Reynaldo Miguel Herrera died unexpectedly on Monday, February 12, 2024, in Las Vegas, NM. He was born on the family ranch, Rancho Herrera, in Maestas Canyon on May 4, 1948, to Secundino Herrera and Isidora Rivera.  When he was 3 years old, his family moved to Longmont, Colorado.   He went to school there, graduating from Longmont High School. He served as an altar boy and worked alongside his dad from the time he was small, learning good work ethics, a sense of responsibility, a caring for others and construction skills.  All these values and skills he would practice throughout his life.

After high school he joined the Air Force during the Vietnam War, learning radar systems and repair. He was stationed in various places in Southeast Asia, earning the National Defense Service, the AirForce Commendation, the Vietnam Service, and the Air Force Good Conduct Medals. After leaving the service he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration. With his knowledge of radar systems inside and out and sense of service to his country, he advanced through the system to a high managerial position with the FAA in Washington DC. He was there on September 11, 2001, seeing the plane hit the Pentagon from his office window. One of his good friends was killed at the Pentagon.  He and his crew worked 36 hours straight to bring down all the airplanes in the sky. Rey was awarded one of the US Flags that flew over the White House on 9/11 in appreciation for his courageous and hard work maintaining the country's radar systems on that day. After retirement from the FAA, he worked in Colorado Springs for Homeland Security.

His brother, Dennis, and Rey inherited Rancho Herrera, buying out his brother's portion of the ranch. The ranch was his heart and soul.  He designed a home and built it by himself with the help of his nephew, Michael Herrera, his granddaughter, Catherine Bates, and other family members and friends who would drop by from time to time when he retired completely in 2005. Sadly, the Rancho Herrera house and barn were completely destroyed by the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire on May 11, 2022.  The floods of that year did further damage to the land and Rey almost lost his life in the July 1st flood of that year. The stress of the fire, the floods, the aftermath, and the dealing with bureaucracy and paperwork broke his heart and ultimately lead to his death. He and Kathy Varela, his beloved partner, worked endlessly clearing debris, reseeding and planting to repair the land with the help of his nephew, granddaughter, and friends.

Rey was an active member of the San Miguel and New Mexico State Republican Party. He served as Vice Chair and Chair for San Miguel County Republican Party for many years. He worked on several candidates' campaigns at the federal and state level. He traveled throughout the state and especially northern New Mexico promoting candidates and the values of freedom and the protection of our individual rights. He was often on KFUN radio and many other radio stations in Northern New Mexico promoting candidates and issues.

Rey was one of the kindest and generous human beings on the earth with a fantastic sense of humor. There were countless times when he saw someone in need of a meal or a place to stay that he would say here is a meal or you can stay at my place. If you were his friend, you would be a friend forever. He would often say "I don't abandon my friends."  If you even hinted you needed something repaired or fixed, he was there. He loved New Mexico and often said, "God didn't create junk" when he looked out his deck at Maestas Canyon. He will be missed.

He is survived by his partner, Kathy Varela, who he loved so much, his children, Damien Herrera and Elinda White, his nephew, Michael Herrera, his granddaughter, Catherine Bates, his brother, Demacio Herrera and sisters, Virginia Lucy Pineda, Teresita Zavala, Dulcinea Herrera and June Ortega. Also, survived by grandchildren who are honorary pallbearers, Brandon, Jason, and Dylon Herrera, Christopher White, Ethan and Laura Eagleton.   He was preceded in death by his parents, Secundino Herrera, Isidora Herrera, sisters, Celia Pinley, Carmen Gordon, Evangeline Perez, Mary Ann Sandoval, and Virginia Herrera.

In lieu of flowers, any donations made to the family will go towards the purchase of evergreen trees to be planted at Rancho Herrera on May 4, 2024, Rey's birthday.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, February 22, 2024 from 1:00pm - 5:00pm at Rogers Mortuary Chapel in Las Vegas, NM.

Rosary will be held on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 7:00pm at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Las Vegas, NM and the funeral mass will be on Friday, February 23, 2024, at 11:00am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the following serving as Pallbearers; Jeff Byrd, Freddie Lopez, Mark Duran, Paul Morrison, Brandon Herrera, Tony DeFalco, Jay Groseclose, and Bobby Jaramillo.

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