Jerry L. Coca died at home on May 22, 2023 in the company of loving family members.  For a number of years, he had struggled with diminished strength and mobility problems.  He was known to his family, friends, former students and coworkers as an outgoing, fun-loving man who was always willing to help others, especially those who were most in need of support.   Often, he would encourage someone to pursue training or education to improve their future and would offer to help them. Jerry had a good heart and loved to help others.  He had a larger than life personality and there will be many stories told about the good times had with him by family and friends.

He was born to Leandro and Cleofas Duran Coca on July 24, 1944 in Las Vegas and resided here for most of his life.  Both his father and mother came from families whose roots in Northern New Mexico go back hundreds of years.  One of his great-grandfathers fought in the Battle of Valverde which was one of the Civil War battles in New Mexico.  His mother was bilingual but Spanish was the language spoken at home so he learned to speak English in elementary school.  Jerry took pride in his family and culture.

Jerry graduated from Robertson High School in 1963 where he was known as a good dancer and a fighter.  Upon graduation, he went to work as an attendant at the State Hospital.  During this time, he was able to participate in a number of training opportunities that encouraged  him to go to nursing school to become an LPN in 1965.  After this time, he returned to the State Hospital where he worked the night shift and attended classes at New Mexico Highlands University to pursue a degree in Education which he completed in 1970.  Jerry continued to work and simultaneously attend the university where he completed two Masters' degrees (Special Education in 1971 and Counseling in 1973).  This was followed by a licensure certificate in Educational Administration in 1975.  He also earned licensure certificates in seven other areas.  One of his favorite jobs during this time was teaching nursing classes at Luna Vocational-Technical Institute (now Luna Community College).  As Director of Allied Health Programs at LVTI, Jerry  helped create and expand additional programs to improve opportunities for students in the area.  In 1978, he was appointed to the State Board of Nursing by then Governor Jerry Apodaca and he served two terms as the Chairman of the Board.   After being offered a bilingual fellowship to participate in  a doctoral program in Counseling at the University of New Mexico, Jerry worked as an assistant professor at UNM in the Health Occupations and Secondary Education and Teacher Education Department.  He also served as an advisor for the Health Occupations Student Association during this time.  Jerry completed his Ph.D. in Counseling in 1980 and continued to work at UNM until 1983.  At that time, he returned to Las Vegas to work at New Mexico Highlands in the Counseling Program until his retirement in 1993.  In his "retirement" years, he worked as an educational diagnostician and school psychologist in many school districts in the area.  Dr. Jerry Coca officially retired in 2012 but will be remembered by the many students and co-workers whose lives he touched.

Jerry was preceded  in death by his parents, two older sisters, Rosela Chavez of Bernalillo and Sophie Phillips (Harold) of Raton, his younger sister, Betty Perez of Las Vegas, numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, a nephew, Alex Coca and stepson, Stacey Kass.

He is survived by his wife, Sandy Coca;  son, Lenny Coca (Claudia) of Las Cruces; daughter, Marquita Montano (Chris) of Santa Fe; stepson, Sean Kass (Liz) of Rio Rancho; stepdaughter, Shannon Vlaminck (Chris) of Herman, Minnesota; twelve  grandchildren: Julio, Cila, Cleo, and Liana Coca of Las Cruces: Noah and Sienna Montano of Santa Fe; Kira and Kody Kass of Rio Rancho; and Kassidy, Maggie, Amelia and Eliza Vlaminck of Herman, Minnesota;  nieces, Sylvia Garduno of Bernalillo, Edith Gallegos (Pat) of Las Vegas, Sharon Chavez of Ocala, Fla; nephews, Greg Fresquez (Berta) of Trinidad, Co., Dennis Fresquez (Cassandra) of Las Vegas and Andrew Perez of Albuquerque.   There are also numerous great-nieces and great-nephews as well as cousins and friends.

A rosary will be recited on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 7:00 pm  and a funeral mass will be conducted on Thursday,June 8, 2023 at 9:00 am with Father Rob Yaksich as celebrant.   Both will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows church in Las Vegas, NM.  Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery after the service.  Pallbearers will be Noah Montano, Julio Coca, Kody Kass, Andrew Perez, Dennis Fresquez and Larry Paiz.   Those who are unable to attend the service can watch it live-streamed at www.oloslasvegas.org or on FaceBook or YouTube at olos.LV.

Arrangements entrusted to and under the care of Rogers Mortuary 600 Reynolds Ave Las Vegas, NM 87701 505-425-3511 or 1-800-479-3511.

Please visit our online website www.rogersmortuarynm.com to sign the online register book.