Obituary of Michelle Garcia

Michelle Deneen Garcia beloved daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, godmother, niece, aunt, cousin and friend entered into eternal rest on Nov. 2, 2012. She is preceded in death by her mother, Marie Garcia; sister, Emeline Laiwa, and sister, Wendy Martin. She is survived by her father, Jesse Garcia; daughter Cherelle Briones; son, Frank Briones Sr.; daughter, Rachelle Briones; grandsons, Jesse Briones Jr., Leonard Briones, Xavier Ochoa, John Briones III, Frank Briones Jr., DJ Morreo, Baby Boy Briones; granddaughters, Isabel Ochoa, Nayleea Briones, Dalilah Briones, Mary Jane Morreo; sisters, Elenita Martine, Leatrice Briones, Jeffery Martin, Kelley Homer Gina Garcia; brothers, Charles Martin and Timothy Garcia. She was born May 27, 1966 in Banning, California to proud parents Marie and Jesse Garcia. She was a member of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and was a lifelong resident of the Banning Pass Area. She attended Banning High School and played on the softball team. She continued to play ball in her young adult life. She was an all around good ball player known for hitting homeruns. She was a dedicated granddaughter and helped to care for her grandparents in their elderly years. She had five beautiful children, Cherelle, John, Jesse, Frank and Rachelle "Honey". During these early years of her adult life she was a homemaker and concentrated her efforts on being a good mother. She later continued her education and took some courses at Mt. San Jacinto College before transferring to the University of Phoenix where she pursued a degree in accounting. She successfully earned a degree in accounting and became a certified accountant. During her high school years she worked as a secretary for the City of Banning. From 1992 to 1999 she worked at Casino Morongo in several different positions. After earning her degree she brought her skills back home and obtained employment within the Native American Community. In 1999 she transferred from Casino Morongo to the Morongo Tribal Administration Office where she worked in Accounts Payable until 2003. She accepted a position with the Morongo Tribal TANF Program as an accountant in 2008 and is technically employed there. She was a very dedicated and hard worker. Listening to music was one of her favorite things to do. She loved to sing along and dance to her music. She enjoyed attending church services and different church functions. She was an armature photographer and loved to take pictures everywhere she went. She really enjoyed traveling and seeing new places. Another one of her hobbies was Arts and Crafts. She liked doing all kinds of different arts and crafts projects and she even made herself a craft room in her new house. She was a good cook and was known for her delicious pop over's and potato salad. But her greatest love of all was being a grandmother. She was a very proud grandmother and loved playing with and spending time with her grandchildren most of all. She was known as the O.G. Aunty by her nieces and nephews. They all loved and had a great respect for her. Especially cause she was the one who always kept them in line. She was a good friend with a very big heart and she was always willing to help people out. She was a very kind, loving and strong willed person. Her memory will live in our hearts forever!!!!