Ernestine "Ernie" Garcia

Ernestine “Ernie” Garcia, 85, a long-time resident of Salinas for more than 60 years, passed away at home in the early morning hours of August 25, 2026, with family present. She was born on September 7, 1940, in Soledad, CA, to Valentin and Maria (Franco) Ortiz in a small adobe in the fields. The young family moved to Merced, CA, and two more children eventually were added: Rosie and David. After highschool, she worked in many trades throughout her adult life: field worker, waitress, cosmetologist, tailor of her own fashion house which her children were the sole customers of her creations, independent housekeeper, machine operator for McCormick & Company, X-ray and medical records technician; but the most enjoyable position of her career came to her once she retired and became a crossing guard for the school district. She enjoyed seeing the children every day, crossing them safely across the street and hearing them call out, “Thank you, Mrs. G!” As a young woman working the fields, she met her husband, Liborio Garcia. Family lore is that he was smitten with her sister at first, but Ernie won him over as they picked cotton together. In August of 1961, she married her true love, Liborio. The young couple moved to Alisal (now East Salinas) and built a family she was proud of over the next 59 years, raising their four loving children: Maurice (Angela); Desiree (Brian); Adrienne (Kevin); and Dominic (Vivian), until her beloved husband’s passing in January 2021. Her siblings, Rosie Ortiz (2001) and David Franco Ortiz ( 2021), were residing in Merced when they preceded her in death.

Ernie leaves behind her children and granddaughters, Manessa Garcia, Kirsten Garcia, Destiny Monique Garcia, Isabella Garcia, and her sister-in-law, Ginny Ortiz, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of a service, please plant a flower to honor her love of gardening or eat a piece of cake over coffee with a friend in her memory. She would have loved that.