Mike Garcia, Jr.

SALT LAKE CITY — Mike Garcia, Jr., 76, died from complications of prostate cancer. He was a member of Saint Patrick Parish.

Garcia was born in Crested Butte, Colo., Sept. 28, 1931, to Miguel and Edubiges (Eloisa) Soto Garcia. He grew up in Spring Canyon. He graduated from the College of Eastern Utah. He served as a U.S. Marine during the Korean Conflict from 1950 to 1953. He married Bertha Escandon April 30, 1955 in Price, at Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church. They lived in Hiawatha, Utah, while he worked for the railroad. They moved to Salt Lake City in 1959. For the past 18 years, he was a school crossing guard. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, working on cars, painting, going to Wendover, Mexican music, and dancing.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Bertha; children, Linda (Randy), Johnny (Loretta), Mike (Benita), and Elouise; grandchildren, Joey, Jennifer, Mark, Christina, Christopher, Nicole, Stephanie, Sean, Nellie Jo, Lindsey, Michael, Anthony, and Katelyn; great-grandchildren, Elicia, Isabella, Benny, Alexis, Lillian, Samantha, Jessica, Lucas, and Laila; brothers and sisters, Richard, Bobby, Corky, Carmen, Josie, Helen, Margie, Rita, Tia Cora; in-laws, the Escandon family.