuel Ruiz — June 28, 1960 – October 11, 2024
- Gloria Samtiz Gomez — July 28, 1996 – July 4, 2024
- Angel San Lucas — November 1, 1989 – April 23, 2024
- Micaela Sanchez Perez — October 4, 1991 – August 13, 2024
- Lezlie Sheehy — April 9, 1945 – July 22, 2024
- Oscar Sifuentes — Birth date unknown – September 9, 2024
- Levi Stone — March 19, 1966 – January 15, 2024
- Javier Torres — May 16, 1981 – September 28, 2024
- James Vaden — December 26, 1941 – September 1, 2024
- Mary Webb — February 2, 1954 – September 20, 2024
- Olan Sean Yoki — May 2, 1943 – July 2, 2024
Information About Claiming Remains
Anyone seeking information about claiming the remains of an individual included in the county’s announcement is encouraged to contact the Doña Ana County Health and Human Services Department.
The department can be reached by telephone at 575-525-5866 or by email at hhsprogramops@donaana.gov.
The October 21 ceremony is open to the public, and community members are welcome to attend and pay their respects.
John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications, LLC – john@bravomic.com