The passing of Juanita Reyes was sad news. I believe about her life and her family members and it brings a smile to my face. She is gone, but the family members she raised, along with her husband, Daniel, have carried her legacy via their actions.

The nine young children Juanita and Daniel raised serve as a testament to parenting and producing do with what you have and what you make it.

I was initial impressed with the competitive nature of every single of Juanita’s young children. They had been warriors, bred to survive, but humble and respectful.

With nine of them at the dinner table, I bet minding your manners was a prime priority.

I became familiar with every single and every single 1 of the nine siblings as a sports editor and a fellow competitor in city leagues. I admired the tenacity they played with and their assertive nature. It was apparent the passion they carried for sports came from the dwelling.

It was an outlet that was primarily based on attaining higher academic requirements, contributing to the family members way and producing confident that the household had several hands on deck.

No doubt, this was Juanita’s way.

After I started covering Wildcat athletics and city leagues, it was clear to see that the Reyes athletes had been amongst the finest the city had to supply. From Small League to NCAA Division I schools, you could come across a Reyes at the prime of a roster and Juanita and Daniel cheering them on.

The Reyes’ prowess for functionality in athletic arenas led me to meet Juanita. I was curious as to who raised these children who stand out in crowds and on the playing fields. I also had a batch of black-and-whites of her young children in action that she may be interested in.

The photo supply did not stand a likelihood. With nine children filtering via Wildcat and Lady ‘Cat uniforms, acquiring sports photographs was (pardon the pun) not in the image.

The 1 issue I could count on whilst covering Deming Higher sports was seeing Juanita and Daniel in the stands — each wearing cardinal and navy. For a time getting, the couple wore silver, black and teal whilst attending Organ Mountain (then Oñate) Higher College baseball games in Las Cruces, exactly where their son, David, coached for several years.

It was apparent the Reyes children had a passion for sports. It was also evident that they excelled mainly because of a powerful operate ethic, a commitment to the sport and an assertive method that could lead a group by instance.

Rosa, Daniel, Johnny, Armando, Paul, Mario David, Gracie and Christy created Juanita proud. They are a reflection of their mother and can now deliver the very same like and nurturing to their personal young children.

Rest in peace, Juanita.

Billy Armendariz is the Headlight sports editor. He can be reached at [email protected]