Felix Briones, Jr.

7/14/1933 – 5/19/2025

Felix Briones, Jr. passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, May 19, surrounded by family and lifted up in prayer. Felix was born on July 14,1933 in Carlsbad, NM to Felix and Tomasa Pompa Briones, the oldest of six children and big brother to his three close cousins. An early advocate for justice, as the Carlsbad High School student government president, he petitioned the Carlsbad School Board to integrate the public high school, resulting in the first racially integrated graduation class in 1951 – three years prior to Brown v. Board of Education. This experience influenced his desire to enter the legal profession. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Juris Doctor in 1957. He served two years as a JAG Officer in the US Air Force. Upon discharge, he moved to Farmington to begin the practice of law with Jim Cooney and Kendal Schlenker on October 1, 1959. A year later, he met the love of his life, Viola Sandoval, at a breakfast hosted by the St. Joseph Altar Society for the Knights of Columbus. He proposed on Valentine’s Day, 1961, and they were married at that same St. Joseph Catholic Church on July 17, 1961. Vi and Felix had five children: Felix, III, Giré, Paul, Tom, and Ramona. They were Grandma and Grandpa to eleven grandchildren: Francine, David, Anthony, Carmen, Monica, Felicia, Vivienne, Tomasa, Anna, Isabella, and Charles.

Felix lived a life dedicated to God, family and service. An esteemed attorney for 67 years, Felix served on many boards, organizations, committees and campaigns. To list a few: The University of New Mexico Foundation, San Juan College Foundation, New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, New Mexico State Bar Association and Disciplinary Board, Farmington Public Utilities Commission, Four Corners Community Bank, and Knights of Columbus. Felix was endlessly involved in his children and grandchildren’s activities, frequently attending games, recitals, and graduations, even if attending meant traveling many miles to do so. And Felix loved to travel! Vi and Felix have visited nearly every town in New Mexico, along with most of the 50 states and many foreign countries. Family lore would have it that despite the destination, all roads led through Vegas! Never a man to be far from a deck of cards, Felix was complimented at age 90 by a seasoned casino pit boss as being the best blackjack player she had ever seen.

Felix had a zest for life. He loved to laugh, was quick with a joke, liable to break out into song, and enjoyed dancing with Vi. Felix’s adroitness at the ping-pong table translated well into his new-found hobby of playing pickleball through Christmas of last year. Felix’s generosity was boundless – pro-bono legal work, philanthropic contributions, a pillar of St. Mary’s Parish, and always the first to reach for the dinner check or slip a little something into a birthday card. Felix may have been born to wear Carlsbad Caveman blue, but his wardrobe became heavy on the Farmington Scorpion Kelly green, and you better believe his blood ran UNM Lobo cherry red!

Perhaps Felix’s defining characteristic was his love of God, abiding faith in the Catholic Church, and a reverence for the Blessed Virgin Mary. Vi and Felix maintained a holy hour at the St. Mary’s Adoration Chapel for over 30 years. Vi and Felix traveled with Terry and Paul to France in 2019 and were able to pray the rosary at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. All travel roads may have led through Vegas, but it did not matter in what city they were, on Sunday morning, they found a Mass. Felix profoundly influenced the spirituality of his children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, and many others. We, his family and friends, take solace in knowing that Dad, Grandpa, FB, Junior/JR, Mr. B walked this life knowing God, loving God, and serving God.

He was preceded in death by his son Paul, his parents Tomasa and Felix Briones, sister Betty Ortiz, and brother Joe Briones. He is survived by his wife Viola Briones; children Felix Briones, III (Kathi), Giré Dragun (Michael), Tom Briones (Stephanie), and Ramona Moseley (Mark); daughter-in-law Terry Briones; grandchildren Francine Briones, David Briones, Anthony Dragun, Carmen Dragun, Monica Briones (Miguel Sabol), Felicia Moseley, Vivienne Dragun, Tomasa Moseley, Anna Briones, Isabella Moseley, and Charles Briones; and sisters Patsy Rodriguez, Rosie Gonsalez and Cristina Briones. Honorary pallbearers are David Briones, Anthony Dragun, Charles Briones, Kris Chavez, Marnie Saiz, and Sheila Mathews.

Rosary and Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, June 6, 2025, beginning at 10:30am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 2100 E. 20th St., Farmington, NM 87401. A meal will be served in the Parish Hall following inurnment in the columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Four Corners Foundation https://www.fourcornersfoundation.org which funds several social service agencies in the area.