Genevieve Gallegos

Genevieve/Veva/Ginny/Lita/Gigi Diaz Gallegos, 84, of Midland, Tx, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2025. A visitation will begin at 6 pm on Wednesday March 5, 2025, at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.  Services will be at 10 am on Thursday March 6, 2025, at First Baptist Church Chapel, Midland, Tx.

Genevieve was born on September 10, 1940, in Santo Tomas, New Mexico, to Victor and Emilia Diaz.  The sixth of nine children, Genevieve grew up in the Las Cruces, NM area.  She graduated from Gadsden High School in 1959 and briefly worked as an office assistant at White Sands Missile Range until her marriage to a young Baptist preacher, Leonard Gallegos, in 1960.  They were blessed with two children, Sarah and Leo, and served together in churches in Baird, El Paso, and Snyder, Texas, until finally ending up in Midland in 1979.  During that time Genevieve became interested in teaching elementary aged children and began working as a teacher’s assistant at Central Elementary in Snyder, Tx.  With the encouragement of a teacher she assisted, Mom started college at Western Texas College in Snyder and finished up at Texas Tech, where she earned her BS in Education.  She taught bilingual kindergarten from 1975 to 2003.  Mom believed very strongly in helping children from Mexico learn to speak, read and write in English so that they could assimilate, progress and finally prosper in the US.  It seemed like Mom never forgot a name or a face of any child that she had taught, nor their families, even though she taught a few hundred little ones throughout her career. She was recognized as one of MISD’s teachers of the year in 2000, and thereafter retired from teaching in 2003.  She didn’t retire from life, however, and continued to teach  Sunday School, VBS, and Spanish language classes at FBC Midland.  Lita also stayed very busy with her 3 grand children, Emilia, Zack and Matt attending all of their band and sporting events throughout their child and teen years.  She was also blessed with 7 great grand children, Jessica, Jacob, Lilly, Abraham, Leonardo, Ezekiel, and Hannah.

Genevieve is survived by her daughter, Sarah Arrambide (Josh), and son, Leo (Danna), and by her three grand children and seven great grand children.  She is also survived by 6 of her siblings, Aurora Amezquita, Consuelo Bustamante, Danny Diaz, Norma Duran, George Diaz, and Robert Diaz and many beloved nieces and nephews.  Genevieve cherished her family; the times she shared with her loved ones were full of laughter and joy and we will hold those memories in our hearts forever. Mom’s love for the Lord and her faith in Him were the hallmarks of her life, along with her generosity of spirit and her kindness to all who came her way.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Emilia, and her sister and brother, Mary Romero and Victor Diaz

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to all of Mom’s doctors and caretakers this past year.  Furthermore, thank you for all the support and prayers since her passing.

Though the last several months of her life were marked by physical issues and suffering, we know that she passed from this life into eternity in the presence of her God and her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  What we yet know only by faith, Mom now knows by sight and so, though we grieve her loss on this earth, we know without a doubt that we are not saying goodbye, only see you later.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the FBC-Midland Children’s Ministry.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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