Luis Canuto Gallegos

With great sadness, the family of Luis (Louie) Gallegos of Albuquerque, New Mexico, announce the passing of Luis on October 10, 2025. Born on December 7, 1948 in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Luis grew up in Penasco, New Mexico, where his father was a teacher. He attended the Catholic seminary in Santa Fe for two years before completing high school in Penasco. While attending college at NM Highlands University in Las Vegas, he decided to join the United States Marine Corp, where he served two years, and was wounded during service in Viet Nam, earning a Purple Heart. Upon returning, he worked at various places, finally settling in Albuquerque, where he worked and retired from the NM State Scientific Laboratory. Luis was a proud Marine and collected and adorned his house with many memorabilia of the Marines. Everyone he met was a friend; he loved New Mexico Spanish Music and Elvis, and was well known for his dance moves, laughter, and as a jokester.

Luis is survived by his loving wife, Rose Gallegos (Sanchez), step daughter Maryann Jimenez, son Julian Gallegos and fiancé Monica Stapleton, granddaughters Janelle and Janessa Gallegos, great granddaughter Genevieve Gallegos, all of Albuquerque, as well as sisters Marissa (Mary Sue Gallegos) Curnutte in Phoenix, AZ , and Barbara Gallegos and partner Ray Vigil in Rio Rancho, NM, as well as several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Clemente Julian Gallegos and Mary Escolastica Gallegos (Martinez).

A visitation will be held Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 5 pm to 7 pm at French Westside Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Jude Thaddeus Church on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 10 am. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:30 pm.