Mary Alice Garcia

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Mary Alice Garcia, a woman of great kindness and spirit. Mary Alice was born on May 27, 1953, and transitioned out of this life on September 20, 2026.

Mary Alice was born to Pete and Mela Tapia in Las Vegas, NM, the second oldest of six children. In 1956 the family moved to Albuquerque where she later graduated from Albuquerque High School. After high school she married Robert S. Martinez of Mora, NM. They were married for 18 years and had two children, son Gabriel and daughter Melissa.

Mary Alice began her career as a civil servant in the Office of Personnel Management. In 1990 she remarried Lawrence Garcia. In 1992 they moved to Portland, Oregon. She thrived in the lush landscape under the drizzling skies of the Pacific Northwest. There she worked at Bonneville Power Administration. She took immense pride in her job and enjoyed working alongside colleagues from all over the world. During her time in the PNW, she loved visiting Oregon's coastal communities and developed a love for seafood, especially oysters. She regularly attended the annual Blues Festival along the Portland waterfront and became an avid squash player at the RiverPlace Athletic Club. She and Lawrence also enjoyed riding motorcycle, and she even attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, riding from Portland to South Dakota. Despite the distance, Mary Alice never lost her love of New Mexican chile which she regularly had shipped to her home in Portland.

In 2004 Mary Alice moved back to New Mexico where she found a fulfilling role at the Office of Inspector General within the Department of the Interior. Working in Audits and Investigations, she earned the position of Investigative Agent, and took part in many important cases involving fraud against the government. She loved her work and the dedication she showed made her an invaluable asset to her team and a beloved colleague. Mary Alice retired in 2019 after nearly 30 years of civil service.

Aside from her work, Mary Alice enjoyed cooking and was known for her delicious New Mexican cuisine. She delighted in decorating for the holidays and making her home festive and inviting. She also was an avid animal lover, and had a special fondness for Chihuahuas. Her home was full of tiny yapping dogs plus one scruffy cat for many years. In 2024, she took in a stray cat, whom she named Ceniza (Ceni, for short), who became her dear companion.

Mary Alice's Catholic faith and love of family were her utmost priorities. She enjoyed collecting many beautiful crucifixes from artisans throughout the SW and spent much time in prayer. She will be missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her mother, Mela Tapia; son, Gabriel (Carson); daughter, Melissa (Douglas); her siblings, Lucille (Robert) Garcia, Linda (Charley) Montoya, Peter (Laura) Tapia, and Laura (Michael) Tapia; and many nieces and nephews.

A Rosary will be recited Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 5:30 p.m., at St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Catholic Church, 3424 4th St. NW. Mass will be celebrated Thursday, October 22, 2026, 10:00 a.m., at St. Therese.