Lydia (Gauna) Garcia

Longtime Goodland resident, Lydia Garcia, age 73, passed away Saturday, June 15, 2024 at HaysMed in Hays, Kansas.

Lydia was born August 6, 1950 to Narciso and Emilia (Lopez) Gauna in Levelland, Texas and raised in Dimmitt, Texas. On April 24, 1968 she married her beloved Ruben Garcia in Tampa, Florida and moved to Goodland, Kansas in 1969. Lydia was a member of the Light of the World Church (La Luz Del Mundo).

Lydia was a brilliant homemaker and mother to her family and was very passionate about loving her husband and children. She was skilled in her Mexican cooking, famous for her delicious enchiladas and she delighted in feeding a crowd. Lydia also possessed a talent for creating magical works of art with her beautiful hands and if she wasn’t creating, she was joyously  planting and tending to her flowers.

Her time was spent with her community playing bingo, spending time with her friends and family, and helping others. It was well-known that she would be cheering the loudest in any crowd. Her smile, quick-wit, humor, and embraces will truly be missed by all.

Lydia is preceded in death by her parents, Emilia and Narciso Gauna; brothers, Narciso Gauna Jr. and Danny Rodriguez; sister, Mary Salcido; great grandson, Alexander Mariscal; mother-in-law, Angelina Garcia; father-in-law, Andres Garcia; and two sisters-in-law.

Lydia leaves behind a legacy of compassion, grace and a loving family. She is survived by her husband Ruben of Goodland; children, Adam (Meribah) of Goodland, KS, Nelda (Joaquin) Naranjo of Liberal, KS, Lisa (Raul) Rodriguez of Goodland, KS, Gloria (Lance) Smith of Stratton, CO, Erica (Jamie) Kroupa of Shawnee, KS, Jessica (Nick) Grebel of St. Louis, MO, Ruben II (Beth) of Rockdale, TX, Adrienne (Justin) Lorimer of Wray, CO and Deborah (Alex) Castillo of Wray, CO; sisters Janie Ramirez and Josie Garcia of Dimmitt, TX and Norma Dominguez of Amarillo, TX; 32 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren whom she truly adored, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral service will be Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. MT at Bateman Funeral Home, 211 East 11th Street, Goodland. Interment following the service at the Goodland Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 19, 2024 from 4 to 6 p.m. MT at Bateman Funeral Home.

Memorials may be designated to the Lydia Garcia Memorial Fund and may be left at the services or sent in care of Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, Kansas 67735. Information and condolences may be found at www.batemanfuneral.com.