Emilio A. Pena entered eternal rest on July 23,2023 at home surrounded by family and friends.
He was born to Encarnacion and Maria Pena on August 8, 1938 in Deming, NM. After graduating from Deming High School in 1958 Emilio worked for NM Transportation Department from 1959 to 1972. In April 1959 he joined and later retired as a captain from the Army National Guard in which he was a Champion Rifleman. In 1964 he became NM State Champion in Big Bore Rifle Matches in Capitan, NM taking 2 First place Trophies, 1- State Championship and 1- Winning the Standing Position Competition. He joined up with 3 other Deming Guardsmen and to form three-fourths of the first-place four-man team. Later in 1973 Emilio graduated from New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy in Santa Fe New Mexico. In 1984 he graduated from Western New Mexico University in Silver City while working for the Luna Country Sherriff’s department as a deputy from where he retired in 1985 as a Deputy Seargent. After that he joined the City of Belen and worked there until 1986 from where he retired from the State of New Mexico with a total of 25 years of service. Emilio enjoyed collecting and restoring old classic cars, digging and collecting pottery, and traveling visiting 50 states of United States and 8 different countries.
He married Olivia Jacquez Chacon; they had 4 children together. David, Michael, Christopher Pena, and Rachael Pena Bishop, eventually they did divorce.
In 1982 he married Karen Hollingsworth Pena and together they had one son (Andrew S. Pena). Emilio and Karen eventually divorced but remained good friends. Karen remained by his side during the final months of his illness.
Survivors include his best friend and companion even after their divorce, Karen Pena and their son Andrew S. Pena both of Mesa Arizona; his children: Michael Pena, Christopher Pena, and his only daughter Rachael Pena Bishop of Deming, NM; 2 sisters Sally Gallosa, Delores Pena of Albuquerque and multiple nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by parents: Encarnacion and Maria Pena, brothers Encarnacion Pena Jr., Peter Pena, Raymond Pena and 3 sisters Margaret Pena, Lupe Ruiz, Amelia Rascon and his oldest Son Emilio David Pena.
Inurnment will take place Tuesday August 22, 2023 at 10 o’clock in the morning at Mountain View Cemetery in Deming with Military Honors Services.
The family would like to thank Dr. George Imuro, Dr. Nathan Goldfine and Dr. Douglas Kinkel at Mimbres Memorial Hospital for their wonderful compassion and care shown to Emilio, Ambercare Hospice Services for their loving care and support to Emilio and family members as well as to Mary Hull and all the staff at Willow Manor Assisted Living for all their care and friendship to Emilio for the past 3 yrs.
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