Helen Marie Garcia

Mentone, California

Dr. Helen M. Garcia May 18, 1954 - January 2023, born to Leo A. Garcia and Lena Garcia Copeland in Santa Fe, NM. Helen spent her first 18 years in Santa Fe graduating from St. Michaels High School in 1972. She attended New Mexico State University then transferred to the University of New Mexico where she received a Bachelor’s of University Studies in 1977. She received a Masters of Education from Oregon State University in 1982 and a Doctorate of Philosophy

from the University of Arizona in 1996. 

Helen held several teaching positions throughout her career. Her devotion to the education of her many students throughout the years, aided them in the advancement of their chosen fields and future careers. Her last teaching positions were at University of Redlands and San Bernardino Valley College in California. She retired in June of 2015. 

Education was a high priority to Helen. She encouraged her nieces, great nephews and great nieces to further their own education. Many of the monetary gifts she sent them were for their “College Education Fund”. 

Helen loved to work in her backyard where she created a sanctuary for herself on her patio among her many potted plants and her beautiful lemon tree.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Leo A. Garcia, Lena Garcia Copeland, stepfather Roy Copeland, Grandpa Ray Gallegos Sr., Grandparents, Eligio and Elisa Garcia.

She is survived by her brothers Robert Garcia (Yolanda) and Michael Garcia, nieces Adonica Marquez(Chris), Liana Romero, Victoria Kelley(Randy). 6 great nephews and 2 great nieces, Aunts Isabel Gardunio and Esther Olguin and many cousins

throughout the US.

Services for Helen will be scheduled at a future date.