Ernesto Gomez

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Ernesto Gomez, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

Ernesto was born on November 7, 1958 in Inde Durango. He was the son of Pascuala Miranda and Cleofas Gomez. Raised in Gomez Palacio Durango, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Ernesto was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Ernesto was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Ernesto was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, Ernesto also had the ability to relate well with his family and friends. Ernesto was raised with five siblings. He had three older brothers: Guadalupe, Pedro, and Efrain; a younger brother, Felix; and an older sister, Berta Alicia. Ernesto was constantly involved in activities with his family. Ernesto and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Most folks would say that Ernesto was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. Ernesto was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, Ernesto best trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that he made, Ernesto kept. Later in life, he became friends with Jorge, Eleazar, Abel, Gabriel, and Raul.

Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Ernesto. On March 29, 1979, Ernesto married Delia Marin at city hall in Los Angeles, California. He was totally committed to Delia and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Ernesto naturally sensed his spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Ernesto disliked conflict, he did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

Ernesto was a good father to his children. He had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because he trusted emotions, Ernesto was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way he seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around him, always thinking before acting. In addition, Ernesto was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around him might be, he seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Ernesto was blessed with three children- two sons, Ernesto Jr. and Osvaldo and one daughter, Denise.

If you gave Ernesto a deadline, he would meet it. At work, Ernesto was always on task. Without hesitation, Ernesto could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was as a cook. He was employed for 21 years with Boyd Gaming. During that time, Ernesto excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Ernesto was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Ernesto had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

Ernesto liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Ernesto's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Ernesto preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were pool and Quatro. Ernesto was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were soccer and baseball. Ernesto was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself.

Ernesto was also an animal lover. One of his favorites was Blackie, a Labrador dog, who was his best friend for seven years. Ernesto was as loyal to his pets as they were to him.

Ernesto passed away on March 2, 2011 at Nathan Adelson Hospice after fighting a brave battle against cancer. He is survived by his beloved wife, Delia; two sons, Ernesto Jr. and Osvaldo; and his daughter, Denise. Services were held at Palm Mortuary, Eastern Chapel. Ernesto was laid to rest in Palm Eastern Cemetery in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ernesto was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. Ernesto Gomez was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with Ernesto. He will be missed by all who knew him.