Deacon James Garcia ‘tried to do the will of God’

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Deacon James Damasio Garcia

TOOELE — A funeral Mass for Deacon James Damasio Garcia was celebrated by Father Rafael Murillo-Ventura, his pastor, on Dec. 3, 2024 at St. Marguerite Catholic Church in Tooele. Concelebrants were Father Kenneth Vialpando, vicar for clergy, and Father Hernando Diaz, a retired priest of the diocese. Deacons Lynn Johnson, Michael Bulson and Rick Huffman assisted.

Deacon Garcia, who died on Nov. 22, honored the commitments he made at his ordination, Deacon Huffman said during his homily.

“The bishop places the Book of Gospels into the hand of a new deacon, symbolizing his commitment to proclaim God’s word, and then the bishop says, ‘Receive the gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach,’” he said. “And Deacon Jim tried to do the will of God. He tried to do the will of God, the Father, to the best of his ability, and he believed.”

James “Jim” Garcia was born on September 9, 1936, in Sheridan, Wyoming. He was one of six children born to Ben and Anna Garcia. He married Nita Young on September 4, 1965, and became the stepfather of her four children. He served in the U.S. Navy and the Army National Guard. On May 17, 1979 he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Joseph L. Federal, sixth Bishop of Salt Lake City. He served at St. Marguerite Catholic Church until his retirement.

Deacon Garcia was a true mentor, Deacon Huffman said. “He was a great help for me. He did do his best for the Church and for his family, which is not easy, sometimes, especially juggling Church life with family life. Sometimes it is quite a struggle.”

“Will Deacon Jim be missed?” he asked. “Does the evening traveler miss the light of the moon? Does the sailor miss the star that points to the pole? Does a family or a parish or a community miss the one who brightened their spirits with their presence? Yes. Deacon Jim will be missed until the day when the creative power of God combines in another human being the unique qualities Jim possesses or until the promise of Jesus to Martha is fulfilled: ‘Whoever believes in me, though he should die, will come to life.’”

“Today, we say goodbye to Deacon Jim,” he said. “Goodbye, go with God, good friend, until we meet again to break bread with the one whose life and death has guaranteed the everlasting life we seek; and may his angels lead you today into paradise as you begin your new life, in which health replaces illness, youth replaces age and certainty replaces doubt.”

As Deacon Jim is reunited with his deceased loved ones, “we can only pray that he goes to heaven and has hair on his head,” Deacon Huffman concluded with a smile.

Deacon Garcia was preceded in death by his parents, his son Joel Woodruff and his sisters Gloria Liebert and Rosalee Laird. He is survived by his wife, Nita; his children Cindy Woodruff, Sam (Candy) Woodruff and Fred (Robyn) Woodruff; his siblings Bennie (Henry) Mascarenas, Patti (Eppie) Welch and Richard Garcia; 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Deacon Garcia was laid to rest in Tooele City Cemetery with full military honors.