Christopher Gallegos

Christopher Gallegos, 'Taco', passed away Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 while riding his Harley Davidson home. He was 35. He is survived by his mother and father, Rachel and Toño Lozoya, his sister, Jenny Gallegos, his girlfriend Monica Monarrez and his two children, Naomi and Jayden Gallegos. Chris leaves behind his two closest tías, Rosie Felix and Romelia Rocha, a grandmother, Celia Gallegos, a string of cousins and many friends and coworkers. Chris was born Oct. 4, 1978, and raised in the Lower Valley of El Paso. He grew up a tough and scrawny kid at the Marmolejo and Carolina Apartments, constantly seen jumping rock walls and hanging out with the neighbors. Chris was born a free spirit with a tremendous heart. Loyal to the bone, even when it got him into trouble. His perfect little smile and pulsating energy would warm everyone's heart. Chris was a true charmer -- handsome -- and he knew it. Since a young age, Chris enjoyed pulling apart electronics and radios, just to tinker with their innerworkings -- a passion that evolved itself into a loud speaker-box system pumping bass from inside his car trunk. Chris grew up on Rambo, Rocky and Jean-Claude Van Damme, listening to 2Pac, Ice Cube and later, Los Rieleros Del Norte. As a kid, he used to lead a train of cousins around his room, dancing to "Come on Ride It (the train)." He spent many afternoons on the porch listening to music with his friends and his two boxers, Boa and Pumbaa, Chris attended Bel Air High School and went to Job Corps. Chris found his way into a few restaurant kitchens before ending up at IHOP, where he dedicated over a decade behind a spatula and hot stove. He never missed work and rarely was late, no matter how early he had to wake up or how ripe he'd still be from the night before. He didn't know how to say 'no' or how to let people down. He sacrificed many birthdays and holidays to serve others without complaint. Needing a change, he later went into construction and ended up at Land Air Express. Chris loved eating, grilling and especially doing so with others. He would feed his guests and make sure he was the last to sit down to whatever was left. But boy could he eat! He would sometimes serve himself a whole carton of eggs for breakfast, or order two 20-piece chicken nuggets to go with his burger at McDonalds. If he cooked a steak, it had to be a Porterhouse cut. That was his personality: BIG, bursting at the seams and ready for whatever life threw at him. Family gatherings came to life with Chris' rambunctious voice, loud language and the case of beer he was likely to bring with him. B-U-D-W-E-I-S-E-R all the time, no lime. He could tell you what the letters stood for forwards, backwards and forwards again. And the more he would drink, the louder his Scarface impersonations and tighter his soul-gripping hugs would become. That's where his love was: at home and with the family. As crazy as Chris appeared on the surface, he was a homebody and soft at the core. A true momma's boy and family man. Humble. Hearty. Happy. Chris married in August 2001. Naomi and Jayden were his world. Nai Nai was daddy's girl and 'mijo' a spitting image of Chris. His kids came first, above everything else. He smothered them with his hallmark affection and gave them, without question, the things he didn't have as a child. Always a pussycat for needles, it surprised everyone when Chris got his kids' names tattooed on his arm. Chris enjoyed calling family at odd hours of the night, just to bug, or show up early mornings to wake up everyone inside the house. He hated seeing others bored and made sure a dull moment never passed. Chris was there to give the shirt off his back, even when he wasn't doing too good himself. When he got his Harley, he found himself somewhere out there on the ride. He would take off, early in the morning, just to feel the wind brush his face. He said it was the greatest feeling. It was just about the only time he reserved for himself. He spent the last year off his life enjoying it to the fullest: traveling, riding, loving and learning to be a dad. 'No cares and woes, whatever comes later goes.' That's how he lived and gave. Truly, a spirit taken too soon and for reasons only God knows. He will be deeply missed and remembered every day. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for the laughter. Thank you for the unforgettable times. We love you Chris, mijo, brother, dad, 'kid', 'primo', cousin, Taco. Rest in everlasting peace. The world is yours. Visitation will be from 4-9 pm Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at Sunset Funeral Home-East. Funeral Mass will be said at 9:30 am Thursday, November 21, 2013 at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-East.