Lee Minjarez, 77

Lee Minjarez, 77, passed away on Thursday, July 5, 2012 at his home in Alamogordo. He was born on February 2, 1935 in Sugar City, CO to Jose and Josefa (Morales) Minjarez.

Lee was a SP5 in the United States Army from 1956 to 1959. After the Army, he was employed 30 years with Martin Marietta Aerospace, now known as Lockheed Martin, as an Aerospace Engineer. He was instrumental in developing such missile systems as AJAX, HERCULES, SPRINT, ADATS, ASALM and HELLFIRE. After retirement Lee built thousands of adobe bricks used in building his and Patricia's passive solar adobe home.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Patricia; daughters, Cindy Schiro of Spring, TX and Terri Prechtl of North Venice, FL; brothers; John Minjarez of Tulsa, OK and Thomas Minjarez of San Leandro, CA; sisters; Alice Muniz of Pueblo, CO and Josephine Minjarez of Henderson , NV.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Jessie Acosta, Lupe Gomez, Flora Martinez and Geneva Muniz and brother, Joe Minjarez.

Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00 am Saturday, July 21, 2012 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father Mike Lindsey, Celebrant.

The Minjarez family has entrusted their loved one to the care of PCS Direct Cremation Services.