d. August 10, 2024
Johnny Bautista González, aka “Bananas,” peacefully and lovingly took his journey to meet our Lord God on Saturday, August 10, 2024, following a courageous battle with kidney failure. Johnny was a strong trooper since the beginning of the diagnosis facing many challenges, but, in the end, at the age of 77, he no longer had the strength to continue the fight. Johnny was born February 13, 1947, to Alfirio Gonzales and Lucy Vallejos Gonzales, both deceased. Johnny graduated from Questa High School in 1966, and he joined the army, going to Vietnam, from 1969 to 1971. Johnny married Nancy Gomez in 1974, they had two sons and one daughter; Jason Douglas Gonzalez who married Maria Montoya. They had four daughters; Anastacia (Riley), Araceli (Matthew), Amalia, and Alianna. Son Juan Bautista González (Beverly Rael) has two sons; Juanito and Marcus (Martina), two granddaughters; Aliyah and Jordyn Martinez, their mother and grandmother is Julie Gonzales. Beverly has two daughters and one son; Angelia, Sabrina, and Carlos Sifuentes. Johnny joins his beautiful daughter Ramona, who lost the battle to pneumonia and the Covid-19 virus in 2021. Ramona had five children; Esperanza (Joshua), two grandsons; Nemiyah and Eziyah and son Enrique. Daniel Gallardo is Esperanza’s and Enrique’s father; with daughter Marivel and her father Vicente Martinez, two sons Elijah and Atreyu, stepdaughter Eve and their father Brian Pino. Johnny leaves three sisters and their families; Kathy Ramos, Margaret Gonzales (Becky Reardon), Anna Reichbach (Ray) and one brother, Anthony (Mark Johnson -deceased). Johnny leaves many friends, family members, special cousins, nieces, nephews and a few special aunts and uncles and their families. Johnny also leaves his in-law brothers and sisters and their families; Steve Gomez-deceased (Linda), Felix Gomez (Linda), Frank Gomez, Della Apodaca, Nina Apodaca, and Charlene Ramos (Jose). Johnny’s father-in-law; Arturo Rogerio Gomez and his mother-in-law; Maria Berlinda Gomez preceded Johnny in death. As a Support Parent, Johnny also leaves two young children. Johnny enjoyed all his family and loved spending time with each one of them, especially holiday and special occasion gatherings and meals. Johnny also leaves Preciosa Bonita, his Shih Tzu.
Johnny was a hardworking man all his life. He enjoyed caring for the family farm; planting crops, tending to them—irrigating and cutting, etc. He especially enjoyed working alongside Gramma Lucy in her huge vegetable gardens. Johnny worked at many places, including Molycorp and the Red River Ski Area. In 1994, he purchased the Shell gas station and expanded to a very successful automotive shop. Johnny expanded and built the Chevron gas station, which included Bananas, which sold the delicious and popular chicharron burrito.
Johnny enjoyed fishing at the Rio Grande and just loved the outdoors. Before he got busy with his businesses, he also hunted. He had the opportunity to travel to many different places in the US and abroad with his wife Nancy. Together, they both enjoyed the many different foods available and breathtaking sites.
The González family appreciates the many prayers, kind words and thoughts expressed, delicious meals including desserts, visits, floral arrangements and overall, an expression of love, respect and support for Johnny. Rivera Family Funerals & Cremations of Taos is entrusted with the care of Johnny.
