Thomas Manuel Sanchez left us unexpectedly on December 16, 2022. Thomas was a long-time resident of Buena Vista, NM in Mora County. He is preceded in death by his son John Thomas Sanchez, paternal grandparents Bernadino and Rebecca Sanchez, maternal grandparents Manuel and Doloritas Velasquez, and Uncle Bernadino (BD) Sanchez. He is survived by his three beautiful and talented children, Ariana Sanchez, Mateo Sanchez, Izabela Sanchez and their mother Shaun Marie Sanchez, his parents Thomas and Mary Lou Sanchez, his brother Lucas Sanchez and wife Alicia Sanchez and their son Wyatt, his sisters LaDonna LaRan and Frank Leyba and niece Avery, Mavrina and JP Martinez, and Santana and Jason Manzanares and son Duke, Uncle Martin and Joyce Sanchez, along with many cousins.

Thomas Manuel loved fishing, hunting, grilling, watching Raider football, and supporting his kids' playing sports. His took great pride in his children and their incredible talents. He loved to take Ariana to every softball tournament, every game, every practice. He also loved to coach Mateo and the Havoc football team. His daughter Izabela was always by his side, she was her daddy's sidekick. His first love was music, and he started singing before he could talk. At 9 years old, he learned to play the guitar. His talents granted him many opportunities to share his voice with the world. As a 14-year-old, Thomas flew to Nashville to record his first country demo. His original songs included: She Believed, 24 and 7, You Took The Words, Long Shadow, Can't Honkey Tonk, and Happy Hour. Throughout the years, some of his best memories included performing with his band mates. Traveling to gigs with "BackDraft" and "Deuces Wyld". Country music granted him the honor to sing at the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, and the White House for the Pageant of Peace ceremony. While most people knew him for his musical abilities, he was so much more. He loved his students, his players, his staff, his friends, his classmates, his Hermanos, his band mates, and most importantly his family.

Thomas graduated from Robertson High School in 1998. He went on to graduate from Highlands University in 2004 with his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Secondary Education and in 2016 he completed his Masters in Educational Leadership. He has been a teacher and administrator for 20 years, and in that time, he mentored many teachers to achieve their administrative licenses. Many of his mentees are currently principals in school districts across the state. Thomas worked for the Socorro School District, East Las Vegas, West Las Vegas, and Penasco Schools as a teacher, mentor, or administrator respectively. Upon returning to the Mora Valley, he also served as the Director of the Mora Senior Citizens Center. He also proudly served his local community as the Mora County Manager, where he helped the people, he loved and the valley he grew up in. Thomas also served as Volunteer Fire Fighter and was an EMT and was a member of Asequia association in Buena Vista. His faith in God and the culture he was raised in led him to join the Morada in Buena Vista. He has been a proud Hermano Segundo at the Morada de San Antonio for 11 years. He was a big believer in culture and keeping traditions alive. He had the utmost respect for his elders and always greeted everyone with a warm smile and a chiste.

During his time as Director of the Mora Senior Citizens Center, he loved to arrange activities for his residents, take them gambling, and when they lost money, he would sing to them the whole way home to cheer them up. He brought joy to everyone he met, whether through his smile, his jokes, or his food.

He was an amazing cook and was well known for his grilling skills and chile. During the holidays, the family would fight over his holiday ham and try to learn his secret recipe that could never be replicated.

Thomas Manuel had a big heart. The people he loved felt it, to be loved by Thomas, was to know love. His family, his children, his friends all knew when he wanted attention by his whistle. He demanded attention with that sharp whistle, warm smile, and commanding personality. He never left or ended a conversation without saying goodbye and I love you on his way out. In Thomas' words, "que dios lo bendiga y buena suerte".

Rosary devotional services will be conducted at 6:00pm on Dec. 27, 2022, at St. Gertrude's Catholic Church in Mora, NM. Funeral mass will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday Dec. 28, 2022, with Father Dale as celebrant. Serving as Pallbearers are Lucas Sanchez, Marcos Sanchez, Adrian Gonzales, George Marquez, Ismael (Mayo) Sanchez, Jason Manzanares, Frank Leyba, JP Martinez, Dennis Romero, and Patrick Ashe. Honorary Pallbearers are Maxine Sanchez, Shuan Sanchez nephews Wyatt Sanchez and Duke Manzanares, and niece Avery Leyba.

Arrangements are 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.