Former Artesia resident, Juan Huerta Lopez, 82, of Russell St., Carlsbad, NM, passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at his residence. Services will be held on Monday, February 13, 2017 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Artesia with Rosary at 9 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. Father Martin Cornejo will be the celebrant. Interment will follow at Twin Oaks Memorial Park with Military Honors performed by the Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard. There is no visitation. Services have been entrusted to West Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed at westfuneralhomellc.com Juan Huerta Lopez was born on March 30, 1934 to Juan E. and Maria Huerta Lopez in Terilingua, TX. He served in the US Army from 1956 to 1962. Juan and Leonarda Romero Lopez were married in February of 1953 and she preceded him in death on March 27, 1988. He and Julia Carrasco Lopez were married in June of 1995 and she also preceded him in death on March 4, 2007. He started working for Payne Packing Company at the age of 16 and retired 52 years later at the age of 68. Juan was a long time member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Artesia, was active in Holy Name Society, Eucharistic Ministry, Divine Mercy Prayer Group; he is a Cursiesta and participated in bible studies and choirs throughout the years. He also enjoyed gardening, music, singing and traveling.He is also preceded in death by his daughter Alice R. Lopez, both parents, brother Florencio Lopez and sisters, Felicita Moreno and Estefana Lopez and great-grandson Alexander Horeath. Juan is survived by his sons, Johnny Lopez and Christine Sheikh, Orlando and wife Susan Lopez; daughters, Diana and husband Joey Losoya and Mary Helen Aguirre; brothers: Jose Maria Lopez and Francisco Lopez; sister Celestina Herrera; 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers are Felix Perez, Jr., Rickey Leon Jimenez, Zachary Jimenez, Carlos Losoya, John W. Hoerath and Timothy Hoerath. Honorary Pallbearers are Shawn Jimenez, Matthew Hoerath and all his nieces and nephews.