Juan “John” Arthur Marquez

Juan “John” Arthur Marquez, 81, of Dumas, Texas, passed away on April 24, 2023, after battling cancer for the last few years of his life.

A service will be held at 1 P.M., Friday, April 28, 2023, at 1st Street Church in Dumas, Texas. Burial will follow at Northlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Military rites will be by American Legion Post #224. A visitation will be held from 6-7 P.M., Thursday, April 27, 2023, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home in Dumas. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors in Dumas, Texas 500 North Maddox.

John was born at the Marquez Ranch in Des Moines, New Mexico on January 19, 1942, to Juan Francisco and Maria Clarita Garcia Marquez. John married Barbara Ann Garcia on August 12, 1960 in Raton, New Mexico. Together, they had three children. John was the second youngest of seven children.

John was born at the Marquez Ranch in Des Moines, New Mexico on January 19, 1942, to Juan Francisco and Maria Clarita Garcia Marquez. John married Barbara Ann Garcia on August 12, 1960 in Raton, New Mexico. Together, they had three children. John was the second youngest of seven children.

John grew up on the family ranch, assisting his mother and six siblings with taking care of the ranch and animals. He was a teenager of the 1950’s, where he met his future wife, Barbara Ann Garcia, of Clayton, New Mexico. Shortly after marrying Barbara, he enlisted in the United States Army where he was temporarily stationed in Tacoma Washington, but soon was headed off to Germany to assist with the frontlines of the Berlin Wall. In August 1966, he was honorably discharged from the Army, where he and his family made Dumas, Texas their home. Eager to provide a living for his family, John worked two jobs: Continental Carbon Black by day and Gifford Hill Irrigation in the evenings… Seasonal slowdowns resulted in temporary layoff periods causing John to move his family to Denver, Colorado for a couple of years while he attended Colorado University to learn auto body repair. Following the completion of learning a new trade, the family returned back to Dumas with new hopes and skills. John opened up his own auto body repair shop and returned back to Carbon Black. John retired from Continental Carbon Black after approximately 30 years of service. After retirement, John returned to ranch life, which was his true passion and enjoyment of life. If it didn’t involve going to the ranch, he didn’t want any part of it. He began MQZ Ranch and managed a small cow calf operation. He was a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather, and mentor. John enjoyed spending time with family and friends, as well as fishing and camping. After a long day of working at the ranch, you might catch him enjoying a glass of red wine or a cold Bud while telling stories of his childhood or “I remember when…”

John is preceded in death by his daughter, Bridgett Ann Marquez-Hyde; siblings, Norberto Marquez, Maria Marquez Martinez, Ignacio “Nash” Marquez, and Anselmo “Elmer” Marquez.

John is survived by his wife, Barbara Garcia; children, Jonathan Marquez of Des Moines, New Mexico, Jaret Shawn Marquez of Dumas, Texas; and Angela Marquez, daughter-in-law of Dumas; seven grandchildren, Tiffany and Jerrad Land, Bethany and Chris Salcido, Gary and Kristin Hyde Jr., Holly and Eli Garcia, Tootsie and Brent Rehkopf, Braun Marquez, and Maycie and Andrew Kirkpatrick; f

ourteen great-grandchildren, Nathan Gonzales, Jazlynn Shugars, Lilly Davis, Ethan Garcia, Eli Garcia, Addalyn Land, Kaylor Flint, Braylee Salcido, Logan Flint, Brayden Salcido, Kiptyn Land, Ezekiel Garcia, Chandler Kirkpatrick, and Bayliee Hyde; one great-great-grandchild, Adali Garcia; siblings, Jose Tranquilino “Nicky/Nino” Marquez of Des Moines, New Mexico; Jose Benjamin “Benjo” Marquez of Dalhart, Texas.