- Date Of Birth: April 10, 1925
- Date Of Death: June 8, 2014
- State: New Mexico
Margarito “Maggie” Perea Dominguez was born on April 10, 1925, in Deming, NM to Vivian and Martina Dominguez. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 89 at Casa De Oro Center in Las Cruces on June 8, 2014. Until entering the care of Casa De Oro, he was a lifelong Deming resident.
He served in the US Army during World War II, earning a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in the Philippines. After his service, he returned to Deming and began working to continue to support his mother and father. His destiny was called in the mid-1950s when he began working at Brem Chevrolet. He went from the grease rack to the showroom floor and became “Your friendly Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac dealer.” Maggie sold cars for almost 50 years until dementia took its toll and he retired from The Sisbarro Superstore in Deming.
In 1966, he married Frances Chaires and they remained married for 45 years. She preceded him in death in 2012. They had one son, Michael, and one daughter, Maria Leticia (Missy).
Maggie was involved with multiple service organizations throughout his life. He was a member of LULAC, the Disabled American Veterans, Knights of Columbus (4th Degree), and Holy Family and St. Ann’s Catholic Churches.
One of Maggie’s greatest loves was music. He had his own band, Los Compas, in the 1950s. He then played with his cousins Pete and Narciso in the Pete Dominguez Orchestra in the 1970s and early 1980s. Love for his daughter, Missy, brought him out of musical retirement in 1995 to play for her wedding. After that event, the Dominguez Group continued to play dances at places like the Senior Citizens Center and the Moose Lodge. Even as his memory failed him, he continued to be able to play his saxophones.
Maggie is survived by his son, Michael (Tamara), and daughter, Missy Wortman (John). He had five grandchildren: Robert, Jacob, Mikayla, Maggie, and Christina. He is also survived by his sister, Carmen Pedraza, and brother, Vivian Dominguez, Jr.
